3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion

3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion (3e Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes)
Battalion Insignia
Active	November 15, 1949 – September 1, 1955
Country	France
Branch	French Foreign Legion
Type	Foreign Airborne Battalion
Part of	3e BEP I Formation, 1949 3e BEP II Formation, 1951 3e BEP III Formation, 1954 3e BEP IV Formation, 1954 3e REP, 1955
Garrison/HQ	Sétif
Colors	Green and Red
Anniversaries	Camerone Day
Engagements	First Indochina War Algeria Tunisia
Commanders
Notable commanders	Darmuzai
Abbreviation	3e B.E.P

Each year, the French Foreign Legion commemorates and celebrates Camarón in its headquarters in Aubagne and Bastille Day military parade in Paris; featuring the Pionniers leading and opening the way.

The 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion (French: 3^e Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes, 3^e B.E.P) was foreign parachute battalion of the French Foreign Legion formed based on the Parachute Instruction Company (C.I.P) of the 7th combat company of the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment.

History, Creation and different nomination designations

3^e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes, 3^e BEP - I, II, III, IV Formations -

Before becoming the 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment; the 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion was created in April 1949 at Mascara.^[1] The 7th combat company of paratrooper training of the 1st Foreign rejoins Sétif 7 months later, starting November 15, 1949, to become officially the 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion.^[1] The mission of the 3^e BEP was to instruct and form the legionnaires destined to relieve the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1^er B.E.P) and 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2^e B.E.P).^[1] While mainly formed and created to instruct the Legionnaires, the 3rd Foreign Paratrooper Battalion participates in operations of maintaining order in Tunisia from January to June 1952.^[2]

On May 4, 1954; when struggle becomes of a rage at Dien Bien Phu, the 3^e BEP makes and clears way to Indochina.^[1] On May 25, 1954, the battalion is at Haïphong.^[1] On June 1, the count of the men forming the 3^e BEP is transferred to the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion during the reconstitution of the later.^[1] The 3^e BEP merges with the injured of annihilated foreign battalions while in the meantime, owing to numerous volunteers, the 3^e BEP is seen reconstituted at Sétif.^[1] Back to Algeria, the three foreign paratrooper battalions (1^er BEP, 2^e BEP, 3^e BEP) will be seen filling the ranks of the foreign regiment. On September 1, 1955, the 3^e BEP becomes the 3rd Foreign Paratrooper Regiment (3^e R.E.P).^[1] Based at Batna, the regiment becomes opeational but then is dissolved on December 1, 1955; the men constituting the regiment are merged with the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion, (2^e B.E.P) to form a new corps, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment.^[1]

The insignia of the 3rd Foreign Paratropper Battalion was created in 1950 by Captain Darmuzai, battalion commander Chef de Bataillon, CBA of the 3^e BEP.^[1]

Traditions

The Archangel Michael featured in Mont Saint-Michel and the Insignia of the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment.

• 

  French and Foreign Legion Parachute Brevet.

• 

  Circled Winged Armed Dextrochere of Foreign Legion Paratroopers

Insignias

The insignia of the Foreign Legion Paratroopers of France represents a closed <<winged armed dextrochere>>, meaning a "right winged arm" armed with a sword pointing upwards. The Insignia makes reference to the Patron of Paratroopers. In fact, the Insignia represents <<the right Arm of Saint Michael>>, the Archangel which according to Liturgy is the <<Armed Arm of God>>. This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions.

• 

  1^er B.E.P Insignia

• 

  2^e B.E.P and 2^e R.E.P Insignia

• 

  3^e B.E.P then 3^e R.E.P Insignia

Colonel Paul Marie Félix Jacques René Arnaud de Foïard
(1921-2005)

Battalion Commanders

3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion, 3^e BEP ( 1948 - 1955 ) - I, II, III, IV Formations -

Notable Officers and Legionnaires

• Paul Arnaud de Foïard
• Pierre Segretain
• Pierre Jeanpierre
• Hélie de Saint Marc

See also

• Airborne Units of France
• 25th Parachute Division
• 11th Parachute Brigade
• 10th Parachute Division
• 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment
• 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
• 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment

References

Foreign Legion Command French Foreign Legion
Honneur et Fidélité History of the French Foreign Legion Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers) List of French paratrooper units Képi Blanc (publication)
Current Foreign Legion Units	Administrative Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments 1st Foreign Regiment Foreign Legion Command Foreign Legion Recruiting Group Infantry & Parachute Infantry 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte Cavalry 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment Engineer & Parachute Engineer 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment Training 4th Foreign Regiment Jungle Training Center Combat Training Center at Arta Beach
Defunct Foreign Legion Units	Administrative and Training Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments Parachute Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion Foreign Air Supply Company 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company Infantry 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 1st Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment 2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment 3rd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment 4th Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment/Garibaldi Legion 1st Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment 12th Foreign Infantry Regiment 21st Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers 22nd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers 23rd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers Cavalry 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division Transport Armored Train of the Foreign Legion Disciplinary Disciplinary Company of the Foreign Regiments in the Far East Foreign Legion Brigades 31st Brigade (France)