10 Paratrooper Brigade
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The 10th Parachute Brigade (, Jawi: ), better known as 10 PARA BDE, is special operations capable unit in the
Malaysian Army The Malaysian Army (; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ) is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ () as do the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysi ...
. A
brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...
-sized force with both airborne and marine capabilities, designed to carry out rapid-response missions within Malaysia or overseas. As the main component of the Malaysian Rapid Deployment Force (''Pasukan Aturgerak Cepat – PAC''), 10 PARA BDE is specially trained to be the first on the ground during emergencies, conflicts, or humanitarian operations. Unlike regular army units, the 10 PARA BDE operates as an independent combat formation that reports directly to the Chief of Army. It is not part of any field army command structure within the Malaysian Army. In April 2023, a
two-star general Military star ranking is military terminology, used in mainly English speaking countries, to describe general and flag officers. Within NATO's armed forces, the stars are equal to OF-6–10. Star ranking One-star A one-star rank is usuall ...
was appointed to lead the brigade—a move considered a sign of the unit’s rising strategic importance, bringing it closer in stature to a full division. Despite this symbolic upgrade, 10 PARA BDE continues to operate under its original brigade structure as of 2025. 10 PARA BDE is unique is that it is the only elite unit in the
Malaysian Armed Forces The Malaysian Armed Forces (: MAF; ; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ), are the armed forces of Malaysia, consists of three branches; the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The number of MAF active personnel is 113,000 ...
that accepts women. This makes it one of the few inclusive specialised units in the country. The only other elite Malaysian unit to do the same is the Special Actions Unit from the
Royal Malaysia Police The Royal Malaysia Police (often abbreviated RMP) (; Jawi script, Jawi: ), is a (primarily) uniformed national and federal police force in Malaysia. The force is a centralised organisation, and its headquarters are located at Bukit Aman, Kuala ...
. The current commander of this division is Brigadier General
Khairul Anwar Soib Khairul (خيرول) is a masculine given name commonly used in Malaysia, Indonesia and South Asia. It derives from the Arabic word “Khair” (خير), meaning “goodness,” “blessing,” or “virtue.” Notable people with the name include: ...
, who replaced Major General
Datuk Datuk (or its variant Dato or Datu) is a Malay language, Malay honorific title commonly used in Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia, as well as a traditional title by Minangkabau people in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Use of the title various between loc ...
Khairul Azmizal Ahmad Natal Khairul (خيرول) is a masculine given name commonly used in Malaysian names, Malaysia, Indonesian names, Indonesia and South Asia. It derives from the Arabic word “Khair” (خير), meaning “goodness,” “blessing,” or “virtue.” No ...
on 4 February 2025.


Etymology

The official Malay name, 'Briged Infantri Ke Sepuluh Paracut', translates to 'Tenth Parachute Infantry Brigade' in
Malaysian English Malaysian English (MyE), formally known as Malaysian Standard English (MySE) (similar and related to British English), is a form of English used and spoken in Malaysia. While Malaysian English can encompass a range of English spoken in Malaysi ...
. The Malay term 'paracut' is borrowed from the English word '
parachute A parachute is a device designed to slow an object's descent through an atmosphere by creating Drag (physics), drag or aerodynamic Lift (force), lift. It is primarily used to safely support people exiting aircraft at height, but also serves va ...
'. Alternatively, ' payung terjun' is another common Malay translation for parachute. In English, the unit is officially known as the '10th Parachute Brigade'. Informally, people also refer the unit as the '10th Airborne Brigade', as the abbreviation 'PARA' indicates 'Airborne'. All terms—10 Brigade (Para), 10th Brigade (Parachute), 10th Brigade (Airborne), and 10th Paratrooper Brigade—refer to the same unit. The units under this brigade, such as the
8th Battalion (Parachute), Royal Ranger Regiment The 8th Battalion (Parachute), Royal Ranger Regiment (8th Ranger) (), commonly referred to as 8 RRD (Para), is a battalion-sized Elite Forces of Malaysia, elite specialised light infantry unit of the Royal Ranger Regiment within the Malaysian Army ...
, can be denoted in American English as the '8th Battalion (Airborne), Royal Ranger Regiment' or simply 8 RANGER (Airborne). Similarly, the
special operations Special operations or special ops are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment." Special operations ma ...
unit within this brigade, Pathfinder Company (Para), can be referred to as 'Pathfinder Company (Airborne)'.


History


Established as an infantry brigade

The 10th Infantry Brigade was officially established on 5 October 1979 at Sungai Besi Camp in
Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...
during the
Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–1989) The Communist insurgency in Malaysia, also known as the Second Malayan Emergency ( or ), was an armed conflict which occurred in Malaysia from 1968 to 1989, between the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) and Malaysian federal security forces. Fol ...
. At that time, the brigade was placed under the 2nd Infantry Division. Later, the brigade was relocated to Pengkalan Hulu Camp in
Perak Perak (; Perak Malay: ''Peghok'') is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kel ...
to relieve some of the area of operation from the 2nd Infantry Brigade.


Downsized to Task Force

The 10th Infantry Brigade was downsized in December 1982 and renamed to Task Force 083, while their area of operations remained unchanged. Since 1 January 1983, Task Force 083 has been assigned responsibility for the area of operations named Operation KOTA Echo/Foxtrot (). Members of the task force are rotated among battalions from the
Royal Malay Regiment The Royal Malay Regiment (; Jawi: ) is the premier unit of the Malaysian Army's two infantry regiments. At its largest, the Malay Regiment comprised 27 battalions. At present, three battalions are parachute trained and form part of the Malaysia ...
and the Malaysian Ranger Regiment (now known as the
Royal Ranger Regiment The Royal Ranger Regiment (; RRD) is an infantry regiment of the Malaysian Army. Although it is second in seniority to the Royal Malay Regiment (''; RAMD''), the RRD can trace its origins back to the mid 19th century and the establishment of Th ...
). On 2 May 1984, the task force was placed under the 11th Strategic Division.


Reorganised as a Strategic Defence Brigade

On 1 January 1990, Task Force 083 was upgraded back to the strength of a
brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...
and renamed the 10th Strategic Brigade. During this time, the Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–1989) had recently ended. The 11th Strategic Division was tasked by the Army Command () with
strategic defence Strategic defence is a type of military planning doctrine and a set defense and/or combat activities used for the purpose of deterring, resisting, and repelling a strategic offensive, conducted as either a territorial or airspace, invasion or a ...
, requiring them to experiment in planning, doctrine, training, and other areas to ensure the Malaysian Army had an advantage in the event of a new armed conflict. In December 1992, the brigade was relocated from Pengkalan Hulu Camp to
Terendak Camp Terendak Camp is a Malaysian Army military base located in Sungai Udang, Central Melaka District, Melaka, Malaysia. It belonged to the Commonwealth of Nations before being handed over to the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1970. It is right next to th ...
in Malacca.


