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S A S O L D I E Revents1 Parachute Battalion stillsecond to none after 50 yearsArticle and photos byS Sgt Lebogang Tlhaole“ They fought on land and in the air,gallant in their obligation, theirone and only care, to keep free ourgreat nation. We walk the streetsfree from strife, with freedom ofspeech and thought, because theypaid the ultimate price in battles that theyfought." These words were written byTony Channing and are well known tothe paratroopers.1 Parachute Battalion is a fully functional andinternationally recognised unit and the only RegularForce parachute battalion in the SANDF.1 Parachute Battalion celebrated their50th anniversary on 1 April 2011 at theTempe Military Base in Bloemfonteinwith a series of ceremonies, including amock attack by Pathfinders, a troopingof the colours parade in slow and quicktime and a static display by the airborneforces.1 Parachute Battalion is a fully functionaland internationally recognised unitand the only Regular parachute battalionin the SANDF. Currently theBattalion falls under 44 ParachuteRegiment, which serves as its higherheadquarters. The Battalion forms partof the Chief of the SANDF StrategicReserve and is at all times combatready for rapid deployment anywherein sub-Saharan Africa.OriginsThe origin of the Battalion goes back to1960 when a group of 15 volunteerswent to England for parachute trainingas well as parachute related training,such as rigger and pilot proceduraltraining at the Royal Air Force in1 Parachute Battalion celebrated their 50th anniversary with aseries of ceremonies, such as a trooping of the colours parade inslow and quick time.Abingdon in the United Kingdom.These members were also trained asparachute instructors to train SouthAfrican paratroopers. Upon their returnto South Africa, 1 Parachute Battalionwas established on 1 April 1961. Astime went on 2 Parachute Battalion and3 Parachute Battalion were establishedto accommodate Citizen Force paratroopers.In 1971 the South African Special Forceswas established. The founding memberswere also members of 1 ParachuteBattalion. This battalion is thus regardedas the organisation from which allthe South African airborne forces originate.With the establishment of the newGovernment on 27 April 1994 all theparachute forces of the SA DefenceForce, the Transkei Defence Force, theBophuthatswana Defence Force and theCiskei Defence Force were integrated36• J U N E 2 0 1 1
eventsS A S O L D I E Rinto the structures of 1Parachute Battalion.Although tremendous challengeswere experiencedwith integration, the espritde corps associated withwings and the maroon beretcontributed to binding thenewly formed 1 ParachuteBattalion together into afighting machine parexcellence.Since 1998, 1 ParachuteBattalion has participated innumerous multinationalexercises with different foreignarmies, both in SouthAfrica and abroad. Themembers of 1 ParachuteBattalion took part inOperation BOLEAS inLesotho as part of a SouthernAfrican DevelopmentCommunity (SADC) force.Several members were lostin this operation.1 Parachute Battalion is a fully functional and internationally recognisedunit and the only Regular parachute battalion in the SANDF.In 1999 they were the veryfirst members to be deployedto Burundi as part ofOperation FIBRE and theyagain contributed in ensuringthat the Comoros heldfree and fair elections in2006. In 2009 they participatedin the first multi-forceSADC Brigade Exercise,Exercise GOLFINO that tookplace at the SA ArmyCombat Training Centre atLohatlha. One company ofthe Battalion is at presentdeployed in the Sudan with5 SA Infantry Battalion.The members of 1 ParachuteBattalion pledge to sacrificethemselves for their country as isexpected of them and they are themembers of a unit which is second tonone in the world. They are proud andMaj Gen Themba Nkabinde, General Officer Commanding SA ArmyInfantry Formation, had a special word of acknowledgement for SergeantMajor Odendal as the member of the very first group of paratroopers whoreceived training in the United Kingdom.fully-fledged members of the parachutebattalion. They serve this country andnation with pride and distinction andconduct themselves well at all times asis required of a paratrooper. Theybelieve in themselves, in their unit andtheir country and above all they believein God.J U N E 2 0 1 1 • s 37
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