The 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment was created on 1 June 1956 in Algeria from the 4th Battalion of the 18th Choc Parachute Chasseur Regiment 18e RIPC and received the standard from Division CommanderGeneral Henri Sauvagnac in Batna on 11 November. The parachute regiment didn't take part in the 1961 Algiers putsch and after the end of the Algerian War, the regiment moved to Toulouse on mainland France. The regiment later took part in numerous operations in Lebanon. The parachute regiment served extensively within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the Multinational Force in 1983 where the regiment lost 3 paratroopers during the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing. Three years later, the parachute regiment was quick to take part again in the United Nations Interim Force Lebanon in 1986 and 1998-1999 while also participating in other foreign operations. The 9th parachute regiment merged in 1999 as part of a restructuring of the 11th Parachute Brigade of the French Army.
Timeline of the 9e RCP from 1956-1999
1956 : Regiment was created on June 1 as the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment from the 18th Choc Parachute Chasseur Regiment in Algeria.
1979 : Reconnaissance and Support Company of the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment deployed to Southern Lebanon on a peacekeeping mission under the United Nations Force Protection for a period of 6 months.
1981 : Installation of the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment at base quartier Capitaine-Beaumont in Pamiers
1983 : The 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment participated in maintaining peace order in Southern Lebanon and particularly in Beirut. Three paratroopers died in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings.
1986 : Within the battle contingent forming the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon under the United Nations; the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment under command orders of Colonel Godinot engaged in several battle clashes against armed groups.
1993 : The 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia.
1994 : The 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment under command orders of Colonel Oberto under BATINF 2 engaged in Sarajevo under mandate United Nations Force Protection.
1998 - 1999 : The 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment engaged the regiment's Reconnaissance and Support Company one more time in maintaining order in Southern Lebanon in United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment - 1e RCP
1999 : The 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment merged with the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment part of the restructuring of the 11th Parachute Brigade in the French Army.
Traditions
Except for the Legionnaires of the 1er REG, 2e REG, 2e REP that conserve the Green Beret; the remainder of the French army metropolitan and marine paratroopers forming the 11th Parachute Brigade wear the Red Beret. The ArchangelSaint Michael, patron of the French paratroopers is celebrated on September 29. The prière du Para was written by André Zirnheld in 1938.
Insignias
Just like the paratrooper Brevet of the French Army; the Insignia of French Paratroopers was created in 1946. The French Army Insignia of metropolitan Paratroopers 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. The French Army Insignia of Marine Infantry Paratroopers is backgrounded by a Marine Anchor. The paratroopers of the regiment wear the red berets with the Fourragère with colors of the Croix de Guerre.
Regimental Colors
Regimental Song
The regimental song is "En avant Normandie".
Decorations
Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with three palms, one vermeil star and one argent star