Integrated into the Rapid Deployment Force

In early 1994, the 10th Strategic Brigade was integrated into a new military unit named the Malaysian Rapid Deployment Force. Simultaneously, the brigade was unofficially upgraded to an airborne brigade. On 10 October 1994, the then
Prime Minister of Malaysia The prime minister of Malaysia (; ) is the head of government of Malaysia. The prime minister directs the executive branch of the Government of Malaysia, federal government. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints the prime minister who is a membe ...
,
Mahathir Mohamad Mahathir bin Mohamad (; ; born 10 July 1925) is a Malaysian politician, author and doctor who was respectively the fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia, prime minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and from 2018 to 2020. He was the ...
, officially announced the establishment of Malaysian Armed Forces' Rapid Deployment Forces, and the 10th Strategic Brigade was officially renamed the 10th Parachute Brigade. Simultaneously, the brigade became an independent military formation directly under the command of the Chief of Army, and the 11th Strategic Division was officially dissolved. As of 2023, the 10th Parachute Brigade is the sole component of the Malaysian Rapid Deployment Force, supported by the
Royal Malaysian Air Force The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF, ; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ) was formed on 2 June 1958 as the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force (; ). However, its roots can be traced back to the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force formations of the British Royal A ...
and the
Royal Malaysian Navy The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN, ; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ) is the naval arm of the Malaysian Armed Forces. RMN is the main agency responsible for the country's maritime surveillance and defence operations. RMN's area of operation consists of 603,2 ...
.


Upgraded to the status of special operations-capable

Although initially trained in airborne operations, the battalions under the 10 PARA BDE were originally designated as standard infantry battalions, performing conventional infantry duties. At the time, they were classified by the Malaysian Army as ''Batalion Infantri Standard'' or Standard Infantry Battalions in English. However, on 9 October 2020, under the '
ARMY 4NEXTG An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by p ...
' plan, General Zamrose Mohd Zain, the Chief of Army, upgraded 10 PARA BDE’s status to special operations-capable. This transformation relieved them of the conventional infantry roles previously assigned to standard infantry battalions, allowing them to focus on more specialised tasks. With this upgrade, 10 PARA BDE now operates at a level comparable to the
U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
's
75th Ranger Regiment The 75th Ranger Regiment, also known as the United States Army Rangers, Army Rangers, is the United States Army Special Operations Command's premier light infantry and direct-action raid force. The 75th Ranger Regiment is also part of Joint S ...
and the British Army's Specialised Infantry Group (now known as the
Army Special Operations Brigade The Army Special Operations Brigade, previously called the Specialised Infantry Group, is a formation of the British Army, initially created as a result of the Army 2020 Refine reorganisation, intended to train foreign forces. Its name and rol ...
). Their primary focus revolves around air assault operations, airborne operations, and amphibious warfare operations with extended capabilities in special operations light infantry roles or functioning as special operations-capable forces.


Restructure as a special operations-capable with hybrid airborne-marine capability

Malaysia, as a nation in
maritime Southeast Asia Maritime Southeast Asia comprises the Southeast Asian countries of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and East Timor. The terms Island Southeast Asia and Insular Southeast Asia are sometimes given the same meaning as ...
with a maritime zone, realises the importance of an amphibious military unit such as
Marines Marines (or naval infantry) are military personnel generally trained to operate on both land and sea, with a particular focus on amphibious warfare. Historically, the main tasks undertaken by marines have included Raid (military), raiding ashor ...
. In 2013, the
Malaysian government The Government of Malaysia, officially the Federal Government of Malaysia (; Jawi: ), is based in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, with the exception of the legislative branch, which is located in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is a federation comp ...
expressed its desire to establish a marine corps, but they couldn't decide which military service should be in charge of the marine corps. For instance, while most marine units fall under the navy, there are instances where marine units fall under the army, as seen with the
Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade The is the only marines brigade units of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) responsible for conducting amphibious warfare, coastal defence, and rapid response operations to security threats in island areas in Japanese territorial waters ...
, a part of the
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force The , , also referred to as the Japanese Army, is the land warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Created on July 1, 1954, it is the largest of the three service branches. New military guidelines, announced in December 2010, direct ...
. The 10 PARA BDE has been trained as a substitute for the Marines, since the early 2000s. In June 2002, the
8th Battalion (Parachute), Royal Ranger Regiment The 8th Battalion (Parachute), Royal Ranger Regiment (8th Ranger) (), commonly referred to as 8 RRD (Para), is a battalion-sized Elite Forces of Malaysia, elite specialised light infantry unit of the Royal Ranger Regiment within the Malaysian Army ...
(8 RANGER (PARA)), underwent training with the
United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...
. In August 2002, the 8 RANGER (PARA) was deployed to
Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah has land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesia's North Kalima ...
under Operations PASIR to defend the coastline alongside other Malaysian army units. In 2006, the 10 PARA BDE participated in the CARAT exercise, assuming the role of a Marine unit. Due to conflicts in the South China Sea, in 2022, the Malaysian Army Command directed the 10 PARA BDE to restructure as a hybrid airborne-marine unit. The new role of the 10 PARA BDE was showcased to the public during the 89th Army Day (), with members of the brigade conducting beach raids from the Royal Malaysian Navy's KD Mahawangsa.


Potential upgrade to a division size

On 17 April 2023, General
Mohammad Ab Rahman Mohammad bin Ab Rahman (born 15 March 1964) is a Malaysian military officer who served as the 22nd Chief of Defence Forces (Malaysia), Chief of Defence Forces from September 2023 to January 2025. Prior to his appointment, he previously served as ...
, the Chief of Army, promoted the 10 PARA BDE commander, Brigadier General
Khairul Azmizal Ahmad Natal Khairul (خيرول) is a masculine given name commonly used in Malaysian names, Malaysia, Indonesian names, Indonesia and South Asia. It derives from the Arabic word “Khair” (خير), meaning “goodness,” “blessing,” or “virtue.” No ...
, to the rank of Major General. With this promotion, the 10 PARA BDE was unofficially upgraded to a division-sized military unit. This marks the first time, since the establishment of this brigade, that it is led by a major general. As of the year 2020, the 10 PARA BDE's members exceed 4800 personnel, falling only short of 200 personnel from the division size according to
NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...
standards.


