The Genesis In 1935, the
Soviet Union successfully parachuted airborne contingents with various equipment and supporting materials. Made aware of this, France dispatched three
officers to the Soviet Union,
Captain Frédéric Geille (prime paratrooper and
fighter pilot, Captain Durieux and Captain Charley Durrieu, to familiarize themselves with and train on the parachute techniques adopted by the Soviet Union. On September 12, 1935, the French Air Minister,
Général Denain, decreed the creation of a parachute training center in Avignon-Pujaut and accordingly on October 3, 1936, French Air Minister Pierre Cot signed a decree which stipulated that Combat Air Brigades can include Air Infantry Units. On September 28, 1944; organized as a "light reconnaissance troop"; the regiment was assigned to the
1st Army under disposition orders of
Général Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny. The regiment engaged in
combat during the campaigns of
Vosges and
Alsace during World War II. The three parachute battalions engaged successively in airborne operations in and around the delta of Tonkin. During the day at Arris, rebel terrorist groups intercepted a transport vehicle carrying dozens of Muslims and one couple of young teachers. of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment and 3 paratroopers of the
9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment. On November 10, 1983; the 1st combat company of
Captain Lanoux embarked at
Beirut to replace the 3rd combat company. before the paratroopers of the 9th merged with the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment in 1999.
Foreign operations In 1970, the 1er RCP created and implemented a system of "rotating combat companies" in
New Caledonia,
Réunion and
Gabon and that in order to make ready immediate pre-positioned forces in case of operational necessity. Almost every year, a
combat company is sent to these territories for missions lasting 4 months. Near 200 paratroopers were deployed around the vicinity of
Kabul or a mission duration of 5 months. Paratroopers of the 1st and 2nd combat company of the 1er RCP were part of the first elements engaged in the conflict. Both combat companies were deployed within the regiment's "Guépard Alert". As of January 26, 2013; both combat companies lead the dispositif and illustrated their tactical capabilities and conquered the Niger river while taking over the airport and the bridge of GAO through an air assault raid. Shortly after, the paratroopers of the 1er RCP launched two air assault raids on February 2 at
Kidal and February 8 at
Tessalit to capture both airports. Subsequently, the paratroopers were engaged in the
Battle of Ifoghas at the heart of the enemy's sanctuary where they confronted at short range in heavy combat, determined insurgents tightly attached to the terrain. The regiment imposed heavy casualties on the enemy, captured numerous prisoners and recouped a significant quantity of ammunitions. On March 2, 2013; one rapace (paratrooper) was
killed by enemy fire and accordingly a new name would be subsequently inscribed on the regiment's memorial. For actions lead in
Mali in 2013 within Operation Serval, the regimental colors of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment received, from the
Chief of Staff of the
French Army général Jean-Pierre Bosser, a citation at the orders of the armed forces with attribution of the
Cross for Military Valour with bronze palm. ==Organisation==