The 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment (French: 17e Régiment de Génie Parachutiste, 17e RGP) is heir to the traditions of the 17th Colonial Engineer Regiment (French: 17e Régiment Colonial du Génie, 17eRGC) which fought illustriously during the Second World War . It is the only airborne engineer unit of the French Army forming the engineering component of the 11th Parachute Brigade and secures all the specific airborne engineering missions relative to para assaulting at the level of deep reconnaissance as well as operations relative to para demining and handling explosives. The regiment has been present non-stop since 1975 on all theatres of operations (Lebanon, Tchad, New Caledonia, French Guiana, Pakistan, Kurdistan, Kuwait, Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda, Gabon, Mozambique, ex-Yugoslavia, Albania, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Mali and others). For its various combat operational deployments, the 17e RGP was cited 3 times at the orders of the armed forces, 2 times at the orders of the armed forces corps, and three of its combat companies cited at the orders of the armed forces ( 2nd combat company) in addition to armed forces corps (1st and 3rd combat companies).
17th Parachute Engineer Regiment | |
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17e Régiment du Génie Parachutiste | |
Active | March 1, 1944 |
Country | France |
Branch | French Army |
Type | Airborne Engineer |
Role | Para Demining |
Part of | 1st Army 25th Airborne Division |
Garrison/HQ | Montauban, France |
Nickname(s) | French: « Le couteau suisse de la brigade parachutiste (English: « The Swiss Army knife of the Parachute Brigade) » « Les démineurs de l'espoir » (English: « Hope's demining specialists ») |
Colors | Red and Black |
Mascot(s) | Royal Eagle « Bac-Kan » then Bald eagle « Malizia » |
Engagements | World War II First Indochina War Algerian War Lebanese Civil War |
Abbreviation | 17e RGP |
The Regiment of volunteer paratroopers, the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment is articulated in 6 combat companies and 1 detachment:
The mascot of the regiment was initially the Golden eagle named "Bac Kan" [2] in reference to the first mission participation of the Airborne engineers in Indochina during the airborne operation "Lea" in October 1947.
Since 2014, the mascot is a Bald eagle named "Malizia", name of François Grimaldi ( said "François la Malice") who in the 13th century conquered the Rock of Monaco.
The regiment wears wear the Red Beret. Regimental Colours:
Battle Honours:
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The regimental colors are decorated with:
The Fanions of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd combat companies are decorated with:
17e R.G.A.P
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17e R.G.P
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