8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

The 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (French: 8e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine, 8e RPIMa) is an airborne regiment of the French Army. The 8e RPIMa was created on 28 February 1951 and the men wear the red beret. It is part of the 11th Parachute Brigade.

8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
8e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine
Active28 February 1951 – present

(same unit, different designations)

8e B.P.Colonial 1951
8e G.C.P 1952
8e B.P.Choc 1953
8e R.P.C 1956–1958
8e R.P.I.Ma 1958 – present
CountryFrance
BranchFrench Army
TypeTroupes de marine
RoleAirborne infantry
Size1200 men and women
Part of11th Parachute Brigade
3rd Division
Garrison/HQCastres, France
Motto(s)Volontaire (Volunteer)
ColorsBlue and red
AnniversariesSaint-Michel Day
EngagementsFirst Indochina War
Battle of Hòa Bình
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Algerian War
Lebanese Civil War 1975–1990

Gulf War
War on Terror (2001-Present)

Commanders
Current
commander		Philippe du Chaxel
Notable
commanders		Guy Le Borgne
Pierre Tourret
François Cann
Insignia
Insignia of the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
Abbreviation8e RPIMa

The regiment is garrisoned at Castres, France.[1] Current missions of the 8e RPIMa revolve around peacekeeping and assistance to world populations, and in that regard at the service and disposition of NATO or the United Nations directives. The regiment intervenes around the world protecting French interests in and not limited to: Tchad, Lebanon, New Caledonia, Kuwait, Rwanda, Gabon, Kurdistan, Zaïre, Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, RDC, ex-Yugoslavia, Cambodia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Ivory Coast, and Afghanistan. In outremer, the regiment is engaged in operations defending French interests, or countries that are in liaison with France in security missions. In Europe, the regiment is engaged in defending the national French territory at the corps of the terrestrial action force. This regiment can be rapidly deployed anywhere in the world. The regiment parts various Commando Parachute Groups, a group of French elite units. Parachute training is conducted at the École des troupes aéroportées (ETAP) in Pau.

Creation and different nominations since 1951
Main article: List of French paratrooper units

Campaigns

Campaign
8th Colonial Parachute Battalion (1951–1954)

Campaign Participation Engagement
8th Colonial Parachute Regiment
(1956–1958)

Campaign Participation Engagement
8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1958–present )

The unit was created on 28 February 1951, in Hanoi as the "8th Colonial Parachute Battalion", as a part of the French union forces. Present since 1951 and to 1954, the "8th Colonial Parachute Battalion" fought at Lai-Chau, Hòa Bình, Langson and Dien Bien Phu heavily superiorly outnumbered. The Battalion was cited at the orders of the armed forces and mentioned in dispatches four times for acts of valor. The quasi totality of the battalion disappeared and was subsequently dissolved on 19 May 1954, after the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.

The unit was recreated as the "8th Colonial Parachute Regiment" on 1 May 1956. The regiment participated in operations against the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN), most notably at El Kiffene, Ain El Kesseub and Tarf at the corps of the 25th Parachute Division.

8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1958 – present)
French marines with the 8th Marine Airborne Light Infantry Regiment scout ahead of a patrol Oct. 23, 2012, at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii, during exercise Amercal 2012.

The regiment relocated to the town of Nancy, Metropolitan France, in 1961, to form part of the 11th Light Intervention Division. The regimental headquarters moved to Castres in 1963.

The regiment took part in various peacekeeping missions in Lebanon on numerous yearly designated occasions within the UNIFIL first then joined the Multinational Force in Lebanon.

The regiment has been present around the world in Lebanon, Chad, Central Africa, Gabon and many others while mainly participating in humanitarian and peacekeeping missions.

The regiment has been spearheading combat, combat support, peacekeeping and multipurposed facade mission operations throughout the globe with the ongoing War on Terror, mainly on all exterior theatres of operations where the French Armed Forces are engaged in along the five continents and oceanic surroundings. The regiment served with the NATO ISAF in Afghanistan. In a fierce battle on 18–19 August 2008, ten French soldiers were killed and 21 wounded making it the largest loss of French troops in battle in many years.[2]

Composition

The regiment is composed of around 1200 marine infantry parachute personnel in eight combat companies:[1]

  • Compagnie de commandement et de logistique (CCL)[1] – Command and logistics company
  • Compagnie d'éclairage et d'appui (CEA)[1] – Reconnaissance and support company
  • 1re Compagnie de combat[1] – 1st Combat company
  • 2e Compagnie de combat[1] – 2nd Combat company
  • 3e Compagnie de combat[1] – 3rd Combat company
  • 4e Compagnie de combat[1] – 4th Combat company
  • Compagnie de réserve opérationnelle (CRO)[1] – Operational reserve company

Traditions
The Archangel Michael featured in Mont Saint-Michel and the Insignia of the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment.

