8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
8e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine
Active28 February 1951 – present

(same unit, different designations)

8e B.P.Colonial 1951
8e G.C.P 1952
8e B.P.Choc 1953
8e R.P.C 1956–1958
8e R.P.I.Ma 1958 – present
CountryFrance
Branch
TypeAirborne regiment
RoleAir assault
Close-quarters combat
Direct action
Parachuting
Reconnaissance
Urban warfare
Long-range penetration
Size1200 men and women
Part of11th Parachute Brigade
3rd Division
Garrison/HQCastres, France
Motto(s)Volontaire (Volunteer)
ColorsBlue and red
AnniversariesSaint-Michel Day
EngagementsFirst Indochina War
Battle of Hòa Bình
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Algerian War
Lebanese Civil War 1975–1990

Gulf War
War on Terror (2001-Present)

Commanders
Current
commander
Philippe du Chaxel
Notable
commanders
Guy Le Borgne
Pierre Tourret
François Cann
Insignia
Insignia of the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
Abbreviation8e RPIMa

The 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (French: 8e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine, 8e RPIMa) is an airborne regiment of the Troupes de Marine. The 8e 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.[1] Current missions of the 8e 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.

  1. ^ "8e RPIMa". French government. Retrieved 17 February 2012.