10 Paratrooper Brigade (Malaysia)

Origin

10th Para's primary role is to be the nation's main offensive force in time of war or emergencies. The creation of the Parachute Brigade was proposed by Malaysia's defence planners in the late 1970s as a part of the modernisation plan for the military. The plan originally did not receive much support from the government due to concerns that the formation of such a brigade would be looked with suspicion by its neighbour, Singapore.

In November 1988, Malaysia was unable to respond to a request for assistance by Maldives when that country was invaded by Tamil mercenaries. This inability to render timely help prompted Malaysian leaders to move to form paratrooper units within the Malaysian Army.

Timeline

1988 - a single Malaysian Army infantry battalion from the 8th Royal Ranger Regiment is parachute trained and converted from their traditional infantry role into a parachute battalion. This battalion becomes the first members of the new rapid deployment force.

1990 - 17th Royal Malay Regiment and 9th Royal Malay Regiment are jump qualified and join the rapid deployment force.

10 October 1994 - Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mahathir Mohamad formally redesignates the 10 Malaysian Infantry Brigade as the 10 Parachute Brigade.

October 1994 - 10 PARA undertakes a rapid deployment exercise, supported by elements of the Malaysian Special Forces Group (Grup Gerak Khas) and PASKAL and with operational support provided by the Royal Malaysian Navy and Royal Malaysian Air Force. The Halilintar Exercise 1994 centres on a scenario of the retaking of Langkawi International Airport from an invading force by the Rapid Deployment Force spearheaded by 8th Rangers (Para).

11 May 2010 - the Indonesian Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General George Toisutta was given the Honorary Maroon Beret and Honorary Airborne Wing of 10 Paratroopers by Chief of Malaysian Army, General Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail Bin Jamaluddin as an honorary member of the unit at Fort Terendak, Malacca.

Roles

10 Paratrooper Brigade is highly skilled in accordance with its status as a Rapid Deployment Force. Paratroopers are vigorously trained for specialised combat operations and rapid deployment in alignment with the brigade's motto -Tindak Pantas (English: Act Fast).

Identities

Maroon beret

The maroon beret worn by the 10 Paratrooper Brigade is known as Pegasus. The conditions for wearing the maroon beret are to pass the basic parachute course and to successfully complete the adjustment course of the Maroon Beret. This is an imitation of the British Parachute Regiment, as is the way the beret is worn and the cap badge. Much of their training is based on the British paras due to their reputation of being the best airborne force in the world.

Parachute wings

For 10 Para members, the parachute wings are titled Sayap Berdarah meaning The Bleeding Wings.

Brigade composition

10 Paratrooper Brigade is based at Terendak Camp, Malacca, also known as 'Home of the Paras'.

The brigade consists of:

Four parachute battalions

9th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment (Para)

17th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment (Para)

8th Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment (Para)

18th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment (Para)

Royal Artillery Regiment

1st Royal Artillery Regiment (Para)

Royal Armoured Corps

Royal Armoured Squadron (Para) - Equipped with Alvis Scorpion 90 armed with 90 mm Cockerill Mk III gun and Stormer APC armed with 20 mm Oerlikon Contraves gun.

Support units

10 Squadron Royal Signals Regiment (Para)

361 Battery Air Defence Royal Artillery Regiment (Para)

10 Squadron Royal Engineer Regiment (Para)

Reconnaissance Company (Para)

Support Company (Para)

Royal Military Police Corps Platoon (Para)

Royal Medical Corps Company (Para)

Training

Members of the brigade must pass a basic Airborne Course and Rapid Deployment Force Orientation Course (Kursus Asas Pasukan Aturgerak Cepat) before being qualified to wear the maroon beret and parachute wing.

Many of the qualifying tests include: marches, raids, escape and evasions, abseiling, rappelling, mounted Gunung Ledang, survival skills, navigation, boating, running, and armoury dexterities.

These were designed to mentally and physically test candidates for jump qualifications.

Basics for specialists include:

1. Tactical Air Landing Operations (TALO)
2. Parachute course
3. Close Quarters Combat (CQC)
4. HALO/HAHO
5. Sniper course
6. Demolition expert
7. Marksmanship
8. Sharpshooters etc.

Recent Operations

The unit has been deployed in the following operations:

Malaysian Medical Team, Pakistan

On 14 October 2005, The Malaysian Medical Team (MasMedTim) soldiers serving in earthquake-hit Battagram, Pakistan have been recommended for a service allowance of RM100 a day. The team, which left for Pakistan had set up a field hospital in Battagram, some 250 km from Islamabad, on 26 October. Equipped only with tents that were more suitable for the tropics and kerosene heaters, MasMedTim soldiers had to battle subzero temperatures while carrying out their duties of providing aid to survivors of 8 October South Asia earthquake. Insufficient winter clothes and the lack of hot water at the campsite was affecting soldiers for over two months now as the temperature sometimes dropped to minus-7 degrees Celsius at night.

Operations "Padanan, Sipadan Island Resort"

The security surveillance, code-named Operation Padanan Sipadan Island Resort or known as Ops Pasir, which was launched on 20 September 2000 following the hostage-taking incidents in Sipadan and Pandanan islands, had restored confidence among tourists, including from the United States, to come to the resort islands. The integrated operation involves the Malaysian army, navy and air force as well as other related agencies such as the police and the coast guard.