Immediate Reaction Cell
Encyclopedia
The Immediate Reaction Cell was an elite fighting force in the Belgian Land Component
, consisting of three Paracommando battalions plus several support units (one artillery
battery, one anti-aircraft artillery
battery, one logistics
company, one engineer
company, one medical company and one reconnaissance
unit). It was merged with the 7th Brigade to form the Light Brigade in 2010.
The Paracommando battalions work closely with the Belgian Air Force
's 15th Transportation Wing, who operate the C-130 transport aircraft.
Belgian paratrooper vehicles
of the 1960s. The Simba Rebellion
had been started in 1964 by rebels in the Kivu
and Orientale regions of the Congo. By early August 1964 Congolese government forces were making headway against the Simba rebellion. Fearing defeat, the rebels started taking hostages of the local white population in areas under their control. Several hundred hostages were taken to Stanleyville
and placed them under guard in the Victoria Hotel. The Congolese government turned to Belgium and the United States for help. In response, the Belgian army sent a task force to Leopoldville, airlifted by the 322nd Air Division United States Air Force
. Washington and Brussels tried to come up with a rescue plan. Several ideas were considered and discarded, while attempts at negotiating with the Simbas failed.
The task force was led by the Belgian colonel Charles Laurent. On 24 November 1964, five US Air Force C-130 transports dropped 350 paratroopers of the Para-Commando Regiment onto the airfield at Stanleyville. Once the paratroopers had secured the airfield and cleared the runway they made their way to the Victoria Hotel, prevented Simbas from killing all but some 80 of the hostages, and evacuated them via the airfield. Over the next two days over 1,800 American and Europeans were evacuated as well as around 400 Congolese.
The Regiment later saw action at Kolwezi
during Shaba II
in 1978, where they evacuated about 2,000 expats and were involved in a Franco-Belgian operation
to liberate the city from rebels. They also evacuated European citizens during Operation Blue Beam in September 1991 and during Operation Green Stream in March 1997.
and Burundi
from 1961 to 1962, to re-establish public order in both countries prior to independence from Belgium
.
In 1990 the 2nd Commando Battalion, reinforced by a company from the 3rd Para Battalion, were sent to Rwanda to take part in the humanitarian operation Green Beam.
In 1993 the 1st Battalion was again deployed to Rwanda as part of UNAMIR, to perform peacekeeping duties in the Kigali
area. They were later replaced by the 2nd Battalion.
In April 1994 the 2nd Battalion, operating as part of UNAMIR II, lost ten soldiers attempting to protect the Rwandan Prime Minister, Agathe Uwilingiyimana
, in the early stages of the Rwanda genocide. Later, as part of Operation Silver Back, elements of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions assisted in the evacuation of foreign nationals from Rwanda.
(1st Battalion), UNOSOM
(2nd Battalion) and UNOSOM II
(3rd Battalion).
refugees fleeing from Iraq following the Gulf War
.
Elements of the Brigade have also been deployed to Kosovo as part of KFOR (since 1999) and to Afghanistan as part of ISAF
(since 2002).
was disbanded in 2003 and replaced with the new Immediate Reaction Cell (IRC) which now groups all airborne personnel into three airborne infantry battalions, but does away with the independent support units typical of a brigade structure. Support units have been re-attached to regular battalions, but have retained some airborne capacity. The IRC has its headquarters in Heverlee
. The three remaining airborne infantry battalions are located as follows:
Although these battalions refer to either paratroopers or commandos, all troops have received the same training and perform the same duties. Individual battalion traditions cause units to have different designators, beret
colours and insignia. 2 COMMANDO and Paracommando Field Artillery
wear green berets, 1 PARA, 3 PARA and the Guides RECCE Squadron
wear maroon berets, inspired by the ancient Greek Sparta
ns, which symbolise their dedication, loyalty, physical and mental fitness and will to fight.
Belgian Army
The Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: the command capacity, the combat capacity, the support capacity, the services capacity and the training...
, consisting of three Paracommando battalions plus several support units (one artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
battery, one anti-aircraft artillery
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
battery, one logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
company, one engineer
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
company, one medical company and one reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
unit). It was merged with the 7th Brigade to form the Light Brigade in 2010.
