Paratroopers Brigade "Almogávares" VI

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Paratroopers Brigade "Almogávares" VI
Brigada "Almogávares" VI de Paracaidistas
Coat of Arms of the Brigade
Active	17 October 1953 - present
Country	Spain
Branch	Army
Type	Airborne Forces
Size	3,000
Garrison/HQ	Madrid Murcia
Nickname(s)	Paracas
Motto(s)	¡Desperta Ferro! (Awake iron!) ¡Triunfar o Morir! (Succeed or die!) Per crucem ad lucem (Through the cross to light)
Anniversaries	October 17
Engagements	Rif War Ifni War Yugoslav Wars Afghanistan War Iraq War Lebanon War Bosnian War Kosovo War Military intervention against ISIL
Commanders
Notable commanders
Insignia
Coat of Arms as Light Infantry Brigade (Until 2016)

The Paratroopers Brigade "Almogávares" VI (Spanish: Brigada "Almogávares" VI de Paracaidistas - BOP PAC VI)^[1][2] is an Multipurpose Organic Brigade (Spanish: Brigada Orgánica Polivalente - BOP) of the Spanish Army assigned to the Division "San Marcial". The brigade is named for the Almogavars, quick-moving foot-soldiers of the Christian Iberian kingdoms in the later phase of the medieval Reconquista. The brigade was named Paratroopers Light Infantry Brigade "Almogávares" VI Spanish: Brigada de Infantería Ligera Paracaidista "Almogávares" VI until 2015.

History[]

Raised in 1953 as one of the most elite units of the Army the brigade's battalions were named Bandera (Flag/lit. "banner" - an archaic 16th century term) as Spanish Legion personnel formed part of the brigade's first units. 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.^[3] 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.

• Rapid deployment.
• High availability - two GT, s.
• Joint-combined operations
• Involvement vertical.
• HALO / HAHO (high altitude parachute jump).
• Operations developed land.
• Peacekeeping operations.
• Limited fire support

Capabilities CIMIC (Civil - Military Cooperation)[]

• Evacuation Control Center.
• Reception Center (refugee camp)
• Humanitarian corridors
• Civil Support Emergency Planning
• Public information

Organization and mission[]

Originally the brigade comprised the following units:

• Brigade Headquarters
• 3x Parachute Banderas
• Airborne Artillery Group (GACAPAC)
• Parachute Engineers Battalion (BZPAC VI)
• Airborne Logistics Group (GLPAC VI)
• Airborne Signals Company (CIATRANSPAC VI)

During the Spanish Army's reform in 2015 the brigade was reformed as a multipurpose brigade with the same structure and equipment as the brigades: "Rey Alfonso XIII" II of the Legion, "Galicia" VII, and "Canarias" XVI, with only the Paratroopers Infantry Bandera "Roger de Flor" I/4 retaining full paratroopers status.

• Paratroopers Brigade "Almogávares" VI, in Paracuellos de Jarama^[4]
  • Headquarters Battalion VI, in Paracuellos de Jarama
  • Cavalry Regiment "Lusitania" No. 8, in Marines
    • Light Armored Cavalry Group "Sagunto" I/8 (Centauro tank destroyers and VEC-M1 reconnaissance vehicles)
  • Paratroopers Infantry Regiment "Nápoles" No. 4, in Paracuellos de Jarama
    • Paratroopers Infantry Bandera "Roger de Flor" I/4
    • Protected Infantry Bandera "Roger de Lauria" II/4 (RG-31 Nyala and VAMTAC ST5 vehicles)
  • Infantry Regiment "Zaragoza" No. 5, in Alcantarilla
    • Protected Infantry Bandera "Ortiz de Zárate" III/5 (BMR-M1 armored personnel carriers)
  • Field Artillery Group VI, in Paracuellos de Jarama (L-118A1 towed howitzers)
  • Engineer Battalion VI, in Paracuellos de Jarama
  • Logistic Group VI, in Paracuellos de Jarama

Spanish soldiers of the Parachute Brigade in Afghanistan.

Training[]

Training prepares its members to perform the following types of missions:

• Airborne operations
• Airmobile operations
• Noncombatant evacuation (NEO).
• Operations abroad
• Combat operations as standard infantrymen
• Capabilities paratroopers ET.

Courses[]

- 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 (1) and 2007 (2)
• In Accidents: 71
• Deceased on active duty: 65 ^[1]

References[]