Timeline

* 5 October 1979 – The 10th Infantry Brigade was established at Sungai Besi Camp in Kuala Lumpur. * October 1979 – The 10th Infantry Brigade moved to Pengkalan Hulu Camp in Perak and became part of the 2nd Infantry Division. * December 1982 – The 10th Infantry Brigade was reorganised and became Task Force 083. * 2 May 1984 – Task Force 083 was placed under the 11th Strategic Division. * November 1984 – Task Force 083 comprised the 8th Battalion of the Ranger Regiment (8 RANGER), which was stationed at
Terendak Camp Terendak Camp is a Malaysian Army military base located in Sungai Udang, Central Melaka District, Melaka, Malaysia. It belonged to the Commonwealth of Nations before being handed over to the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1970. It is right next to th ...
in Malacca. * 1 January 1987 – The 8 RANGER underwent training as an experimental airborne battalion. * 1 January 1990 – Task Force 083 was elevated to brigade formation and re-branded as the 10th Strategic Brigade. * January–November 1992 – Combat support units, including armoured, artillery, engineering, and others, were incorporated into the structure of the 10th Strategic Brigade. * December 1992 – The 10th Strategic Brigade moved to Terendak Camp in Malacca at the same time that the 9th Battalion and 17th Battalion of the
Royal Malay Regiment The Royal Malay Regiment (; Jawi: ) is the premier unit of the Malaysian Army's two infantry regiments. At its largest, the Malay Regiment comprised 27 battalions. At present, three battalions are parachute trained and form part of the Malaysia ...
were assigned to the brigade. * 1994 – The Malaysian Rapid Deployment Force was informally established, and the 10th Strategic Brigade was assigned to this force. * 10 October 1994 –
Malaysian Prime Minister The prime minister of Malaysia (; ) is the head of government of Malaysia. The prime minister directs the executive branch of the federal government. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints the prime minister who is a member of Parliament (MP) wh ...
,
Mahathir Mohamad Mahathir bin Mohamad (; ; born 10 July 1925) is a Malaysian politician, author and doctor who was respectively the fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia, prime minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and from 2018 to 2020. He was the ...
, officially established the Malaysian Rapid Deployment Force, re-designating the 10th Strategic Brigade as the 10th Parachute Brigade. * 10 October 1994 – The 10 PARA BDE conducts rapid deployment exercises, collaborating with special forces such as the
21st Special Service Group The 21st Special Service Group (Abbreviation, Abbr.: 21 SSG, ), also known as the 21st Special Forces Group, serves as the Command (military formation), command for the Malaysian Army's special forces, the ''Gerak Khas (Malaysian Army unit), Ger ...
and Naval Special Forces (PASKAL). Operational support is provided by the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The 1994 Halilintar Exercise () featured a scenario where the Rapid Deployment Force, led by the 8 RANGER (PARA), reclaimed
Langkawi International Airport Langkawi International Airport is an airport in Padang Matsirat, Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. In 2015, the airport handled 2,336,177 passengers and 30,853 aircraft movements. The airport serves as a venue for the biennial Langkawi International ...
from an invading force. * 1 June 1999 – The
pathfinder Pathfinder, Path Finder or Pathfinders may refer to: Aerospace * ''Mars Pathfinder'', a NASA Mars Lander * NASA Pathfinder, a high-altitude, solar-powered uncrewed aircraft * Space Shuttle ''Pathfinder'', a Space Shuttle test simulator Arts and ...
and
reconnaissance In military operations, military reconnaissance () or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil activities in the area of operations. In military jargon, reconnai ...
unit for the 10th Parachute Brigade, officially named the Pathfinder Platoon (Para) (), was formally established. This unit, initially created on an
ad hoc ''Ad hoc'' is a List of Latin phrases, Latin phrase meaning literally for this. In English language, English, it typically signifies a solution designed for a specific purpose, problem, or task rather than a Generalization, generalized solution ...
basis since 1995 as a pathfinder
task force A task force (TF) is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology. Many ...
, now becomes an official part of the brigade. * June 2002 – A battalion within the 10th Parachute Brigade underwent marines training with the
USMC The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionary ...
. *21 February 2018 – The 18th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment was elevated to an airborne battalion and positioned under the 10th Parachute Brigade. Headquartered at Seberang Takir Camp in Kuala Nerus,
Terengganu Terengganu (; Terengganu Malay: ''Tranung'', formerly spelled Trengganu or Tringganu) is a sultanate and States and federal territories of Malaysia, federal state of Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, ''Dāru l-Iman (c ...
, this unit is assigned the responsibility of covering the east
peninsular A peninsula is a landform that extends from a mainland and is only connected to land on one side. Peninsulas exist on each continent. The largest peninsula in the world is the Arabian Peninsula. Etymology The word ''peninsula'' derives , . ...
region. *9 October 2020 – Upgraded to the status of specialised light infantry. *2022 – The 10th Parachute Brigade assumed the role of marine forces while awaiting the establishment of the Malaysian version of the Marine Corps by the
Malaysian Armed Forces The Malaysian Armed Forces (: MAF; ; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ), are the armed forces of Malaysia, consists of three branches; the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The number of MAF active personnel is 113,000 ...
.


Roles

As of 2023, the 10 PARA BDE has a multi-spectrum of roles. Its original roles are as an airborne and air assault unit for the
Malaysian Armed Forces The Malaysian Armed Forces (: MAF; ; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ), are the armed forces of Malaysia, consists of three branches; the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The number of MAF active personnel is 113,000 ...
, similar to the
British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...
's
16 Air Assault Brigade 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, known simply as 16 Air Assault Brigade from 1999–2021, is a formation of the British Army predominantly based in Colchester, Essex. It makes up the Air Assault Task Force, a battlegroup held at high readines ...
. The amphibious elements were later added, making the 10 PARA BDE a hybrid airborne-marine unit capable of deployment from sea, air, and land. The five primary objectives of the 10 PARA BDE are as follows: # Operate either independently or as part of a joint force in response to threats occurring within or outside Malaysia. # Defend and rescue Malaysian citizens and property located abroad. # Assist
law enforcement Law enforcement is the activity of some members of the government or other social institutions who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by investigating, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms gove ...
with any threats occurring within Malaysia. # Fight
insurgency An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion by small, lightly armed bands who practice guerrilla warfare against a larger authority. The key descriptive feature of insurgency is its asymmetric warfare, asymmetric nature: small irregular forces ...
. # Assist friendly countries in the event of a
natural disaster A natural disaster is the very harmful impact on a society or community brought by natural phenomenon or Hazard#Natural hazard, hazard. Some examples of natural hazards include avalanches, droughts, earthquakes, floods, heat waves, landslides ...
, defending their citizens, or serving as peacekeepers.


