1 Parachute Battalion

1 Parachute Battalion
Insignia & Beret
Active	April 1, 1961 – present
Country	South Africa
Branch	File:SADF Army Flag 1973-1994.gif File:SANDF Army Flag Current.gif
Type	Infantry (Paratroopers)
Nickname(s)	Parabats
Motto(s)	Ex alto vincimus (We conquer from Above)

1 Parachute Battalion is 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 Bn. 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 as O.C. 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 North Western 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 in to 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

Qualification Jump

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 standards of this school are second to none in the world and it's proud of a safety record totaling 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 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) timed run. Before they can recover their breath, they tackle the second test: 200 metres (0.12 mi) 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 30 kilometres (19 mi) 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 10 to 15 kilometres (6.2 to 9.3 mi) run to end each day. 20 kilometres (12 mi) runs carrying tar poles; car tyres attached to the candidates by a long rope; or the dreaded 25 kilograms (55 lb) 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 20 to 30 kilometres (12 to 19 mi) Night marches/runs with 25 kilograms (55 lb) bergens, boxing, 75 kilograms (165 lb) stretcher run over 20 kilometres (12 mi), digging trenches and the carrying of artillery canisters over 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) 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 grueling 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 20 kilometres (12 mi) daily. Back at base, the 'marble', a stone weighing about 25 kilograms (55 lb) which the soldier must carry wherever he goes, is used as a substitute for the same purpose. The detailed training programme is listed below:

Qualifications

Marble PT – 1982

Obstacle Course

Basic Training – 10 Weeks

• Musketry

  Field Craft

  Drill

  Map Reading

  Buddy Aid

  Physical Training – Very important

Parachute Qualification Training – 5 Weeks

• Parachute Selection – 2 Weeks (8 hours Physical Training every day for 2 weeks)

  Running 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) and more with boots

  Running up to 21 kilometres (13 mi) with logs

  Battle PT with Logs, Concrete Blocks and Rifles

  Route Marches of 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) with full kit

  Boxing, Soccer, Wrestling, Rugby with Car Tyre as ball

  Callisthenic Exercises

  Qualification Tests (60% must be attained after the 2 weeks Parachute Selection)

  3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) with full kit in 18 minutes

  40 Shuttle Runs in 90 seconds

  200 metres (0.12 mi) fireman’s lift with full kit

  Climb a 6 meter rope

  Climb over a 2 meter wall with full kit

  50 pushups without resting

  67 sit-ups in 2 minutes

  120 squat kicks without resting

Parachute Training

3 Weeks following successful parachute selection

• Ground training in hangar

  Jumping from “aapkas” (Outdoor exit trainer)

  Jumping from Dakota Aircraft

  Jumping from C130 / C160 Transall Aircraft

  Jumping includes day and night jumps, with and without kit using standard and steerable parachutes

  A total of 8 jumps must be completed before the sought after paratrooper wings are awarded

• Current Day Selection and Training for the Physical portion of the Parachute Course

  Until 1991 the physical portion of the Parachute Qualifying course was 2 weeks, but due to national service being shortened to one year, the army had a need to change and make the training more compact and fast paced. However some of the ‘older’ Parabats still do physical training courses to ensure that standards do not drop.

Individual Training – 8 Weeks

• Platoon Weapons

  Battle Craft

  Specialist Training (in one of the following mustering)

  Section Leaders

  Rifleman

  Mortar man

  Anti-Tank Gunner

  Machine Gunner

  Signaler

  Intelligence NCO

  Medical Orderly

  Driver

  Clerk

  Parachute Packer

  Store man

Conventional Warfare Training – 10 Weeks

• Advance

  Defence

  Withdrawal

  Cooperation with Armoured, Artillery, Air Force etc.

  Airborne Operations including Air Assault battle handling on sub-unit level

Counter-Insurgency (COIN) Training – 9 Weeks

• Bush Warfare Techniques

  Reaction Force Operations

  Specialized Air Operations

  Airborne Raids

Active Operational Duty

• Second year of training involves regular tours of 2 or 3 months of operational service. During this time a Paratrooper in the SADF is likely to see a considerable amount of action

Other Training

• Specialist Parachute and other Training Courses include:

  Pathfinder Training

  Basic Fast-Rope/repelling skills

  

  Fast roping from a South African Air Force Atlas Oryx

  Fast-Rope/repelling dispatchers

  Fast-Rope/repelling instructors

  Static Line dispatchers course

  Basic Parachute instructors course

  Advance static line jump course

  Basic Free Fall Course

  Free fall dispatchers course

  Free fall instructors course

  Advanced free fall course

  Advanced free fall instructors course

  Drop zone safety officers course

  Parachute Packing and checking course

  Tandem parachuting

Tannie Mossie

Ms. Joan Abrahams (Tannie Mossie)

A very distinctive tradition of the Parabats involved 'Tannie Mossie' (English: Aunt Sparrow).

Tannie Mossie is Ms. Joan Abrahams, a teacher in the city of Bloemfontein. She chose the name after the legend of a group of women who requested government to put a sparrow on the smallest coin in South Africa’s currency denomination. The reference comes from the Bible in Matthew 10:29: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father".

Half Cent Coin and Verse

Tannie Mossie wanted every soldier to know that God will protect them “falling from the sky” with their parachutes. She handed every soldier a necklace, consisting of a half cent on a string of para-cord, before they were deployed for active duty, telling them the story of the women and of Matthew 10:29. She truly loved the soldiers and the duty they were doing for their country and took it upon herself to be a mother or loving aunt to all of them. She enlisted thousands of elementary school children to write letters to the parabats, usually titled: Liewe Oom Dapper Soldaat (Dear Uncle Brave Soldier).

These letters made an impact on many soldiers, not only providing a face of the innocents that the soldiers were protecting, but also much more. Even soldiers killed in action were found with some of these letters, tattered from repeated reading, folded inside their pocket Bibles. Lifelong friendships were found with families from these letters and an unknown amount of motivation came from them.

Apart from letters, Tannie Mossie made sure that paratroopers regularly got other mail, food parcels, visits and even published a few books – which were mostly compilations of soldiers' tales.