2e Régiment Étranger de Parachutistes, 2e REP. The only airborne regiment of the French Foreign Legion. Constituted in Algeria in late 1955, it has been stationed near the town of Calvi, Corsica, since it moved there from Algeria’s Bou Sfer in mid-1967.
The 2e REP actively participated in the Algerian War (1954-62). In 1978, it became popular around the world thanks to the successful participation in the Battle of Kolwezi.
The regiment took over the number, traditions and history of its predecessor that fought in French Indochina between 1949 and 1954, the famous 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2e BEP, 1948-55).
During its history, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment also integrated men of another two Legion airborne regiments: the 3e REP (in 1955) and the 1er REP (in 1961).
In recent decades, the 2e REP took part in several military operations and conflicts, including those in Chad, Zaire, Iraq, ex-Yugoslavia, Ivory Coast, Afghanistan, Mali or Niger. Its legionnaires also deployed to Djibouti, Lebanon, Rwanda, Gabon, Somalia or the Central African Republic.
History of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
Discover the history of the 2e REP during the 1955-2018 period. Well-ordered data, including 70+ pictures from all decades: History of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment.
History of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion
To learn more about the history of the 2e REP’s predecessor fighting in French Indochina in the 1950s, see this detailed article: History of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion
Current structure of 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
The regiment is divided (in 2023) into 9 companies. It consists of around 1,300 officers and legionnaires. Some non-Legion NCOs (even females) serve with the unit, too. A reserve company comprising non-Legion reservists is also assigned to the 2e REP.
The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment is a motorized light infantry regiment designated as an airborne intervention unit; it is trained and equipped to respond quickly to emergency situations such as in Loyada in 1976, Kolwezi in 1978, or Ivory Coast in 2004. The unit makes part of the 11th Parachute Brigade (11e BP).
The 2e REP includes 5 combat companies trained in different military specialities: urban warfare (1re CIE), mountain warfare (2e CIE), amphibious warfare (3e CIE), explosives use (4e CIE), desert warfare (5e CIE). The sixth combat company (CA, ex-CEA) operates a portable medium-range anti-tank missile system platoon (MMP, which replaced a previous system, MILAN), a machine gun support platoon (SAM, created in 2015), a sniper platoon (STE) and a parachute commando platoon (GCP). The reconnaissance platoon (SRR) of ex-CEA was disbanded in 2015.
In 2023, the 2e REP is composed of:
- HQ & Logistics Company (Compagnie de Commandement et de Logistique, CCL)
- Administration & Service Support Company (Compagnie d’Administration et de Soutien, CAS)
- 1st Company (1re Compagnie, 1re CIE)
- 2nd Company (2e Compagnie, 2e CIE)
- 3rd Company (3e Compagnie, 3e CIE)
- 4th Company (4e Compagnie , 4e CIE)
- 5th Company (5e Compagnie , 5e CIE)
- Combat Support Company (Compagnie d’Appui, CA, ex-CEA)
- Direct Combat Support Platoon (Section d’Appui Direct, SAD)
- Machine Gun Support Platoon (Section d’Appui Mitrailleuse, SAM)
- Snipers Platoon (Section de Tireurs d’Elite, STE)
- Parachute Commando Group (Groupement des Commandos Parachutistes, GCP)
- Regimental Maintenance Company (Compagnie de Maintenance Régimentaire, CMR)
- 6th Reserve Company (6e Compagnie de Réserve, 6e CIE)
| NICKNAME: | Le REP (The REP) |
|---|---|
| ACTIVATION: | 1955 |
| MOTTO: | “More Majorum” (In the manner of our ancestors) |
| REGIM. MARCH: | La Legion marche vers le front |
| OFFIC. FB PAGE: | 2e Régiment Étranger de Parachutistes |
| FFL INFO POSTS: | 2e REP’s category |
REP Info Bulletins 2011-17
To see older news + a number of nice photos, you can view 2e REP Info bulletins. Click the link or image below: Full list of 2REP Infos
Location of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
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