16
Air Assault Brigade
16 Air Assault Brigade was
formed as part of the defence reforms implemented by
the Strategic Defense Review on 1 September 1999 by
the merging of 24th Airmobile Brigade and elements
of 5th Airborne Brigade. This grouping created a
highly mobile brigade of parachute.
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| Roles |
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The
brigade has a joint Army/RAF HQ based in Colchester
Garrison and numbers around 6,000 to 8,000
personnel. It is under the operational command of
the tri-service Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) and
is assigned to the British-led Allied Rapid Reaction
Corps of NATO as Corps Troops. (For administrative
purposes, it is under the control of 4th Division
when in its base at Colchester). It may be allocated
to 1st (UK) Armoured or 3rd (UK) Mechanized
divisions for operations outside of Britain. The
brigade maintains a pool of its forces which may be
allocated to the tri-service Joint Rapid Reaction
Force (JRRF).
It is primarily designed to be rapidly deployable
across the world, able to deal with situations in
peacetime such as national emergencies; relief
operations for natural disasters across the world,
and evacuation of British subjects and other
countries' citizens (as seen in Sierra Leone in 2000
during Operation Palliser). In war the brigade is
intended to undertake an array of operations,
including taking quickly and holding ground until
relieved by other forces, sometimes over great
distances if needed; carrying out large-scale raids;
assisting in defensive operations, including the
defence of units' flanks, and supporting special
forces. The brigade demonstrated its ability to
carry out these type of operations during the
invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Due to the brigade's mobile role it is lightly armed
and equipped. The brigade's land equipment includes
Scimitars, WMIK Land Rovers, Suspects, towed L118
105 mm light guns, Javelin anti-tank and lightweight
Starstreak air-defence missile launchers. The
aviation element of the brigade consists of three
attack regiments equipped with WAH-64 Apache and
Lynx helicopters from the Army Air Corps, and
Chinook, Merlin and Puma support helicopters from
the RAF. The brigade is also supported by the RAF's
Hercules transport aircraft fleet.
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| Traditions |
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The numeral 16 was chosen to
perpetuate the 16th Parachute Brigade which had
itself been numbered in honor of the 1st Airborne
Division and 6th Airborne Division of World War II.
The brigade's sign is that of a light-blue and
maroon shield with a light blue striking eagle
outlined in maroon emblazoned on it, intended to
represent its offensive role. The sign is worn on
the left arm. The colors chosen are traditional and
show the make-up of the brigade, maroon for Airborne
and light-blue for Army Air Corps. The symbol of 5
Airborne Brigade had been Bellerophon on top of
Pegasus (a winged horse of Greek mythology) which
became synonymous with the airborne forces thanks to
their exploits during World War II. There was some
controversy when the Parachute units of 5 Airborne
had to give up the symbol and replace it with 16 Air
Assault's symbol.
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| History |
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After a cease fire had been
declared in the Republic of Macedonia between
Government forces and rebels known as the National
Liberation Army, NATO launched a British-led effort
(Operation Essential Harvest) to collect weapons
voluntarily given up by the rebels. The brigade HQ
and some of its elements deployed in August 2001,
acting as the spearhead for the NATO operation. It
returned home after the NATO mission was
successfully completed in September.
After the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, NATO
established a peacekeeping force in December known
as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF),
based in the capital Kabul. The brigade HQ and some
of its units began to deploy in December to join the
then British-led ISAF (which was centered around 3rd
(UK) Mechanized Division) as its tactical command,
commanding units from other nations that had sent
forces to Afghanistan. The brigade's units main
tasks were to help rebuild the war-torn country and
carry out patrol into Kabul, in the hope of
reassuring the populace there, and nearby Bagram Air
Base, both of which were under constant threat from
Al Qaida and the Taliban. The brigade handed over
tactical command to a German brigade in March 2002
During the build-up to the invasion of Iraq, the
brigade, commanded by Brigadier 'Jacko' Page, was
deployed to Kuwait in February 2003.
The brigade was part of 1 (UK) Armoured Division and
after extensive training in Kuwait it took part in
the beginning of the invasion on 20th March. Initial
speculation in the British media suggested that the
brigade would support the American 82nd and 101st
divisions in an airborne assault on the Saddam
International Airport in Baghdad. This plan did not,
however, come into fruition. The brigade's eventual
objective was to secure the southern oil fields
before they were destroyed by Saddam Hussain's
forces. The brigade's 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal
Horse Artillery entered Iraq on 20 March to support
U.S. Marine Corps forces in their efforts to capture
the Rumaila oil fields, nearly all of the oil wells
being taken intact. The rest of the brigade,
supported by its AAC helicopters, entered Iraq soon
afterwards, still tasked with securing Rumaila. The
brigade often met sporadic resistance and had to
deal with disarming the many explosives attached to
the infrastructure.
