3rd Paratroopers Battalion (Belgium)

The 3rd Parachute Battalion (French: 3ème Bataillon Parachutistes, Dutch: 3 Bataljon Parachutisten) is a military formation of the Belgian Land Component and part of the Special Operations Regiment. It carries on the regimental traditions of the Belgian Korean War volunteers.

Belgian United Nations Command (1950-1955)
3rd Paracommando Battalion (1955-1959)
3rd Parachute Battalion (1959-)
Soldiers from the 3rd Parachute Battalion
parade in Kortrijk, 1971.
Active1950-
Country Belgium
 Luxembourg (1950-1953)
BranchLand Component
TypeAirborne light infantry
RoleAir Assault
Size500
Part ofSpecial Operations Regiment
Garrison/HQTielen
Motto(s)"Belgium"
EngagementsKorean War
Congo Crisis
Lebanon
War in Afghanistan
Insignia
Parachute Qualification Brevet
Commando Qualification Brevet
Detachment of the 3rd Paratroopers battalion parading in front of the King on 21 July 1989, Place des Palais in Brussels.

Corps of Volunteers for Korea
Main article: Belgian United Nations Command

After the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, the United Nations asked the Belgian government for military assistance. Belgium, conscious of the vast cost and logistical difficulties of sending large numbers of men or equipment across the world, elected to put an elite unit under UN command.[1] Since the Belgian constitution forbade sending anyone but volunteers on overseas deployments in peacetime, it was not possible to send an existing battalion, so the Belgian United Nations Command (known as BUNC) was created. BUNC also incorporated a platoon of volunteer from Luxembourg. BUNC soldiers wore Brown Berets with a new cap badge to distinguish them from other Belgian units.

BUNC fought in several of the key engagements of the Korean War from 1951, including the Battle of the Imjin River, the Battle of Haktang-ni and the Battle of Chatkol. BUNC won Presidential Unit Citation (United States) and Presidential Unit Citation (Republic of Korea) for its heroism, and citations for these battles are included on the Regimental Standard. Of the 3,000 Belgian soldiers who served in Korea, over 100 were killed in action between the battalion's arrival in 1951 and the 1953 armistice.[1] The last Belgian forces left Korea in 1955.

Major Operations

Peacekeeping

Somalia
Belgian Paracommando's UNOSOM soldiers in Somalia,1993

In December 1992, 1st Parachute Battalion deployed to Somalia as part of US-led United Nations mission Operation Restore Hope. Their role involved protecting UN aid distribution, as well as searching out militants. The 3rd Parachute Battalion was later also deployed to the country.

In 1993, two soldiers of the 3rd Parachute Battalion were arrested, after a photo apparently showing two soldiers holding a Somali boy above a fire appeared in Belgian newspapers.[2] Two soldiers were put on trial in Belgium, but both were acquitted by a military tribunal through lack of evidence.[3]

Lebanon

Soldiers from 3rd Parachute Battalion have been deployed to peace-keep in Lebanon as part of the United Nations UNIFIL mission. The Belgian force, known as BELUBAT (since it is also joint with Luxembourg).

Composition

The battalion was bilingual (French-Dutch) from its creation until 1982, but is now Dutch speaking only.

The 3rd Parachute Battalion and the 2nd Commando Battalion personnel are all trained identically, and are designated as a Paracommando's on completion of their training, Personnel allocated to the 3rd Parachute Battalion are awarded the Parachute Maroon Beret, and wear the Parachute Qualification Brevet above the right side chest Pocket along with Belgian "Commando Dagger" brevet on the upper right sleeve

Organisation

The 3rd Parachute Battalion comprises:

  • Headquarters Company
  • 17th Parachute Company (Assault) at Gavere
  • 22nd Parachute Company (Assault) at Tielen
  • 21st Parachute Company (Special Support and Reconnaisance) at Tielen

The 21st Parachute Company was transformed from an Assault Coy to the SSR when the Special Operations Regiment was formed from the Light Brigade.

See also

References
  1. Bud, Guy. "Belgians and the Korean War". Archived from the original on 2014-12-13. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  2. "Good intentions turned to shame". The Economist. Jul 3, 1997. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  3. Ammerlaan, Nieck (June 30, 1997). "Belgian soldiers acquitted in Somalia trial". Reuters. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
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