10th Parachute Brigade (Malaysia)


The 10th Parachute Brigade, commonly known as 10 Para, is an elite brigade-sized airborne unit within the Malaysian Army tasked with being rapidly deployed inside or outside the boundaries of Malaysia. 10 Para is the key element of the Rapid Deployment Force.
10 Para is the only elite unit in the Malaysian Armed Forces to open its membership to women. The other elite unit to open its membership to women is the Unit Tindakhas of the Royal Malaysia Police.

History

10 Para's primary role is to be the nation's main offensive force in time of war or emergencies. The creation of the Parachute Brigade was proposed by Malaysia's defence planners in the late 1970s as a part of the modernisation plan for the military. The plan originally did not receive much support from the government due to concerns that the formation of such a brigade would be looked with suspicion by its neighbour, Singapore.
In November 1988, Malaysia was unable to respond to a request for assistance by Maldives when that country was invaded by Tamil mercenaries. This inability to render timely help to prompt Malaysian leaders to move to form paratrooper units within the Malaysian Army.

Timeline

10 Parachute Brigade is highly skilled in accordance with its status as a Rapid Deployment Force. The paratroopers are vigorously trained for specialised combat operations and rapid deployment in alignment with the brigade's motto Tindak Pantas. The 10 Para can be deployed from land, air and sea.

Identities

Maroon beret
Cap badge
Parachutist badge
PAC shoulder tab
Airborne shoulder tab
Slogan

Brigade composition

10 Parachute Brigade is based at Terendak Camp, Malacca, also known as 'Home of the Paras'.

Current formation

The brigade consists of:
Members of the brigade must pass a Kursus Asas Payung Terjun and Kursus Asas Pasukan Aturgerak Cepat before being qualified to wear the maroon beret and parachute wing.

Preparatory Course (2 Weeks)

This warm-up session lasts for two weeks. The candidates are prepared physically and mentally for the actual course. Candidates need to run 2.5 km twice a day at 0700 hrs and 1500 hrs.

Basic Parachute Course (4 Weeks)

This course is conducted at PULPAK, Sungai Udang Camp, Malacca. This course is compulsory for a non-combat soldier to be attached to the 10 Para.
This course is divided into three phases:

Phase 1: Theory

The first phase lasts for two weeks. Candidates are taught the correct techniques, how to land, emergency procedures if the main chute did not deploy or did not open correctly, emergency procedures if a collision happens in the air, how to deploy the second chute, discipline in the aircraft, landing techniques in difficult conditions and the correct technique to pack the parachute after landing.
Every Friday, candidates need to pass these physical tests:
Lasts for one week, the theories learnt in phase 1 is tested at high tower. Each candidate needs to carry of equipment for each exercise. The exercises are:
This is the final phase of the Basic Parachute Course. Non-PAC candidates are given their parachute wings right after performing the last jump while the PAC candidates move to the next course. In jump week, candidates are sent to a selected airport. The airport and drop zones are not fixed. Some of the known drop zones are Gong Kedak, Kelantan, Padang Terap, Kedah and Pontian, Johor.
Compulsory jump is eight jumps with at least two jumps in full battle equipment. However, there are a few cases in which only seven jumps are needed if the weather conditions did not permit.

Basic Rapid Deployment Course (5 Weeks)

Known as Kursus Asas Pasukan Aturgerak Cepat in Malay language, this rigorous course is conducted at Perkampungan Gempita Para, Terendak Camp, Malacca. The purpose of this course is to mentally and physically train the paratroopers to its elite status, applying esprit de corps and emphasise the 'Buddy System' among themselves. Also known as Latihan Semangat Waja, this course is divided into two phases.

Phase 1: Camp phase

Trainees need to learn theory and also endure physical training.
The theories they need to learn are:
Physical training/test they need to endure:
In this phase, trainees are trained with basic 10 Para tasks and they will be tested to perform the task under stress. Among the training is:
The final training is conducted at Parawood, Terendak Camp. Trainees need to swim in murky water with weapon and equipment before been bestowed with the maroon beret and the bleeding wing. The ceremony ends with the para oath and para dance by the graduates.

Advanced training

The career with the 10 Para does not stop once they receive the maroon beret. The 10 Para members can proceed to the next level of training by participating in an advanced course offered to them by the Malaysian Armed Forces. They can also try to join the 10 Para's Special Forces Equivalent Unit, the Pandura Company. Some of the veteran paratroopers of the 10 Para proceeded to enter the Basic Commando Course.
Some of the Advanced/Specialist training includes:
;Pistols
;Shotguns
;Submachine guns
;Assault rifles
;Sniper rifles
;Anti-material rifles
;Machineguns
;Grenade launchers
;Anti-tank / Anti-aircraft / Rocket launchers

Recent Operations

The unit has been deployed in the following operations:
OperationCountryYear
Malaysian Medical Team, ChamanPakistan
MASMEDTIM, KashmirPakistan
MASMEDTIM, AchehIndonesia
Operations PADANAN SIPADAN ISLAND RESORT Malaysia2006
Operation Astute2006
MALCON-UNIFIL, LebanonLebanon2007–present
Genting Sempah IncidentMalaysia2007
MALCON-ISAF, AfghanistanAfghanistan2011–present
Ops DaulatMalaysia2013

;Malaysian Medical Team, Pakistan
On 14 October 2005, The Malaysian Medical Team soldiers serving in earthquake-hit Battagram, Pakistan have been recommended for a service allowance of RM100 a day. The team, which left for Pakistan had set up a field hospital in Battagram, some 250 km from Islamabad, on 26 October. Equipped only with tents that were more suitable for the tropics and kerosene heaters, MasMedTim soldiers had to battle subzero temperatures while carrying out their duties of providing aid to survivors of 8 October South Asia earthquake. Insufficient winter clothes and the lack of hot water at the campsite was affecting soldiers for over two months now as the temperature sometimes dropped to minus 7 degrees Celsius at night.
;Operations "Padanan, Sipadan Island Resort"
The security surveillance, code-named Operation Padanan Sipadan Island Resort or known as Ops Pasir, which was launched on 20 September 2000 following the hostage-taking incidents in Sipadan and Pandanan islands, had restored confidence among tourists, including from the United States, to come to the resort islands. The integrated operation involves the Malaysian army, navy and air force as well as other related agencies such as the police and the coast guard.

Honorary maroon beret

As the second most prestige beret in the Malaysian Army; only after the green beret of the Grup Gerak Khas, the maroon beret of 10 Para is honorarily awarded to the high ranking individuals, military or government high ranking and foreign VIPs. In Malaysia, the honorary beret is part of the official military attires.
Among the recipients is:
Books, televisions and movie featuring the 10th Parachute Brigade