Identities


Maroon beret

The
maroon beret The maroon beret in a military configuration has been an international symbol of airborne forces since the World War II, Second World War. It was first officially introduced by the British Army in 1942, at the direction of Major-general (Uni ...
worn by the 10th Parachute Brigade is known as 'Pegasus'. To qualify for wearing the maroon beret, one must successfully complete both the Basic Parachutist Course and the Basic Rapid Deployment Force Course. This practice is modelled after the
British Parachute Regiment The Parachute Regiment, known colloquially as the Paras, is the Airborne forces, airborne and elite infantry regiment of the British Army. The 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment, first battalion is part of the Special Forces Support Group under ...
, including the style of wearing the beret and the cap badge.


Cap badge

The insignia consists of parachute wings affixed to a black triangle background, with a
Keris The kris or is a Javanese asymmetrical dagger with a distinctive blade-patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and nickelous iron (''pamor''). The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade, although many have straight ...
, featured prominently and pointing downwards.


Parachutist badge

The design of the Malaysian military parachutist badge draws inspiration from the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia. For members of the 10 PARA BDE, this badge is referred to as 'Sayap Berdarah', translating to ' Blood Wings' in English. During the Blood Wings ceremony,
VIPs VIPS or Vips may stand for: * Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, a college in Delhi, India * VIPS (software) image processing software * Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, a group of current and former officials of the Uni ...
, typically the Chief of Army or the Commander of 10 PARA BDE, along with instructors, punch the metal parachutist badge into the chests of the graduates. The sharp pins of the wing symbolically induce bleeding, and only those who undergo this ceremony earn the privilege to wear a blood-red background trim () on the back of their parachutist badge when donning any service uniform, excluding the combat uniform. Other units, like the
21st Special Service Group The 21st Special Service Group (Abbreviation, Abbr.: 21 SSG, ), also known as the 21st Special Forces Group, serves as the Command (military formation), command for the Malaysian Army's special forces, the ''Gerak Khas (Malaysian Army unit), Ger ...
, if trained in airborne operations, wear the parachutist badge without the background trim.


PAC shoulder tab

Members of the 10 PARA BDE wear this tab on their left shoulder in both
service dress Service dress uniform is the informal type of uniform used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for everyday office, barracks and non-field duty purposes and sometimes for ceremonial occasions. It frequently consists of a ...
and
combat uniform A combat uniform, also called a field uniform, battledress, or fatigues, is a casual wear, casual uniform used by military, police, firefighter, fire, and other public uniformed services for everyday fieldwork and duty, as opposed to dress uni ...
s. The maroon-coloured tab is embroidered with black letters 'PAC', representing the acronym for ''Pasukan Aturgerak Cepat''.


Airborne shoulder tab

The tab is similar to the US Army
101st Airborne Division The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) ("Screaming Eagles") is a light infantry division (military), division of the United States Army that specializes in air assault military operation, operations. The 101st is designed to plan, coordinat ...
tab, with yellow or gold 'AIRBORNE' letters embroidered on a black background. In the Malaysian Army, it is worn on the left shoulder of the service dress uniform. The black and olive version is worn above the tactical formation patches on the combat uniform.


Motto

''Tiada Misi Terlalu Sukar, Tiada Pengorbanan Terlalu Besar, Tugas Diutamakan!'' (No Mission Too Difficult. No Sacrifice Too Great. Duty First!). The motto is adopted from the motto of the 1st Infantry Division of the
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
.


Structures

The headquarters of the 10th Parachute Brigade is based at
Terendak Camp Terendak Camp is a Malaysian Army military base located in Sungai Udang, Central Melaka District, Melaka, Malaysia. It belonged to the Commonwealth of Nations before being handed over to the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1970. It is right next to th ...
, Malacca, also known as the 'Home of the Paras'.


Current structure

Currently, the 10th Parachute Brigade consists of the following units: * Headquarters, 10th Parachute Brigade. At
Terendak Camp Terendak Camp is a Malaysian Army military base located in Sungai Udang, Central Melaka District, Melaka, Malaysia. It belonged to the Commonwealth of Nations before being handed over to the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1970. It is right next to th ...
in
Malacca Malacca (), officially the Historic State of Malacca (), is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia located in the Peninsular Malaysia#Other features, southern region of the Malay Peninsula, facing the Strait of Malacca ...
** 8th Battalion (Parachute),
Royal Rangers Assemblies of God youth organizations include two youth organizations operating under the auspices of the Assemblies of God, the Royal Rangers and the Mpact Girls Clubs (formerly known as the Missionettes). Royal Rangers Royal Rangers is an ad ...
(Specialised light infantry). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** 9th Battalion (Parachute), Royal Malays (Specialised light infantry). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** 17th Battalion (Parachute), Royal Malays (Specialised light infantry). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** 18th Battalion (Parachute), Royal Malays (Specialised light infantry). At Sri Pantai Camp in
Terengganu Terengganu (; Terengganu Malay: ''Tranung'', formerly spelled Trengganu or Tringganu) is a sultanate and States and federal territories of Malaysia, federal state of Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, ''Dāru l-Iman (c ...
** 1st Artillery Regiment (Parachute),
Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...
(Airborne close support artillery). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** Armoured Squadron (Parachute), Royal Armoured (Airborne mechanised infantry and light infantry fighting vehicles). At Syed Sirajuddin Camp in
Negeri Sembilan Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan''), historically spelled as Negri Sembilan, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia which lies on the Peninsular Malaysia#Other features, wes ...
** 10th Signal Squadron (Parachute),
Royal Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communications an ...
(Communication and information support). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** 10th Engineering Squadron (Parachute), Royal Army Engineers (Close support air manoeuvre engineers). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** 361st Air Defence Battery (Parachute), Royal Artillery (Close support air manoeuvre anti-aircraft gunners). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** 10th Field Workshop Company (Parachute), Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (Close support air manoeuvre engineers). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** Pathfinder Company (Para) (Special operations-capable forces). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** Support Company (Parachute) (
Anti-tank Anti-tank warfare refers to the military strategies, tactics, and weapon systems designed to counter and destroy enemy armored vehicles, particularly tanks. It originated during World War I following the first deployment of tanks in 1916, and ...
,
heavy machine gun A heavy machine gun (HMG) is significantly larger than light, medium or general-purpose machine guns. HMGs are typically too heavy to be man-portable (carried by one person) and require mounting onto a weapons platform to be operably stable or ...
, grenade machine gun, and light armoured car support). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** Medical Company (Parachute), Royal Medicals (Air manoeuvre medical support). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** 10th Logistic Company (Parachute), Royal Logistics (Airborne combat logistics support). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** Military Police Platoon (Parachute),
Royal Military Police The Royal Military Police (RMP) is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of army service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in the UK and while service personnel are deployed overseas on operations ...
(Brigade's law enforcement). At Terendak Camp in Malacca ** Intelligence Cell of the 10th Parachute Brigade, Royal Intelligence (Military intelligence support). At Terendak Camp in Malacca


Family welfare support

10 PARA BDE's BAKAT oversees the family welfare support for the brigade. The organisation is under the leadership of the spouse of the Commander of 10 PARA BDE, with the commander serving as the patron for this organisation.