The brigade was subsequently used to guard the oil
fields and protect Allied supply lines with elements
moving further north of Basra -- Iraq's second
largest city -- to provide a screen protecting it
from Iraqi attack. On 31 March the brigade, assisted
by artillery and air support, attacked an Iraqi
armoured column advancing on Basra, destroying 17
T-55 tanks, 5 artillery pieces and 7 armoured
personnel carriers.
After British forces entered Basra on 6 April, 3
PARA was employed to clear the 'old quarter' of the
city on 7 April due to the narrow streets making it
inaccessible to vehicles.fter Basra's capture the
brigade was based in Maysan Province, centered
around the province's capital Al-Amarah. The brigade
carried out patrols into towns, helped bring
normality back to the south, tried to maintain order
and destroyed any conventional weapons caches that
were found. The war was officially declared over on
1 May and the brigade began to return home that same
month. During one patrol into Az-Zubayr on 24 June
the brigade suffered its largest casualties in Iraq
when six Royal Military Policemen of 156 Provost
Company were killed by a large Iraqi mob. A patrol
of 1 PARA were ambushed at the same time but were
successfully extracted from the area. By the time
the brigadeleft Iraq it had collectively suffered
nine killed. It was reported that two soldiers from
the brigade had refused to fight just before the war
began,
and were sent back to Colchester Garrison.
In 2006, the brigade deployed with one battle group
to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick.
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PEGASUS
COMPANY
(P COY)
INFANTRY
TRAINING BATTALION, CATTERICK.
Pegasus Company (P Coy)
is located at the Infantry Training Battalion in Catterick,
North Yorkshire. From this location, P Coy run Pre-Parachute
Selection (PPS) courses for both regular and TA personnel. All
Officers and soldiers who wish to serve with Airborne Forces,
must attend Pre-Parachute Selection with P Coy. The Pegasus
Company mission is as follows:
To test the physical
fitness, determination and mental robustness, under conditions
of stress, to determine whether an individual has the self
discipline and motivation required for service with Airborne
Forces.
P Coy run 3
separate PPS courses. These are:
1. Parachute
Regiment Recruit PPS (approx 9 per year)
2. All Arm
Regular PPS (6 per year)
3. TA
Parachute Regiment/TA All-Arms PPS (3 per year)
In addition, P Coy is
responsible for the delivery of the TA Combat Infantryman's
Course (CIC) PARA to all personnel who wish to serve with 4
PARA(V). 3 of these courses are held annualy.
TEST WEEK
Test Week is common to
all 3 PPS courses. Regular Parachute Regiment Recruits and
All-Arms officers/soldiers undertake the same basic tests.
Parachute Regiment recruits attempt Test Week at week 20 of
their CIC Course. All-Arms candidates attempt Test Week after
a two and a half week 'build up' phase. Out of necessity (TA
Soldiers do not have the same opportunities to prepare that
the regulars have), the TA Test Week is slightly different.
During Test Week,
candidates will be expected to run, march and carry dead
weights over 1-20 miles on undulating terrain. Test Week
comprises of 8 separate events over a four and a half day
period. 7 events are scored, one(the Trainasium) is a straight
pass/fail. Each event is designed to assess a candidates
physical fitness, mental robustness and determination. A
candidate who fails to display the appropriate level of self
discipline and motivation throughout Test week will fail the
course. Test week starts on a Wednesday morning and will
finish the following Tuesday. The Tests are as follows:
1. 10
Mile March (Wednesday morning). The 10-mile march
is conducted as a squad, over undulating terrain with each
candidate carrying a bergen (Back Pack) weighing 35 pounds.(+
water) and a weapon. The march must be completed in 1 hour and
50 minutes. TA candidates have 2 hours.
2. Trainasium
(Wednesday afternoon). The
Trainasium is an 'Aerial Confidence Course' which is unique to
P Company. In order to assess his suitability for military
parachuting, the Trainasium tests a candidates ability to
overcome fear and carry out simple activities and instructions
at a height above ground level. The event is a straight
PASS/FAIL.
