# 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

The 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (French: 8$^e$ Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine, 8$^e$ RPIMa) is an airborne regiment of the Troupes de Marine. The 8$^e$ RPIMa was created on 28 February 1951 and the men wear the red beret. It is part of the 11th Parachute Brigade.
The regiment is garrisoned at Castres, France. Current missions of the 8$^e$ 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: Chad, Lebanon, New Caledonia, Kuwait, Rwanda, Gabon, Kurdistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, RDC, ex-Yugoslavia, Cambodia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Ivory Coast, and Afghanistan. Overseas, 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

* 28 February 1951: creation of the 8th Colonial Parachute Battalion, 8$^e$ BPC.
* 12 September 1952: became the 8th Commando Parachute Groupment, 8$^e$ GCP.
* 1 August 1953: became the 8th Parachute Choc Battalion, 8$^e$ BPC.
* 31 May 1954: dissolution of the 8th Parachute Choc Battalion, 8$^e$ BPC.
* 1 May 1956: creation of the 8th Colonial Parachute Regiment 8$^e$ RCP at the corps of the 25th Parachute Division 25$^e$ DP.
* 1 December 1958: became 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, 8$^e$ RPIMa.

## Campaigns

| Campaign 8th Colonial Parachute Battalion (1951–1954) 1951–1954: Indochina War Campaign Participation Engagement 8th Colonial Parachute Regiment (1956–1958) 1956–1961: Algerian War Campaign Participation Engagement 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1958–present) 1970: Chad 1978–1979: Lebanon, UNIFIL 1979: Chad, Opération Tacaud | 1980: New Hebrides with Royal Marines 1982: Lebanon, UNIFIL 1983: Chad, Operation Manta 1982–1983: Lebanon, Multinational Force in Lebanon 1984: Chad 1986: New Caledonia 1986: Chad, Opération Épervier 1988: New Caledonia 1989: Chad, Opération Épervier 1990: Gabon, Opération Requin 1991: Kuwait 1991: Kurdistan | 1991–1992: Zaire 1992: Cambodia 1993: Central African Republic, RCA 1993–1995: Sarajevo 1995: Tahiti 1996–1997: RCA 1996: Sarajevo 1997: DRC 1997: Congo-Brazzaville 1998: Macedonia | 1999: Kosovo 2002: Kosovo 2002: Ivory Coast, Opération Licorne 2003–2005: Kosovo 2006–2007: DRC 2008–2009: Afghanistan 2010–2011: Kosovo with 1$^{er}$ RHP and 17$^e$ RGP 2013–2014: RCA |
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)

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.

## Composition

The regiment is composed of around 1200 marine infantry parachute personnel in eight combat companies:
* Compagnie de commandement et de logistique (CCL) – Command and logistics company
* Compagnie d'éclairage et d'appui (CEA) – Reconnaissance and support company
* 1$^{re}$ Compagnie de combat – 1st Combat company
* 2$^e$ Compagnie de combat – 2nd Combat company
* 3$^e$ Compagnie de combat – 3rd Combat company
* 4$^e$ Compagnie de combat – 4th Combat company
* Compagnie de réserve opérationnelle (CRO) – Operational reserve company

## Traditions

French army metropolitan and marine paratroopers forming the 11th Parachute Brigade wear the Red Beret.
* French Commando Parachute Group Brevet of Chuteur Opérationnel
* Anchored Winged Armed Dextrochere of French Army Marine Infantry Paratroopers
* French Army Parachute Brevet.
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.
* Right chest insignia of the 8$^e$ B.P.C
* Right chest insignia of the 8$^e$ G.C.P
* Right chest insignia of the 8$^e$ R.P.C
* Beret insignia of the Marine Parachute Units
* Left arm insignia of the Troupes de Marine

### Regimental Colors

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

### Decorations

The regimental colors are decorated with:
* Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures with :
** 4 palms
* Croix de la Valeur militaire with :
** 1 palm (21 May 2012 for service in Afghanistan).
** 1 palm (31 August 2012 for service in Lebanon – Regularization of the citation at the orders of the armed forces received in 1979).
** 1 palm (1 October 2013 for service in Afghanistan).
* Fourragère with colors of la Croix de la Valeur militaire.
The regiment bears wearing 3 Fourragère:
* Fourragère bearing the colors of the Médaille militaire.
* Fourragère bearing the colors of the Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures.
* Fourragère bearing the colors of the Croix de la Valeur militaire.
* Croix de Guerre TOE
* Croix de la Valeur militaire
* Fourragère aux couleurs de la Médaille militaire
* Fourragère aux couleurs de la Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures

### Honors
#### Battle honors

* INDOCHINE 1951–1954
* AFN 1952–1962

## Regimental Commanders

| 8th Colonial Parachute Battalion 8th Commando Parachute Groupment 8th Parachute Choc Battalion Captain Gautier (1951–1952) Captain Guy Le Borgne (1952–1953) Captain Pierre Tourret (1953–1954) Lieutenant Colonel Kohler (1954–1955) 8th Colonial Parachute Regiment Colonel Louis Fourcade (1956–1958) | 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, 8$^e$ 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, 8$^e$ 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 8$^e$ 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