Selection and training

There are two ways for soldiers in the Malaysian Army to serve in the Malaysian Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) and the 10th Parachute Brigade. The first type is for
combat service support The term combat service support (or CSS) is utilized by numerous military organizations throughout the world to describe entities that provide direct and indirect sustainment services to the groups that engage (or are potentially to be engaged) ...
, such as
logistics Logistics is the part of supply chain management that deals with the efficient forward and reverse flow of goods, services, and related information from the point of origin to the Consumption (economics), point of consumption according to the ...
,
medical Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...
,
chaplains A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a Minister (Christianity), minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a laity, lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secularity, secular institution (such as a ho ...
, and others. These individuals only need to pass the Basic Parachutist Course and qualify as airborne forces. However, soldiers also have the option to challenge themselves by undertaking the full RDF pipeline, culminating in the acquisition of the coveted
maroon beret The maroon beret in a military configuration has been an international symbol of airborne forces since the World War II, Second World War. It was first officially introduced by the British Army in 1942, at the direction of Major-general (Uni ...
. The second type is the full pipeline, which is mandatory for those who want to be on the front lines with the
combat team A combat team is temporary grouping of military organizations of differing types to accomplish a defined mission or objective. Usage varies between commonwealth nations, where the term applies to a sub-unit level grouping, and the United States, ...
s or combat support teams. Officers and soldiers in this category need to go through three courses before being awarded the maroon beret and parachutist badge. These courses, collectively known as the RDF pipeline, are as follows:


Preparatory course (2 Weeks)

This course, officially known as the 10th Parachute Brigade Induction Programme, lasts for two weeks and is divided into two types. The first type is designed for
other ranks Other ranks (ORs) in the Royal Marines (RM), the British Army, and the Royal Air Force (RAF), along with the navies, armies, and air forces of many other Commonwealth countries and Ireland, are those personnel who are not commissioned officers, bu ...
, while the second, known as the 10th Parachute Brigade Junior Officer Induction Programme, is tailored for
officers An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...
. The course aims to instill discipline, multi-skills, practicality, substance, and action-oriented skills in the candidates. For officers, leadership skills are also included in their curriculum. Throughout the course, candidates undergo physical and mental preparation for subsequent courses in the RDF pipeline. This involves completing a run twice a day at 0700 hrs and 1500 hrs. Candidates need to navigate through an obstacle and endurance course known as Endurance Challenge ''Tachtlon'' and undergo
marksmanship A marksman is a person who is skilled in precision shooting. In modern military usage this typically refers to the use of projectile weapons such as an accurized scoped long gun such as designated marksman rifle (or a sniper rifle) to shoot ...
tests as part of their final assessment for this course.


Basic Parachutist Course (4 Weeks)

This course, also known as jump school or airborne school, is conducted at the Special Warfare Training Centre, Sungai Udang Camp in Malacca. It is compulsory, even for non-combat soldiers such as doctors, nurses, chefs, chaplains, intelligence personnel, and others who are attached to the 10 PARA BDE. The course is divided into three phases:


Phase 1: Theory

The first phase lasts for two weeks, during which candidates are instructed in the correct techniques for
parachute A parachute is a device designed to slow an object's descent through an atmosphere by creating Drag (physics), drag or aerodynamic Lift (force), lift. It is primarily used to safely support people exiting aircraft at height, but also serves va ...
jumps. They learn how to land, emergency procedures if the main chute does not deploy or fails to open correctly, how to handle collisions in the air, deploying the second chute, maintaining discipline in the aircraft, landing techniques in challenging conditions (such as rough winds or water landings), and the correct method for packing the parachute after landing. Every Friday, candidates must pass the following physical tests: * Running in under 16 minutes * Rope climbing to a height of * Performing 6 chin-ups * Completing 32 press-ups in under 1 minute * Completing 32 sit-ups in under 1 minute * Buddy-carrying for


Phase 2: Tower week

The second phase, lasting for one week, involves testing the theories learned in Phase 1 at a high tower. Each candidate is required to carry of equipment for each exercise. The exercises include: * Sitting for 45 minutes in a hot mock aeroplane in full battle equipment * Jumping from a tower * Completing an exit tower exercise from a height


Phase 3: Jump week

The final phase of the Basic Parachutist Course, known as the Jump Week, involves candidates being sent to a selected airport. The airport and drop zones are not fixed, with known drop zones including Gong Kedak in
Kelantan Kelantan (; Kelantan-Pattani Malay, Kelantanese Malay: ''Klate''; ) is a state in Malaysia. The capital, Kota Bharu, includes the royal seat of Kubang Kerian. The honorific, honorific name of the state is ''Darul Naim'' ("The Blissful Abode"). ...
,
Padang Terap The Padang Terap District is a district in Kedah, Malaysia. It is governed by the Padang Terap District Council (). Padang Terap District shares a border with Thailand to the north, and with Sik District and Pendang District to the west. It is ...
in
Kedah Kedah (), also known by its honorific Darul Aman (Islam), Aman (دار الأمان; Arabic for 'The Safe Abode') and historically as Queda, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of ...
, and Pontian in
Johor Johor, also spelled Johore,'' is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia in the south of the Malay Peninsula. It borders with Pahang, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan to the north. Johor has maritime borders with Singapore ...
. During this week, candidates are required to complete eight jumps, with at least two jumps performed in full battle equipment. In some cases, only seven jumps are needed if weather conditions do not permit. Non-full RDF pipeline candidates receive their parachutist badge in a small graduation ceremony after the last jump, while full RDF pipeline candidates move on to the next course.


