Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air


The Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air of the French Air and Space Force are equivalent to the United Kingdom's RAF Regiment, German Air Force Regiment or the United States Air Force Security Forces. They are airmen armed and trained as infantry, who provide ground defense of air bases and secure forward base areas. They also participate in forward air control, combat search and rescue missions, and as air assault ground soldiers.

Algerian War

During the Algerian War, the Air Force deployed its own Fusiliers de l'Air ground regiments, which used the traditional French half-brigades unit type. They were formed between September 1955 and June 1956, relying heavily on officers and NCOs posted from the Army. These units were subordinated to the three GATACs. The infantry units of the Air Force were transferred to the Army by the end of 1957.531e demi-brigade des fusiliers de l’air - based in Arba, Algiers sector532e demi-brigade des fusiliers de l’air - based in Saint-Denis du Sig, Oran sector533e demi-brigade des fusiliers de l’air - based in La Chiffa, Algiers sector541e demi-brigade des fusiliers de l’air - based in the Souk Ahras region, Constantine sector, the battalions were dispersed in 71 détachements in a rectangular area of 70 km by 40 km542e demi-brigade des fusiliers de l’air - based in Guelma, Constantine sector543e demi-brigade des fusiliers de l’air - based in Aïn Beïda, Sahara544e demi-brigade des fusiliers de l’air - initially formed in Tunisia, relocated to Algeria on October 10, 1956545e demi-brigade des fusiliers de l’air - initially formed in Tunisia, relocated to Algeria on October 10, 1956546e demi-brigade des fusiliers de l’air - based in Alma at the foothills of the Blida Atlas mountains547e demi-brigade des fusiliers de l’air - based in El Biar, Algiers sector
The command elements of the half-brigades actually belonged to the 5th Air Force Region's territorial administrative center in Blida and were attached to the infantry units.
The elite Parachute Commandos were retained at the central level of the 5th Air Force Region.:fr:Groupement des commandos parachutistes de l'air 00/541 - the groupment included four combat units and one support unit, all called 'commandos':
  • * Commando de l'air 10/541 « Martel »
  • * Commando de l'air 20/541 « Manoir »
  • * Commando de l'air 30/541 « Maquis » formed by personnel from the Air Force units in Morocco
  • * Commando de l'air 40/541 « Maxime »
Each combat commando had an established strength of 102 men, but in the course of the war it could occasionally increase up to 180 men. The building block of the units was the Team of five or six men. A Commando Group combined two teams for a total of 10 - 12 men, transportable by a single H-34 or two H-19 helicopters. A Commando Platoon combined two commando groups : two Command and Fire Teams and two regular commando teams
  • * Commando de l'air 50/541 - was the logistical support unit. The GCPA included a Separate Administrative Unit of 55 men. On May 1, 1957 the UAD absorbed the logistical personnel from Commando de l'air 50/541 and formed the HQ of the formation - GCPA 00/541 « Norpois ». The latter unit was repurposed as a combat commando.
Two experimental commandos of reduced strength were added later:Commando expérimental « Chouf »Commando expérimental « Matou »
Due to their active involvement in the Algiers putsch of 1961 at the end of April all four were disbanded effective immediately. To fill up the void on May 1 two new units were formed at the BA 146 Reghaia air base:compagnie de commandos parachutistes de l'air no 30.541compagnie de commandos parachutistes de l'air no 50.541
These units discarded the commando nomenclature in order to break with the previous units and the reason for their disbandment. The new companies also differed in their established structure with a strength of 5 officers, 33 NCOs and 100 ranks each.

Structure

The Fusiliers-Commando units are part of the Intervention and Security Force Brigade.

Air Commando Training Squadron (''escadron d'instruction des commandos de l'air'')

This training unit, founded in 1974, manages four different courses;
  • Air Fusilier course : basic formation for Other Ranks in Protective Squadrons.
  • Air Parachute Fusilier course : second-level formation for all ranks. It includes parachute training.
  • Air Parachute Commando course : third level formation for all ranks. Upon its successful completion, airmen can petition to enter Air Parachute Commando n° 20 and 30.
  • Air Special Forces Commando course : fourth and final level. Upon its successful completion, airmen can petition to enter Air Parachute Commando n° 10.

Protective Squadrons (''escadrons de protection'')

Responsible for the protection of defense-sensitive points of Air and Space Force bases, intervention in the context of overseas operations or special missions, and participation in tasks assigned to Special Operations Command. They are employed in unit protection or intervention. The 34 Protective Squadrons man patrols to deter, detect and intervene to neutralize and delay, by force if necessary, any malicious act against facilities of the Air and Space Force, air bases on the mainland and on external sites.

Air Parachute Commandos (''commandos parachutistes de l'air'')

The three Air Parachute Commando fulfill specific missions requiring advanced training and specialities.

Air Parachute Commando n° 10

The Commando n° 10 is a special forces unit used airport seizures, high value target neutralization, counter terrorism. The CPA 10 is under the umbrella of the Commandement des opérations spéciales.

Air Parachute Commando n° 20

The main missions of Commando n° 20 are long-range protective patrols in armored cars, protection from potential low-level air attacks in helicopters and forward air control.

Air Parachute Commando n°30

The main missions of Commando n° 30 are combat search and rescue and military dog use.