The Paratrooper Brigade is an airborne brigade of the Spanish Armed Forces called Black Berets and it is one of the Polyvalent Brigades of the Land Force of the Spanish Army. Today it is considered as one of the quintessential elite units of the Spanish Army, along with the Spanish Legion.
History
Raised in 1953, the Paratrooper Brigade is one of the most elite units of the Army. The Bandera designation dates from the 1950s when Spanish Legion personnel formed part of its units from the moment these were raised. The unit's first combat jump took place on November 25, 1957 when 75 troopers jumped from 5 Junkers Ju 52 transports at Tiliun during the Ifni War with Morocco. From just a single battalion, it became a fully fledged brigade in 1965 with BGEN Julio Coloma Gallegos as its first commander.
Combat capabilities
Currently the BRIPAC is a unit with a high degree of professionalism, morale and training, ready to deploy at any time and place.
As a polyvalent and paratrooper unit, it is designed to operate autonomously behind enemy lines, without relying on fire support and the corresponding risk of friendly fire casualties. The Brigade consists of soldiers trained and equipped to operate as a key element for force projection, or in a framework for the creation of tactical groupings. Their specialty allows enough flexibility to function across the spectrum of conflict. The BRIPAC is articulated in a Brigade Headquarters and a number of, fixed in each, combat, combat support and combat logistical support units. Those polyvalent combat units are:
The HQ, in addition to the corresponding functions in relation to the control, use and preparation of the Brigade, and employment of its units, is suitable for use in the command structure operating at any given moment. Properly reinforced, it can be at the command of a brigade-level operational organization of national or multinational scope. To accomplish these missions, the BRIPAC develops an extensive and demanding training program, allowing its members to deploy the following capabilities:
- Continuing Education Day: Exercises of about 30 hours in order to perform a demanding and intensive instruction in all tactical positions. - Alfa-Exercises: Exercises four days used to complete the instruction section and coordinate the preparation of the various units of the Company. - Beta-Exercises: Exercises of varying length where the Flag type unit / group coordinates the development achieved by the Cia. and integrates as a whole unit, thus achieving the tactical capabilities needed to fulfill the tasks assigned. - Bilateral Exercises: Exercises paratroopers cooperation with other countries that serve for the exchange of knowledge, skills and experiences. - Other Courses: In addition to the above described, the BRIPAC develops other exercises and maneuvers with other Army units in order to unify the operating procedures of the various support units such as Practice School of Artillery, Sappers or transmissions.
Casualties
Killed in Action: 47, including 6 KIAs in Lebanon in March 2007 and in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007