History
In 1942, during the Second World War, parachutist and commando units were founded in Great Britain. In 1952 these parachutist and commando units were brought together in a Para-Commando Regiment. Later an antitank company, a field artillery battery and a reconnaissance squadron were added. In November 1991 the Para-Commando Regiment became a brigade by adding new support units.'The Paracommando battalions work closely with the Belgian Air Force
Belgian Air Force
The Air Component, formerly the Belgian Air Force, is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. Originally founded in 1909, it is one of the world's first air forces, and was a pioneer in aerial combat during the First World War...
's 15th Transportation Wing, who operate the C-130 transport aircraft.
Belgian paratrooper vehicles
Congo-Kinshasa/Zaire
The Regiment saw repeated action during the Congo CrisisCongo Crisis
The Congo Crisis was a period of turmoil in the First Republic of the Congo that began with national independence from Belgium and ended with the seizing of power by Joseph Mobutu...
of the 1960s. The Simba Rebellion
Simba Rebellion
The Simba Rebellion was a 1964 rebellion in the former Republic of the Congo which began as a result of alleged abuses by the Congolese central government...
had been started in 1964 by rebels in the Kivu
Kivu
Kivu was the name for a large "Region" in the Democratic Republic of Congo under the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko that bordered Lake Kivu. It included three "Sub-Regions" : Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu and Maniema, corresponding to the three current provinces created in 1986...
and Orientale regions of the Congo. By early August 1964 Congolese government forces were making headway against the Simba rebellion. Fearing defeat, the rebels started taking hostages of the local white population in areas under their control. Several hundred hostages were taken to Stanleyville
Kisangani
Kisangani is the capital of Orientale Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the 3rd largest urbanized city in the country and the largest of the cities that lie in the tropical woodlands of the Congo....
and placed them under guard in the Victoria Hotel. The Congolese government turned to Belgium and the United States for help. In response, the Belgian army sent a task force to Leopoldville, airlifted by the 322nd Air Division United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. Washington and Brussels tried to come up with a rescue plan. Several ideas were considered and discarded, while attempts at negotiating with the Simbas failed.
The task force was led by the Belgian colonel Charles Laurent. On 24 November 1964, five US Air Force C-130 transports dropped 350 paratroopers of the Para-Commando Regiment onto the airfield at Stanleyville. Once the paratroopers had secured the airfield and cleared the runway they made their way to the Victoria Hotel, prevented Simbas from killing all but some 80 of the hostages, and evacuated them via the airfield. Over the next two days over 1,800 American and Europeans were evacuated as well as around 400 Congolese.
The Regiment later saw action at Kolwezi
Kolwezi
Kolwezi is a city in Katanga Province in the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Likasi. It is home to an airport and a railway to Lubumbashi. The population is approximately 418,000....
during Shaba II
Shaba II
Shaba II was an invasion of the Shaba separatist movement FNLC into the Zairian province of Shaba on 11 May 1978. The FNLC had its bases in eastern Angola and probably had the support of the Angolan government...
in 1978, where they evacuated about 2,000 expats and were involved in a Franco-Belgian operation
Battle of Kolwezi
The Battle of Kolwezi was an airborne operation by the French Army that took place in May 1978 in Zaire during the Shaba II invasion of Zaire by the Front for the National Liberation of the Congo. It aimed at rescuing European and Zairian hostages held by Katangese rebels after they conquered the...
to liberate the city from rebels. They also evacuated European citizens during Operation Blue Beam in September 1991 and during Operation Green Stream in March 1997.
Rwanda and Burundi
The 1st Para Battalion was deployed to RwandaRwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
and Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
from 1961 to 1962, to re-establish public order in both countries prior to independence from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
In 1990 the 2nd Commando Battalion, reinforced by a company from the 3rd Para Battalion, were sent to Rwanda to take part in the humanitarian operation Green Beam.
In 1993 the 1st Battalion was again deployed to Rwanda as part of UNAMIR, to perform peacekeeping duties in the Kigali
Kigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
area. They were later replaced by the 2nd Battalion.
