School of Parachute Troops
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| School of Parachute Troops | |
|---|---|
 School of Parachute Troops Emblem |
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| Active | 1955 – Present day |
| Country | Portugal |
| Branch | Portuguese Army |
| Type | Airborne (Paratroop-type) |
| Size | More than 1000 men (1 batallion) |
| Part of | Portuguese Rapid Reaction Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | Tancos Military Base |
| Nickname | Páras/Boinas Verdes |
| Motto | "Que nunca por vencidos se conheçam" |
The ETP - Escola de Tropas Páraquedistas (School of Parachute Troops), based in Tancos, is a unit of the Portuguese Army and serves as HQ for recruitment and training of the portuguese paratroopers. This unit includes an entire battalion, acting as support and reserve for airborne units, as well as military dogs and Airborne Pathfinders (Special Operations Forces).
The ETP is part of the Portuguese Rapid Reaction Brigade one of the three Brigades that make up the Portuguese Army.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Prologue
After the successful use of paratroopers in the Second World War by the Allies, it became essential for every Armed Force of any given country to have Parachute Troops. The portuguese defense cabinet realized this and so in the 50's the Portuguese Armed Forces started to form its own unit of this type.
First, two captains of the Army went to France to take the parachute course at the École de Troupes Aeroportèes. Then the Portuguese Air Force was created as an independent branch of the military and it was decided that the paratroopers would be part of it. The BCP - Batalhão de Caçadores Páraquedistas (Airborne Hunters Battalion) was then formed, with their elements wearing some special gear, like berets and camo uniforms. The unit was deployed to Tancos, which still serves as the HeadQuarters for the modern portuguese parachute troops.
In 1961, the colonial war began and it became necessary to have more troops to fight in Africa. The BCP was promoted to Regiment (RCP - Regimento de Caçadores Páraquedistas - Regiment of Airborne Hunters) and more batalions were created outside Portugal, in the colonies to fight the separatist guerrila movements.
On the 25th of April of 1974, a military coup supported by the people, thrown off the dictatorship in Portugal, the war ended and a military reform was started on the paratroopers the year after.
[edit] The ETP
On the 5th of July of 1975 the BETP - Base Escola de Tropas Pára-Quedistas (School Base of Parachute Troops) was formed at the RCP (which was disbanded) and integrated in the CTP - Corpo de Tropas Paraquedistas (Parachute Troops Corps) of the Portuguese Air Force.
Changes in the organization of the unit would happen 18 years later, in 1993 when the Defense Minister decided that the entire corps should leave the Air Force and make part of the Army. This meant also that the Commandos Regiment would be disbanded and the commandos to have a parachute course would be part of the new unit which was named BAI - Brigada Aerotransporta Independente (Independent Airborne Brigade). The BETP then changed its name again to ETAT - Escola de Tropas Aerotransportadas (School of Airborne Troops).
The last reorganization of the Army though, changed the ETAT designation again to ETP - Escola de Tropas Páraquedistas (School of Parachute Troops) with the BAI being renamed and reorganized as BRR - Brigada de Reacção Rápida .
[edit] ETP Sub-Units
The ETP is made of the following units:
- Instruction Battalion: responsible for the forming of paratroopers. (Recruitment, Parachute course, Combat course, etc)
- Airborne Support Battalion:
- Airborne Equipment Company
- Airborne Supplying Company
- Pathfinders Company
- Airborne Activity Center
- War Dogs Center
- Engineers Platoon
- Anti-aircraft artillery Platoon
- Heavy Mortars Platoon
- Selection of Parachute Troops Center