Basic Rapid Deployment Force Course (4 Weeks)

This course, known as ''Kursus Asas Pasukan Aturgerak Cepat or Kursus APAC'' in Malay, is conducted at ''Perkampungan Gempita Para'' ('Airborne Combat Village'),
Terendak Camp Terendak Camp is a Malaysian Army military base located in Sungai Udang, Central Melaka District, Melaka, Malaysia. It belonged to the Commonwealth of Nations before being handed over to the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1970. It is right next to th ...
in Malacca. The primary objective is to mentally and physically train paratroopers to achieve elite status, foster
esprit de corps Morale ( , ) is the capacity of a group's members to maintain belief in an institution or goal, particularly in the face of opposition or hardship. Morale is often referenced by authority figures as a generic value judgment of the willpower ...
, and emphasise the 'Buddy System'. Originally spanning five weeks, this course serves as the Malaysian Army's equivalent of the US Army's
Ranger Assessment and Selection Program Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP) is an 8-week course held at Fort Benning, Georgia, for the U.S. Army's 75th Ranger Regiment. In 2009, RASP replaced both the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) for enlisted Soldiers and Ranger Ori ...
. Also referred to as ''Latihan Semangat Waja'' and Pagasus Course, the course is divided into two phases.


Phase 1: Camp phase

During this phase, candidates undergo both theoretical and practical training to prepare them for the subsequent phase and their roles within the Malaysian RDF and the 10 PARA BDE. The theories they learn encompass: * Airborne Operations: Understanding the principles and tactics involved in parachute-assisted military operations, covering both strategic and tactical aspects of airborne assaults * Amphibious Operations: Learning the strategies and techniques used in military operations that involve both land and water elements, emphasising versatility in deployment. * Air Assault Operations: Gaining knowledge and skills related to rapid deployment and assault via helicopters or other air assets, with a focus on speed and flexibility.


Phase 2: Field phase

Conducted outside the military camp, the Field Phase is the 10 PARA BDE's version of the
United States Navy SEAL The United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the United States Navy's primary special operations force and a component of the United States Naval Special Warfare Command. Among the SEALs' main funct ...
's 'Hell Week'. During this phase, candidates undergo a series of demanding challenges designed to assess their physical and mental fortitude. The field phase includes amphibious infiltration, jungle warfare with small unit tactics, long-distance loaded marching by foot, land navigation tests, climbing and ascending mountains, swimming and river crossing, and survival in swamps. Throughout this phase, all theories and training acquired in Phase 1 are put to the test. The field phase simulates real-world conditions, ensuring candidates can apply their knowledge and skills effectively in challenging operational scenarios.


Graduation

The graduation ceremony, originally conducted at Parawood, Terendak Camp, underwent a significant change in 2022. Originally, trainees would swim approximately in murky water, carrying their weapons and equipment, before being bestowed with the
maroon beret The maroon beret in a military configuration has been an international symbol of airborne forces since the World War II, Second World War. It was first officially introduced by the British Army in 1942, at the direction of Major-general (Uni ...
and the blood wing as symbols of their graduation. The ceremony would conclude with the recitation of the para oath and a para
war dance A war dance is a dance involving mock combat, usually in reference to tribal warrior societies where such dances were performed as a ritual connected with endemic warfare. Martial arts in various cultures can be performed in dance-like setting ...
performed by the graduates. However, since 2022, the graduation ceremony has evolved to include a beach raiding exercise. Graduates now participate in this exercise before being officially bestowed with the maroon beret and the blood wing.


Advanced training

After graduating from the RDF pipeline, new members are required to undergo compulsory advanced training courses tailored to their specific specialities within the 10th Parachute Brigade. For instance, graduates assigned to specialised light infantry combat units, like the 9th Battalion (Parachute), Royal Malay Regiment, must complete three additional advanced courses: #
Rifleman A rifleman is an infantry soldier armed with a rifling, rifled long gun. Although the rifleman role had its origin with 16th century hand cannoneers and 17th century musketeers, the term originated in the 18th century with the introduction o ...
Class II
Marksmanship A marksman is a person who is skilled in precision shooting. In modern military usage this typically refers to the use of projectile weapons such as an accurized scoped long gun such as designated marksman rifle (or a sniper rifle) to shoot ...
Course (4 weeks) # Rifleman Class I Marksmanship Course (4 weeks) # Military
Hand-to-Hand Combat Hand-to-hand combat is a physical confrontation between two or more persons at short range (grappling distance or within the physical reach of a handheld weapon) that does not involve the use of ranged weapons.Hunsicker, A., ''Advanced Skills in ...
Course (2 weeks) In addition to the compulsory training, members of the 10 PARA BDE have the opportunity to advance their skills by participating in advanced courses offered by the Malaysian Armed Forces. They can also strive to join the 10 PARA BDE's special operations unit, the Pathfinder Company (Para). Several veteran paratroopers from the 10 PARA BDE have chosen to undergo
Special Forces Selection Special or specials may refer to: Policing * Specials, Ulster Special Constabulary, the Northern Ireland police force * Specials, Special Constable, an auxiliary, volunteer, or temporary; police worker or police officer * Special police forces M ...
. Some of the advanced/specialist training courses include: * Tactical Air Landing Operations (TALO) * Free Fall *
Close Quarters Combat Close-quarters battle (CQB), also called close-quarters combat (CQC), is a close combat situation between multiple combatants involving ranged (typically firearm-based) or melee combat. It can occur between military units, law enforcement and cr ...
(CQC) *Vehicle driver * HALO/HAHO *
Sniper A sniper is a military or paramilitary marksman who engages targets from positions of concealment or at distances exceeding the target's detection capabilities. Snipers generally have specialized training and are equipped with telescopic si ...
*
Demolition Demolition (also known as razing and wrecking) is the science and engineering in safely and efficiently tearing down buildings and other artificial structures. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction (building), deconstruction, which inv ...
expert *
Sharpshooter A sharpshooter is one who is highly proficient at firing firearms or other projectile weapons accurately. Military units composed of sharpshooters were important factors in 19th-century combat. Along with " marksman" and "expert", "sharpshooter" ...
s *
Pathfinder Pathfinder, Path Finder or Pathfinders may refer to: Aerospace * ''Mars Pathfinder'', a NASA Mars Lander * NASA Pathfinder, a high-altitude, solar-powered uncrewed aircraft * Space Shuttle ''Pathfinder'', a Space Shuttle test simulator Arts and ...
*Airborne
combat medic A combat medic is responsible for providing emergency medicine, emergency medical treatment at a point of wounding in a combat or training environment, as well as primary care and health protection and evacuation from a point of injury or illnes ...