In April 1994 the 2nd Battalion, operating as part of UNAMIR II, lost ten soldiers attempting to protect the Rwandan Prime Minister, Agathe Uwilingiyimana
Agathe Uwilingiyimana
Agathe Uwilingiyimana was a Rwandan political figure. She served as Prime Minister of Rwanda from 18 July 1993 until her death on 7 April 1994. Her term was ended when she was assassinated during the opening stages of the Rwandan Genocide...
, in the early stages of the Rwanda genocide. Later, as part of Operation Silver Back, elements of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions assisted in the evacuation of foreign nationals from Rwanda.
Somalia
From 1992 to 1993, all three battalions were deployed to Somalia as part of UNITAFUNITAF
Unified Task Force was a United States-led, United Nations-sanctioned multinational force which operated in Somalia between 5 December 1992 – 4 May 1993...
(1st Battalion), UNOSOM
UNOSOM
UNOSOM may refer to:* UNOSOM I* UNOSOM II* UNITAF* Operation Provide Relief See also Operation Deliverance, the concurrent Canadian operation...
(2nd Battalion) and UNOSOM II
UNOSOM II
United Nations Operation in Somalia II was the second phase of the United Nations intervention in Somalia, from March 1993 until March 1995....
(3rd Battalion).
Other operations
Elements of the 3rd Para Battalion were deployed to Iran in 1991 to help KurdishKurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
refugees fleeing from Iraq following the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
Elements of the Brigade have also been deployed to Kosovo as part of KFOR (since 1999) and to Afghanistan as part of ISAF
ISAF
ISAF may refer to:* International Sailing Federation, the world governing body for Olympic and other competitive sailing.* International Security Assistance Force, the NATO-led security mission operating in Afghanistan since 2001....
(since 2002).
Reformation 2003
The brigadeBrigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
was disbanded in 2003 and replaced with the new Immediate Reaction Cell (IRC) which now groups all airborne personnel into three airborne infantry battalions, but does away with the independent support units typical of a brigade structure. Support units have been re-attached to regular battalions, but have retained some airborne capacity. The IRC has its headquarters in Heverlee
Heverlee
Heverlee is a town in Belgium. It is a deelgemeente of the city of Leuven. Heverlee is bordered by Herent, Bertem, Oud Heverlee and several other municipalities that are part of Leuven ....
. The three remaining airborne infantry battalions are located as follows:
- 1 Paratroop Battalion in DiestDiestDiest is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. Situated in the northeast of the Hageland region, Diest neighbours the provinces of Antwerp to its North, and Limburg to the East and is situated around 60km from Brussels. The municipality comprises the city of...
- 2 Commando Battalion in FlawinneNamur (city)Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
- 3 Paratroop Battalion in TielenTielenTielen is a village in the province of Antwerp in Flanders, Belgium. It is part of the municipality of Kasterlee. The nearest town is the neighbouring town of Turnhout. Other neighbouring villages are Vosselaar, Lichtaart, Poederlee, Lille and Gierle....
Although these battalions refer to either paratroopers or commandos, all troops have received the same training and perform the same duties. Individual battalion traditions cause units to have different designators, beret
Beret
A beret is a soft, round, flat-crowned hat, designated a "cap", usually of woven, hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, or wool felt, or acrylic fiber....
colours and insignia. 2 COMMANDO and Paracommando Field Artillery
2nd Field Artillery Regiment/Field Artillery Battery ParaCommando
The 2nd Field Artillery Regiment/Field Artillery Battery ParaCommando or 2A was an artillery battalion in the Land Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. The regiment was the field artillery battalion of the 1st Brigade until 2010. In later years, the M109A2 howitzer was replaced by the 120mm...
wear green berets, 1 PARA, 3 PARA and the Guides RECCE Squadron
Guides Regiment
The 1st Guides Regiment was an armoured regiment of the Belgian Army. Previously amalgamated with the 1st Regiment Chasseurs à cheval , in 2011 the regiment was amalgamated with 2/4 Regiment to Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance, .-Cavalry regiment:The regiment was...
wear maroon berets, inspired by the ancient Greek Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
ns, which symbolise their dedication, loyalty, physical and mental fitness and will to fight.