3. Log Race
(Thursday morning). A team event with 8
individual carrying a 60 kg log over a distance of 1.9 miles
over undulating terrain
4. 2
Mile March (Thursday afternoon). The 2-mile march
is conducted over undulating terrain with each individual
carrying a bergen (Back Pack) weighing 35 pounds (+ water) and
a weapon. A helmet and combat jacket is also worn. The march
must be completed in 18 minutes or under. TA candidates have
19 minutes.
5. Steeplechase
(Friday morning). An individual test with
candidates running against the clock over a 1.8 mile cross
country course. The course features a number of 'water
obstacles' and having completed the cross country element,
candidates must negociate and 'Assault Course' to complete the
test.
6. Milling
(Friday afternoon). 60 seconds of 'controlled
physical aggression' against an opponent of similar height and
weight.
7. Endurance
March (Monday). A squadded march conducted over
20 miles of severe terrain. Each individual carries a bergen
(Back Pack) weighing 35 pounds (+ water & food) and a
weapon. The march must be completed in under 4 and a half
hours. TA candidtaes do not undertake this event.
8. Stretcher
Race (Tuesday morning). The final event of Test
Week. Teams of 16 men carry a 175 pound stretcher over a
distance of 5 miles. No more that 4 men carry the stretcher at
any given time. Individuals wear webbing and carry a weapon.
ALL ARMS
PRE-PARACHUTE SELECTION (AAPPS)
All serving officers and
soldiers who wish to join an Airborne unit must attend AAPPS.
The course last 3 and a half weeks and is split into the
following phases:
1. Phase
1 - Screening: Held on the first Monday of the course.
2. Phase
2- Build Up: This phase lasts 2 and a half weeks and is a
progressive physical build up to 'Test Week'. It als includes
a military skills revision/instructional package.
3. Phase
3 - Test Week: As described above.
SCREENING DAY
Screening day takes
place on the first Monday of the course. Failure to meet the
approriate standard for each event will result in failure and
the candidate will be returned to his unit (RTU). The screenig
events are listed below:
a. 8 mile
march. All candidates attempt an 8 Mile squadded march.
carryiny 35 pounds (+ water) and a weapon. The march is to be
completed in a time of one hour fifty minutes.
b. Trainasium
Introduction.
c. 1.5
Mile Run. All candidates conduct a 1.5 mile individual
run, preceeded by a warm-up. Candidates MUST complete the
run in under 9 minutes and 30 seconds.
BUILD-UP PHASE
The build-up phase aims
to prepare a candidate physically and mentally for Test Week.
The phase is used to fatigue candidates, thereby creating the
conditions of mental and physical stress under which they will
be tested during Test Week. The build-up phase comprises of
2.5 weeks of physicall preparation which consists of 2
sessions of development training per day, The build-up phase
is a vital part of AAPPS and failure to perform may result in
the candidate being RTU'd. Candidates conduct the following
types of PT during this phase:
1. Load-Carrying
Marches. Carrying a bergan weighing 35 pounds (+ water)
and a weapon, a number of theses marches include 'hill
repetitions.'
2. Fast
Runs. Candidates take part in demanding runs up to a
distance od 11 miles dressed in T Shirt, trousers and
trainers. Candidates carry a water bottled in 'stripped-down'
webbing and also conduct 'hill reps'
3. Circuit
Training. Candidates attend a number of Circuit Training
sessions in the gymnasium. These sessions concentrate on
upper-body strength as well as the legs.
4. Military
Skills. Candidates take part in a number of basic military
skills lessions. these include:
a.Map Reading.
After some revision periods candidates sit a basic
map-reading test
b First Aid.
Revision periods concentrate on basic first aid techniques.
c. Fieldcraft.
Exercise PEGASUS DAGGER is a 24 hour exercise during which
candidates administer themselves in the filed under tactical
condidtions. Candidates also take part in blank-firing
attacks up to section level and a day/night navigation
exercise.
d. Bayonet Fighting.
Candidates carry out bayonet fighting techniques on the
Infantry Training Centre bayonet 'run'
e. Military
Swim Test. A Basic test which all serving soldiers must
attempt.
SUMMARY
PPS is both
physically and mentally demanding. Candidates can expect to be
pushed to their limits and beyond. The prize, for those who
are successful, is the award of the coveted 'maroon beret' and
the opportunity to go on to conduct the Basic Parachute Course
at RAF Brize Norton.
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