French army metropolitan and marine paratroopers forming the 11th Parachute Brigade wear the Red Beret.

The Archangel Saint Michael, patron of the French paratroopers is celebrated on 29 September.

The prière du Para (Prayer of the Paratrooper) was written by André Zirnheld in 1938.

Insignias

Just like the paratrooper Brevet of the French Army; the Insignia of French Paratroopers was created in 1946. The French Army Insignia of metropolitan Paratroopers represents a closed "winged armed dextrochere", meaning a "right winged arm" armed with a sword pointing upwards. The Insignia makes reference to the Patron of Paratroopers. In fact, the Insignia represents "the right Arm of Saint Michael", the Archangel which according to Liturgy is the "Armed Arm of God". This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions. The French Army Insignia of Marine Infantry Paratroopers is backgrounded by a Marine Anchor.

Regimental Colors
Regimental Colors of the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment.

Since creation, the regiment has endured the loss of 19 Officers, 91 Sous-Officiers and 437 paratroopers of the 8e RPIMa.

Decorations

The regimental colors are decorated with:

The regiment bears wearing 3 Fourragère:

  • Croix de Guerre TOE
    Croix de Guerre TOE
  • Croix de la Valeur militaire
    Croix de la Valeur militaire
  • Fourragère aux couleurs de la Médaille militaire
    Fourragère aux couleurs de la Médaille militaire
  • Fourragère aux couleurs de la Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures
    Fourragère aux couleurs de la Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures

Battle honors
  • INDOCHINE 1951–1954
  • AFN 1952–1962

Regimental Commanders

8th Colonial Parachute Battalion
8th Commando Parachute Groupment
8th Parachute Choc Battalion

8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, 8e RPIMa

  • Lieutenant Colonel Hubert de Seguins-Pazzis (1958–1960)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Albert Lenoir (1960–1961)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Kohler (1961–1963)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Desfarges (1963–1965)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Drouin (1965–1967)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Mourier (1967–1969)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Guilleminot (1969–1971)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Bellamy (1971–1973)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Dominique (1973–1975)
  • Colonel Maurice Schmitt (1975–1977)

8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, 8e RPIMa

  • Lieutenant Colonel François Cann (1977–1979)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Vidal (1979–1981)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Zeisser (1981–1983)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Lepage (1983–1985)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Theodoly-Lannes (1985–1987)
  • Colonel Lafourcade (1987–1989)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Thomann (1989–1991)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Elrick Irastorza (1991–1993)
  • Lieutenant Colonel de Haynin de Bry (1993–1995)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Reglat (1995–1997)
  • Lieutenant Colonel de Braquilanges (1997–1999)
  • Colonel Michel Stollsteiner (1999–2001)
  • Colonel Bosser (2001–2003)
  • Colonel Brousse (2003–2005)
  • Colonel Guionie (2005–2007)
  • Colonel Jacques Aragones (2007–2009)
  • Colonel Philippe du Chaxel (2009–2011)
  • Colonel Eric Chasboeuf (2011–2013)
  • Colonel Tassel (2013–2015)
  • Colonel Danigo (2015–2017)
  • Colonel Debray (2017–2019)
  • Colonel Prod'homme (2019-202.)

Honorary Regimental Arms Celebration
  • The regiment distinguished savoire-faire in Indochina. The regiment received 4 citations at the orders of the armed forces for acts of valor.
  • In Algeria, the regiment placed out of combat 2800 militants and recuperated 1000 arms.
  • In 1978 and commanded by colonel Cann, the regiment was engaged in total in Lebanon in support of the peace effort. The regiment received the 5th citation at the orders of the armed forces.
  • In 1979 and commanded by captain Marchand, a company from the regiment was engaged fully in Chad.
  • In 2008, the regiment endured the loss of eight 8e RPIMa paratroopers fighting in Afghanistan.
  • In 2013, the regiment endured the loss of two paratroopers in RCA.

Notable members of the regiment
  • Guy Le Borgne, regimental commander (1952–1953)
  • Patrice Le Nepvou de Carfort (1952–1959)
  • René de Salins (1920–2014)
  • Pierre Tourret, regimental commander (1953–1954)
  • François Cann, regimental commander ( 1977–1979)
  • Maurice Amiot

References
  1. "8e RPIMa". French government. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  2. ISAF Press Release

Sources and bibliographies
  • Collectif, Histoire des parachutistes français, Société de Production Littéraire, 1975.
  • Frédéric Pons, Opérations extérieures – Les volontaires du 8e RPIMa, Lebanon 1978 – Afghanistan 2009, Presses de la Cité, June 25, 2009
  • Dossier « Le 8e RPIMa : Régiment du Tarn », in Revue du Tarn, numéro 227, automne 2012, p. 393-552
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