1 Parachute Battalion 1 Parachute Battalion ( Ex Alto Vincimus ) the only full - time paratroop unit of the South African Army . It was established on 1 April 1961 with the formation of the Parachute Battalion . After 1998 this unit was renamed to Parachute Training Centre . It was the first battalion within 44 Parachute Brigade until 1999 when the brigade was downsized to 44 Parachute Regiment The battalion has performed many active operations in battle – producing many highly decorated soldiers — in the South African Border War from 1966 to 1989 . Their best known action was the controversial Battle of Cassinga in 1978 . The unit ' s nickname " Parabat " is a portmanteau derived from the words " Parachute Battalion " . History . In 1960 fifteen volunteers from the SADF were sent to England , the majority to train as parachute instructors , some as parachute - packers and one SAAF pilot in the dropping of paratroopers . These formed the nucleus of 1 Parachute Battalion at Tempe in Bloemfontein . The first paratroopers were Permanent Force men , but soon the training of Citizen Force ( similar to the National Guard of the United States ) paratroopers commenced . Members of 1 Parachute Battalion were the first S . A . Army men to see action after WWII when , in 1966 , they participated , with the South African Police , against insurgents in S . W . A . ( now Namibia ) . In 1966 , members of 1 Parachute Battalion participated in the first action in the war in South West Africa during a heliborne assault on an insurgent base . Thereafter , Parabats were involved in operations in SWA / Namibia , Angola , Zambia , Mozambique and Rhodesia ( now Zimbabwe ) and elsewhere on an almost constant basis for over 20 years . 1 Parachute Bn . was organised as follows : Permanent Force — Batt . H . Q . , H . Q . Coy and A and B Coy ' s ; Citizen Force : C Coy Cape Town , D Coy Durban , E Coy Pretoria and F Coy Johannesburg . Further battalions were added : 1 Para Batt . in 1971 and 3 Para Batt . in 1977 . In 1974 and 1975 1 Parachute Battalion operated along the Angolan border with S . W . A ; along the Caprivi Strip ; a platoon jumped near Luiana , Angola to relieve a group of " Bushmen " trapped by a SWAPO force ; and in Operation Savannah during the Angolan Civil War of 1974 – 5 when 2 companies of 1 Parachute Battalion were dropped on the northern border of SWA at Ruacana and Santa Clara in Angola to relieve two Portuguese communities trapped by the MPLA . With the coming of 44 Parachute Brigade in April 1978 , under the leadership of Brigadier M J du Plessis and Colonel Jan Breytenbach , a co - founder of the brigade it became a powerful force . The first large airborne exercise of the Parachute Battalion Group took place in 1987 in the Northwestern Transvaal ( now North West Province ) . With the eventual disbanding of 44 Parachute Brigade its full - time personnel were moved to Bloemfontein and incorporated into the 1 Parachute Battalion Group . In 1986 , the unit embarked on its first HALO / HAHO ( High altitude Low Opening / High Altutude High Opening ) course in Bloemfontein . This would enable the troops to drop into enemy territory from aircraft following commercial routes . In 2001 battalion personnel formed the spearhead of the South African Protection Support Detachment deploying to Burundi . Training . 1 Parachute Battalion was and still is the sole military parachute training institution in South Africa , with its parachute School being responsible for all training . The school has had only four fatalities in its existence . 1 Parachute Battalion is a full - time unit which in addition to parachute training also conducts force training to national servicemen inducted into the unit and other units in the South African Army . The average age ranges in the mid - twenties . The selection and training of today ' s Parabats remains exceptionally rigorous to ensure that the standard of combat efficiency is retained at a high level . Generally , members of 1 Parachute Battalion visit the various battalions each year early in the training cycle to look for volunteers . These must then pass a physical test at their unit prior to appearing before a selection board , which examines their character and motivation . To give would - be Parabats the endurance and the fitness they will need for operations in the harsh African conditions , the instructors of 44 Parachute Brigade place particular emphasis on basic physical training . Young men volunteering for service with the parachute forces first undergo a battery of medical tests – as stringent as that for flying personnel – before setting off on a timed run . Before they can recover their breath , they tackle the second test : run in which each man carries a comrade on his back . The applicants are then put through various psychological and physical tests – though these are usually well within the reach of anyone with sufficient motivation and willpower . The real ordeal will then start : for four long months , the recruits Bats will endure forced marches , physical exercises , shooting sessions and inspections — all this barracked by the screams of their eagle - eyed instructors . The South African Parabat instructors , like their British counterparts , enforce strict discipline . For example , trainees always take their grooming kit along with them on marches and at dawn , when back at the base with aching bones , devote whatever little time is left they have to rest to ' spit and polish ' . Those who are accepted are then transferred to 1 Para , where they first complete the normal three - month basic training course , with some differences : PT three times a day , no walking in camp under any circumstances and a run to end each day . runs carrying tar poles ; car tyres attached to the candidates by a long rope ; or the dreaded concrete slab that has to be carried everywhere the candidate goes . Some 10 to 20 percent drop out during this phase , returning to their original units . All this builds up to what is called the " koeikamp " ( ' cow camp ' ) . It is 3 days of the ultimate challenge of physical and psychological endurance . The would be Parabats get a 24 - hour ration pack or " rat pack " for the duration of the selection . During these days , they are given several tasks to perform in an allocated time : Several Night marches / runs with bergens , boxing , stretcher run over , digging trenches and the carrying of artillery canisters over during a timed run are just a few of the tasks that has to be completed . On top of all this the candidates are out in the African bush with no showers , hot meals or beds after each gruelling day . Each year the sequence of what " tests " will be done to get the strongest out of the " wannabees " changes , so it comes as quite a surprise each year . Due to lack of sleep , hunger and extreme physical tasks many of the men give up . After all the above tests , the few remaining soldiers head back to camp were they have to complete an obstacle course called the " Elephant " . Some foreign Elite soldiers claimed this to be one of the hardest bone breaking obstacle courses ever . Again , this is a timed exercise , which has to be completed several times , its also done with full battle kit . Again the instructors are looking for any hesitant students during the high obstacles and underwater swim through a narrow tunnel . At the end of the " Elephant " several more students drop out due to injury or not completing the course in the required time . At this point the course has been completed . However , there is always the ' bad surprise " which has historically become part of the Selection Phase . After a six - month ordeal , the selected few ( about 40 % of the original intake ) , make the 12 jumps required to obtain their wings . During this time , the chances of being disqualified are still very high . This phase is followed by some advanced individual training , during which such subjects as advanced driving , demolitions , tactics and patrolling , unarmed combat , survival skills , escape and evasion , aspects of guerrilla warfare , tracking , raiding , counter - insurgency operations , fast rope skills , ambush and anti - ambush techniques and foreign weapons and techniques are covered . Their instructors , however , always find that something is left to be desired with the inspection which invariably follows . To harden their muscles , trainees are made to carry a telegraph pole for two days , at a rate of daily . Back at base , the ' marble ' , a stone weighing about which the soldier must carry wherever he goes , is used as a substitute for the same purpose . The detailed training programme is listed below :