Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas
Encyclopedia
The Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas (Parachute Rifle Brigade, BFP) is a paratrooper
unit created in 1969 within the Mexican Army
but utilizing aircraft from the Air Force
. Their headquarters were established in Mexico City
and their training takes place in the Centro de Adiestramiento de Paracaidismo (Airborne Training Center). A battalion can be deployed rapidly to any part of the country.
Francisco L. Urquizo and Director of Aeronautics Divisional General Gustavo Salinas Camiña elaborated a program to create the country's first Paratrooper unit. The plan consisted sending a group of Officers and regular servicemen to Fort Benning
, Georgia
to be trained as paratroopers. By July 20, 1946. The first group under the command of Captain Albarrán López graduated paratrooper school, the second group under the command of Calvalry Lieutenant Jorge Munguía González graduated in the same year on August 3.
The new unit was based in Balbuena Military Camp, carrying out their first jump over Mexican territory on September 15, 1946. The same year the army moved the unit to its new Headquarters in Puebla, Puebla
giving them designation of "Compañía Mínima de Aerotropas" ( Minimum Airtrooper Company ). On February 15, 1947. The unit was reorganized into the "Compañía de Aerotropas" ( Airtrooper Company ) and re-established in Military Camp No.1 in the Federal District. By 1969 the Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas was created and organized with three battalions, and one special forces group that was integrated in 1998.
Structure:
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
unit created in 1969 within the Mexican Army
Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
but utilizing aircraft from the Air Force
Mexican Air Force
The Mexican Air Force is the aviation branch of the Mexican Army and depends on the National Defense Secretariat . Since 2008, its commander is Gen...
. Their headquarters were established in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and their training takes place in the Centro de Adiestramiento de Paracaidismo (Airborne Training Center). A battalion can be deployed rapidly to any part of the country.
History
The Brigade's origin dates back to 1946 when Divisional GeneralDivisional General
Divisional General is a rank used in many armies to denote a rank of general, corresponding to command of a division. For convenience Divisional General is almost always translated into English as Major-General, the equivalent rank used by the UK, USA, etc., although this translation is, strictly...
Francisco L. Urquizo and Director of Aeronautics Divisional General Gustavo Salinas Camiña elaborated a program to create the country's first Paratrooper unit. The plan consisted sending a group of Officers and regular servicemen to Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
to be trained as paratroopers. By July 20, 1946. The first group under the command of Captain Albarrán López graduated paratrooper school, the second group under the command of Calvalry Lieutenant Jorge Munguía González graduated in the same year on August 3.
The new unit was based in Balbuena Military Camp, carrying out their first jump over Mexican territory on September 15, 1946. The same year the army moved the unit to its new Headquarters in Puebla, Puebla
Puebla, Puebla
The city and municipality of Puebla is the capital of the state of Puebla, and one of the five most important colonial cities in Mexico. Being a planned city, it is located to the east of Mexico City and west of Mexico's main port, Veracruz, on the main route between the two.The city was founded...
giving them designation of "Compañía Mínima de Aerotropas" ( Minimum Airtrooper Company ). On February 15, 1947. The unit was reorganized into the "Compañía de Aerotropas" ( Airtrooper Company ) and re-established in Military Camp No.1 in the Federal District. By 1969 the Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas was created and organized with three battalions, and one special forces group that was integrated in 1998.
Structure:
- Headquarters
- 1st Infantry Parachute Rifle Battalion
- 2nd Infantry Parachute Rifle Battalion
- 3rd Infantry Parachute Rifle Battalion
- Special Forces Airmobile GroupGrupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas EspecialesThe Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales or more commonly known as Fuerzas Especiales/Special Forces is a special forces unit of the Mexican Army's Special Forces Corps, trained by the world's special forces. There are a total of nine battalions, one High Command GAFE unit and one other group...
- Logistics Company
See also
- Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas EspecialesGrupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas EspecialesThe Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales or more commonly known as Fuerzas Especiales/Special Forces is a special forces unit of the Mexican Army's Special Forces Corps, trained by the world's special forces. There are a total of nine battalions, one High Command GAFE unit and one other group...
- Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales del Alto MandoGrupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales del Alto MandoThe Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales del Alto Mando is a special operations unit of the Mexican Army. It's a group with no more than 100 members, carefully selected from the Mexican Army Special Forces Corps and specially trained in counter-terrorist tactics...
- Ixtoc-AlfaIxtoc-AlfaThe Mexican Navy created the Ixtoc-Alfa counter-terrorism base for the purpose of preventing terrorist attacks on the country's richest Gulf of Mexico oilfields. It was first opened on 22 December 2003....
- Fuerzas EspecialesFuerzas EspecialesThe Fuerzas Especiales , also known as FES , is a special operations unit of the Mexican Navy officially established in late 2001...