Equipment


Para oath

::''Kami berikrar bahawa kami, sentiasa mentaati Rukun Negara dan Ikrar Kesatria.'' ::''Kami berikrar bahawa kami, dengan kemahuan kami sendiri, diterjunkan dan melaksanakan tugas parajurit para.'' ::''Kami berikrar bahawa kami menjunjung tinggi dan mempertahankan darjat, nama, kehormatan dan jiwa parajurit para.'' ::''Kami berikrar bahawa kami, sentiasa bersiap sedia untuk diterjunkan pada setiap saat, di mana jua, dan dalam keadaan apa sekalipun.'' ::''Kami berikrar bahawa kami, sentiasa bersikap sopan dan menurut perintah dengan ikhlas dan jujur.'' :::"We pledge that we always obey the ''
Rukun Negara The National Principles (; Jawi: ) is the Malaysian declaration of national philosophy instituted by royal proclamation on Merdeka Day, 1970, in reaction to the 13 May race riots, which occurred in 1969. The riots proved at that time that Mala ...
'' and the Warriors' Pledge. :::We pledge that, with our own will, we jump and carry out the duties of the paratroopers. :::We pledge that we uphold and defend the ranks, names, honours, and souls of the paratroopers. :::We pledge that we are always ready to jump at any time, anywhere, and in whatever circumstances. :::We pledge that we will always be polite and sincerely and honestly carry out all orders given to us."


Recent operations

The unit has been deployed in the following operations: ;Malaysian Medical Team, Pakistan On 14 October 2005, members of the Malaysian Medical Team (MasMedTim) serving in
Battagram Battagram (, ) is a city and Union Council of Battagram District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. It is located at 34°41'N 73°1'E and has an altitude of 1038 metres (3408 feet). Climate With a mild and generally warm and temperate ...
, Pakistan, were recommended to receive a daily service allowance of RM100 in recognition of their challenging conditions. The team had been deployed to support relief efforts following the devastating
2005 Kashmir earthquake An earthquake occurred at on 8 October 2005 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, a territory under Pakistan. Its epicenter was 19 km northeast of the city of Muzaffarabad, and 90 km north north-east of Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, ...
, and by 26 October, they had established a
field hospital A field hospital is a temporary hospital or mobile medical unit that takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent facilities. This term was initially used in military medicine (such as the Mobile ...
in Battagram, located roughly from
Islamabad Islamabad (; , ; ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's tenth-most populous city with a population of over 1.1 million and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital Territory. Bu ...
. Despite their commitment, the team faced severe hardships. They were equipped with tropical tents and
kerosene Kerosene, or paraffin, is a combustibility, combustible hydrocarbon liquid which is derived from petroleum. It is widely used as a fuel in Aviation fuel, aviation as well as households. Its name derives from the Greek (''kērós'') meaning " ...
heaters, which were poorly suited to the subzero temperatures of the mountainous region. Nighttime temperatures often dropped to , and soldiers had to carry out their duties without adequate winter clothing or access to hot water. These harsh conditions persisted for over two months, making their humanitarian mission both physically and mentally demanding. ;Operation "Padanan, Sipadan Island Resort" The security surveillance, code-named Operation Padanan Sipadan Island Resort, or ''Ops Pasir'', which was launched on 20 September 2000, following the hostage-taking incidents in
Sipadan Sipadan () is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising from the seabed. It is located in the Celebes Sea off the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia. It was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone that took thousands ...
and Pandanan islands, had restored confidence among tourists to visit the resort islands. The integrated operation involved the Malaysian army, navy, and air force, as well as other related agencies such as the
police The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...
and the
coast guard A coast guard or coastguard is a Maritime Security Regimes, maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with cust ...
.


The Chief of Army as patron

As a military formation that sits directly under the Chief of Army, the Chief of Army is traditionally selected to become the patron of the 10th Parachute Brigade. Every new Chief of Army is given a maroon beret and blood wings upon their visit to
Terendak Camp Terendak Camp is a Malaysian Army military base located in Sungai Udang, Central Melaka District, Melaka, Malaysia. It belonged to the Commonwealth of Nations before being handed over to the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1970. It is right next to th ...
as a symbol of honorary membership in the airborne brotherhood.


