A French paratrooper packs a parachute with soldiers from A Coy 6RAR looking on. Photo by Pte Simone Heyer, 1JPAU(P)

French folding finesse

By Pte Simone Heyer
PERHAPS one of the most important roles in a parachute regiment is that of the parachute packers and maintenance people. Without them, there’d be very little jumping.

The Section Reparation Entretien, Pliage Des Parachutes (SREPDP) at Plume in New Caledonia recently invited soldiers from A Coy, 6RAR to visit their facility as part of the battalion’s trip to the Regiment Infantry Marine and Parachute – New Caledonia (RIMaP- NC).

While there, the Australians were run through the process of packing and folding parachutes and had the opportunity to ask questions and compare the techniques of the Australian and French Armies.

There are 10 soldiers working at the SREPDP. All are on rotation with the exception of two supervisors and the adjutant – a female’s position, who are there for two years.

They are retrained in parachute packing at the start of their rotation and stay in that job for the duration.

The manning sees two packers at two tables, with one supervisor. The remainder are in administration and repair.
SCH Olivier Carquex said that appropriately, this enormous responsibility was given only to those who were qualified to jump themselves.

Unlike Australian Army riggers – ordnance corps, also para-qualified, who pack the chutes, French infantry paratroopers pack all the chutes required for use on New Caledonia.

SCH Carquex said that the paratroopers did an extra three week course to learn how to fold and pack the parachutes.

He said that the job was not difficult, but required skill.

“It’s mostly technique, they’re quite difficult to close, you need to be quite strong.”

He said the folding centre at New Caledonia was one of the best the French military has – the other being Reunion Island.

“There are two centres in Africa and five more in France supply the French regiments throughout Europe.

“Around 15,000 personnel parachutes are packed a year, with another 2000 packed for cargo.”

Maj Fabian Perotto, CO SREPDP, said that the French military liked to be self-sufficient, being able to supply everything it required from inside France.

“The parachutes that the Australians and Americans use are very similar to the French parachutes,” he said.

“The French chutes are made in France though, but have the same characteristics as the others.

“There are small operational variations.”

Despite their fondness for French-only, Maj Perotto said there was one important component of the rig that wasn’t French-made.

“The CYPRES system for emergency chute opening is a German invention.

“They’ve trialed it in all circumstances and it has worked every time.”

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