A soldier from 1 Coy, 3 Regt Parachute Infantry Marines, at the Remembrance Day parade in Noumea, New Caledonia. Photo by Pte Simone Heyer, 1JPAU(P)

From sea to land and air and back

French paratroopers used to constant travel and training

By Pte Simone Heyer
FOR an Army that is constantly on rotation around its colonies, the French soldiers of the Regiment Infantry Marines and Parachute – New Caledonia (RIMaP-NC) are experienced in training in different climates, terrain and with different forces.

Bn OPSO, Lt-Col Philippe Delbos said there were two roles of the RIMaP-NC.

“The first is to have operational capability,” he said.

“To be committed anywhere in the islands or the South Pacific zone in order to help the population after natural disasters.

“The second is to support the French Army in New Caledonia (FANC) in its capability to command and operate with the three services.”

Located in the three cities of Noumea, Nandi and Plume – with the HQ in Plume, the RIMaP has a light armour and airborne capability.

Two support units of CSS and maintenance ensure the regiment runs at full capacity.

Lt-Col Delbos said that of the 900 personnel posted to the RIMaP, about 600 were on a four to five month rotation with the remainder carrying out a two-year posting.

“The permanent members volunteer to be posted here, they are mostly marines.

“Rotating units are designated in Northern France by the Op Land Force Command.”

The latest rotating unit to arrive on the island was the Foreign Legion paratroopers, who took over from 3 Regiment Parachute Infantry and Marines.

Lt-Col Delbos said the units in the RIMaP carried out four activities, three different training exercises and guard duty to the barracks.

“Our main task is to learn the customs and to help and gain the trust of the local population.

“In the far north, there isn’t much communication with Noumea. We have troops stay in areas up there for a week, just so the locals can see who we are and what we do.”

He said that the three exercises were usually joint with the Air Force and Navy, using resources that were more readily available and took less organising to obtain than in France.

“We do many shoots on the live firing ranges and many parachute jumps.”

Lt-Col Delbos said the rotation to New Caledonia was interesting for many units because it was new.

“It’s different from the usual missions in Africa and Yugoslavia.

“It depends on the location but in general, there’s an interest for the companies in training here.”

He said that French forces often got the chance to train with other nations.

“With bi-lateral relations increasing it is important to train with other countries.

“We trained in Shoalwater Bay with 7 Bde already this year, which was very successful.

“We all came back with many stories.

“Tonga will also host us to do jungle training with them, which is very different from CTCs in France.”

A Coy 6RAR has recently returned from training with the RIMaP and participating in Ex Croix Du Sud.

Lt-Col Delbos said the exercise was successful for FANC and A Coy.

“We had to command and control six combat companies – which is a very large size. The largest size we could parade for the exercise.

“Almost everything was a success, with the exception of comms. The biggest issue for us was being able to operate in English.

“We’ve worked hard and have had great pleasure with the exercise. It’s good also to see that Commandant of the French Forces in New Caledonia, Gen Pierre de Saqui de Sannes appreciated the way the exercise ran.”

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