Commanders


Honorary maroon beret

As the second most prestigious
beret A beret ( , ; ; ; ) is a soft, round, flat-crowned cap made of hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, wool felt, or acrylic fibre. Mass production of berets began in the 19th century in Southern France and the north of History of Spain (1808 ...
in the Malaysian Army, only after the
green beret The green beret was the official headdress of the British Commandos, a special-forces unit active during World War II. It is still worn by members of the Royal Marines after passing the Commando Course, and personnel from other units of the Roy ...
of '' Gerak Khas'', the
maroon beret The maroon beret in a military configuration has been an international symbol of airborne forces since the World War II, Second World War. It was first officially introduced by the British Army in 1942, at the direction of Major-general (Uni ...
of 10 PARA BDE is honorarily awarded to high-ranking individuals, military or government officials, and foreign VIPs. In Malaysia, the honorary beret is part of the official military attire. Among the recipients are: * King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of
Bahrain Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in West Asia. Situated on the Persian Gulf, it comprises a small archipelago of 50 natural islands and an additional 33 artificial islands, centered on Bahrain Island, which mak ...
, received it in May 2017. *
Sultan Nazrin Shah Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfur-LahAnbalagan, V. (29 May 2014Raja Nazrin proclaimed as the 75th Sultan of Perak The Malaysian Insider. (Jawi script, Jawi: ; born 27 November 1956) is the cu ...
, Sultan of
Perak Perak (; Perak Malay: ''Peghok'') is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kel ...
, received it in August 2014. * Sultan Sallehuddin, Sultan of
Kedah Kedah (), also known by its honorific Darul Aman (Islam), Aman (دار الأمان; Arabic for 'The Safe Abode') and historically as Queda, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of ...
, received it in February 2018. * Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, Crown Prince of
Brunei Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with ...
, received it in November 2013. * Crown Prince Tengku Amir Shah. Crown Prince of
Selangor Selangor ( ; ), also known by the Arabic language, Arabic honorific Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity", is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the e ...
, received it in March 2017. Tengku Amir is a graduate of Basic Rapid Deployment Force Course Series 2/2016. He held the rank of ''Leftenan Muda'' ( Second Lieutenant) in 17 RAMD (Para) when he received the beret. *
Najib Razak Mohammad Najib bin Abdul Razak (, ; born 23 July 1953) is a Malaysian politician who served as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2009 to 2018. In 2020, he was convicted of corruption in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, on ...
,
Prime Minister of Malaysia The prime minister of Malaysia (; ) is the head of government of Malaysia. The prime minister directs the executive branch of the Government of Malaysia, federal government. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints the prime minister who is a membe ...
, received it in October 2003. *
Hishammuddin Hussein Hishammuddin bin Hussein ( Jawi: هشام الدين بن حسين; born 5 August 1961) is a Malaysian politician and lawyer who served as Senior Minister of the Security Cluster and Minister of Defence from 2021 to 2022. A member of the Unite ...
, Malaysian Minister of Defence, received it in July 2013. *General
Ismail Omar Ismail bin Omar (; born 17 May 1953) is a Malaysian diplomat and retired police officer who served as the ninth Inspector-General of Police of Malaysia succeeding Tan Sri Musa Hassan and was succeeded by Khalid Abu Bakar. On 13 September ...
, Malaysian Chief of Defence Force, was the first recipient. * General Suraphong Suwana-adth, Thailand Chief of Defence Forces, received it in May 2017. * General Songwit Noonpackdee, Thailand Chief of Defence Forces, received it in October 2023. * Major General Aminan Mahmud, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, received it in March 2014. *General Ismail Hassan, former Malaysian Chief of Army, was the second recipient. *General
Mohd Zahidi Zainuddin Muhammad () is an Arabic given male name meaning 'praiseworthy'. The name comes from the passive participle of the Arabic verb (حَمَّدَ), meaning 'to praise', which itself comes from the triconsonantal Semitic root Ḥ-M-D. Other spelli ...
, former Malaysian Chief of Army, was the third recipient. * General
Udomdej Sitabutr Udomdej Sitabutr (, born 15 August 1955) is a Thai military officer. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army from 2014 to 2015. Education Udomdej studied at Saint Gabriel's College, an all-boys school. He then decided to go int ...
,
Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army () is headquartered in Bangkok. The commander of the Royal Thai Army is a powerful position that has at times been the springboard to the premiership. Prior to 1932, the post of Commander of the Siam ...
, received it in March 2015. * General Chalermchai Sitthisad, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, received it in April 2017. * General
Apirat Kongsompong Apirat Kongsompong (; ; born 23 March 1960) is a Thai military officer who was the List of commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, commander in chief of the Royal Thai Army from 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2020. He serves as the Vice-Chamb ...
, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, received it in January 2020. * General ,
Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army (, abbreviated KSAD or KASAD) is the highest position in the Indonesian Army. The position is held by the four-star General appointed by and reporting directly to the Commander of the Armed Forces. Chi ...
, received it on 11 May 2010. * General , Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army, received it in October 2013. *Major General
Chan Chun Sing Chan Chun Sing ( zh, s=陈振声, p=Chén Zhènshēng, j=Can4 Zan3 Sing1, first=j; born 9 October 1969) is a Singaporean politician and former major-general who is serving as Minister for Defence in 2025 and Minister-in-charge of Public Serv ...
, Singapore Chief of Army, received it in September 2010.


Killed in the line of duty


In popular culture

Books, television, and movies featuring the 10th Parachute Brigade: *2010: "Delta Two Bar" is a
telemovie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a terrest ...
by RTM that tells the story of the son of a veteran of the Malaysian Communist Insurgency War, who is currently serving with the 10th Parachute Brigade. *2016: "Majalah 3: Wira Semerah Hati" is a documentary by
TV3 Channel 3 or TV 3 may refer to: Television *Canal 3 (Burkina Faso), a commercial television channel in Burkina Faso * Canal 3 Niger, a commercial television channel in Niger * Canal 3 (Guatemala), a commercial television channel in Guatemala * Can ...
, produced by Nurul Fariha Onn, which aired on 29 May 2016. It explores the operations of the 10th Parachute Brigade and won the 2016 ''Anugerah Skrin'' award in the documentary category. *2017: "Panorama: Sayap Berdarah" is a documentary by RTM that highlights the operations of the 10th Parachute Brigade. It was aired on 5 September 2017. *2019: " Leftenan Zana" is a
television drama In film and television show, television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or docudrama, semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humour, humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional te ...
directed by Sheila Rusly and produced by JS Pictures for TV3, starring
Janna Nick Nurul Jannah Muner (born 1 June 1995) known professionally as Janna Nick, is a Malaysian actress, singer, host, director and producer. Starting her career in entertainment, she is known for her roles in television films such as '' Syurga Nur'', ...
, Redza Rosli, and Sheila Rusly. The series follows the story of the youngest daughter of a retired army officer who aspires to follow in her father's footsteps. Despite strong opposition from her family, she secretly joins basic training and eventually becomes an EOD officer and paratrooper in the 10th Engineering Squadron (Parachute) of the 10th Parachute Brigade. The show also portrays her journey through training. It premiered on 7 February 2019.


See also

*
Elite Forces of Malaysia The Elite Forces of Malaysia () are specialised, highly trained units drawn from various Military branch, branches of the Malaysian military, law enforcement, and government agency, government agencies. In Malaysia, the term ''Elite Forces'' serv ...
**Malaysian Army
21st Special Service Group The 21st Special Service Group (Abbreviation, Abbr.: 21 SSG, ), also known as the 21st Special Forces Group, serves as the Command (military formation), command for the Malaysian Army's special forces, the ''Gerak Khas (Malaysian Army unit), Ger ...
** Royal Malaysian Navy
PASKAL Paskal or Paškal is a masculine given name which may refer to: * Paškal Jukić (1748-1806), preacher, musician, and professor of philosophy from what is now Croatia * Paskal Milo (born 1949), Albanian historian, politician and leader of the So ...
** Royal Malaysian Air Force
PASKAU The RMAF Special Forces (, Jawi script, Jawi: ڤاسوكن خاص تنترا اودارا), better known as PASKAU from abbreviation of its Malay name, is the special forces of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF; ). Its main functions are to ...
** Malaysia Coast Guard
Special Task and Rescue The Special Tasks and Rescue Team (, Jawi script, Jawi: ''ڤاسوكن تيندقن خاص دان ڤڽلامت ماريتيم''), abbreviated as STAR, serves as the Command (military formation), command for Elite Forces of Malaysia, elite mari ...
** Royal Malaysia Police ''
Pasukan Gerakan Khas ''Pasukan Gerakan Khas'' (Abbreviation: PGK; 'Special Operations Command — Police SOCOM', Jawi script, Jawi: ڤاسوكن ڬرقن خاص) is a special operations Command (military formation), command of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP). The ...
''


Notes


References

{{Military of Malaysia Airborne infantry brigades Formations of the Malaysian Army Military units and formations established in the 1970s