1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment

1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
1e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes
Active	1943–present
Country	France
Branch	French Army formerly French Air Force (1937–1943)
Type	Airborne forces
Role	Airborne infantry
Size	~ 1,100 Rapaces
Part of	11th Parachute Brigade 3rd Division
Garrison/HQ	Pamiers, France
Motto(s)	Vaincre ou mourir (Win or die)
Anniversaries	Saint Michael, September 29
Engagements	World War II North Africa Campaign Liberation of Paris First Indochina War Battle of Dien Bien Phu Algerian War Lebanese Civil War 1975–1990 United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon[1][2] Multinational Force 1982–1984 Global War on Terrorism War in Afghanistan (2001–present) Northern Mali conflict Operation Serval
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Olivier Vidal[3]
Notable commanders	Henri Sauvagnac Jacques Faure Paul Aussaresses
Abbreviation	1er RCP

The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (French: 1^er Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes, 1^er R.C.P) is the oldest and among the most decorated Airborne forces regiments of the French Army. Established in the French Army in 1943 and formerly part of the French Air Force since 1937, the chasseur distinguished its Regimental Colors during the campaigns of the Liberation of Paris, the First Indochina War in 1947, 1950, 1953, 1954 and the Algerian War. This elite regiment is part of the 11th Parachute Brigade.

The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment is the only French parachute regiment that traces its roots to the French Air Force, hence the representation of a golden Hawk on the rank insignia and that of uniforms and which originally referred to the 601st Airborne Infantry Group and 602nd Airborne Infantry Group respectively (601^e G.I.A, 602^e G.I.A).