Mont Louis and the ’11e régiment parachutiste de choc’

Known as the ’11th choc’, this elite parachute unit of the French army used to be part of the SDECE (Service de Documentation Extérieure et de Contre-Espionnage), roughly equivalent to the British Special Air Service (SAS). The unit motto ‘Qui ose gagne’ (who dares wins), accentuates this link, its logo Bagheera, a golden wing and the letters RCP (Regiment De Chasseurs Parachutistes).

11e régiment parachutiste de choc

The unit was formed in 1946 and stationed in Mont-Louis, the highest garrison in France, where their initial training was inspired by SOE (Special Operations Executive) training, their post war mission to go wherever needed.

They were trained in ‘psychological warfare’, and prepared for “clandestine operations, airborne or otherwise, that could range from building demolition to sabotage or elimination of enemies”.

Mont Louis
Mont Louis

Today, Mont Louis is the home of the CNEC (Centre national d’entraînement commando). Their other P-O base is in Collioure. The two centres train soldiers to survive in war zones, so don’t panic if a boot-polish-faced commando steps out of the trees on a mountain walk, or a muscle-bound, scuba diver slithers out of the sea on Collioure beach – they’re just on manoeuvres!



And here’s a thought!
Do commandos go commando?
Did you know that going commando means not wearing underwear?
Believed to have originated amongst American soldiers who preferred not to wear underwear in field conditions because of its tendency to retain sweat, some say it is also related to the Scottish military term “going regimental” referring to wearing no underwear under the kilt.

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