The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP), an elite force within the French Foreign Legion, maintains its position as the Legion's sole airborne unit. It is renowned for rigorous training, multinational composition, and a high operational tempo. As a critical component of France's rapid reaction force, the regiment is ready for high-intensity interventions worldwide.
2 REP French Foreign Legion Deluxe Hoodie
Since its relocation from Algeria in 1967, the regiment has been based at Camp Raffalli near Calvi on the rugged island of Corsica, south of mainland France. This demanding location supports specialized training across varied environments, including mountain, amphibious, urban, woodland, and desert warfare. The unit fields approximately 1,300–1,340 personnel organized into specialized companies and is equipped for mobility, with a transition underway from the Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB) armored personnel carriers to the more modern VBMR Griffon vehicles.
Origins and Early Combat Legacy
The 2e REP traces its lineage to the Legion's post-World War II airborne units. It descends directly from the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2e BEP), established in 1948, which saw intense action in the First Indochina War (1949–1954). The battalion endured brutal engagements across Cambodia, Annam, Tonkin, and the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, suffering devastating losses before reconstitution.
Elevated to regimental status on December 1, 1955, the unit fought throughout the Algerian War (1954–1962), conducting counter-insurgency operations. After Algerian independence, the regiment transferred to Corsica in 1967, establishing its modern era as an elite para-commando force with company-level specializations.
Iconic Operations and Global Deployments
The 2e REP has participated in nearly every major French external operation since 1970. Its most famous action remains Operation Bonite (also known as the Battle of Kolwezi) in May 1978 during Shaba II in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). Parachuting into the mining town, legionnaires rescued over 2,000 European civilians from rebels in a swift intervention that captured global attention.
Subsequent decades saw continuous engagements:
- Chad (multiple operations from 1969 to the 1980s).
- Lebanon (1982–1984).
- Gulf War (1990–1991, as part of Division Daguet).
- Former Yugoslavia (1990s–2000s).
- Rwanda, Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Somalia, Gabon, and Djibouti.
- Ivory Coast (Opération Licorne, multiple rotations from 2002–2010).
- Afghanistan (2008–2012, notably as GTIA Altor/Surobi in the Task Force La Fayette).
In the 21st century, the regiment shifted focus to counter-terrorism and stabilization:
- Mali (Operation Serval, 2013: parachute assault on Timbuktu followed by fighting in the Adrar des Ifoghas).
- Sahel region (Operation Barkhane, 2014–2022: repeated airborne insertions).
- Domestic operations (Opération Sentinelle in France since 2015).
- Recent deployments include French Guiana and New Caledonia (2024), along with NATO exercises in Estonia.
Structure, Specializations, and Traditions
The regiment is organized into a Command and Logistics Company (CCL), administrative elements, and six companies with distinct expertise:
- 1st Company: Urban warfare and night combat.
- 2nd Company: Mountain warfare.
- 3rd Company: Amphibious operations.
- 4th Company: Woodland combat and demolitions.
- 5th Company: Desert warfare.
- 6th Company: Reserve unit.
The Combat Support Company provides reconnaissance, snipers, heavy mortars, anti-tank teams, and the elite Groupement des Commandos Parachutistes (GCP) for special operations.
The 2e REP maintains unique training facilities and adheres to the motto, "More Majorum" ("In the manner of our ancestors"). The regimental colors bear numerous prestigious decorations, testament to its enduring combat record. The regiment remains a highly professional, battle-hardened component of French military power projection.
