The Army Special Forces Command (french: Commandement des forces spéciales Terre, COM FST) regroups the various
special operations forces
Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...
units of the
French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...
and is the command charged with overseeing them. It is based in
Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pau (, ) is a commune overlooking the Pyrenees, and prefecture of the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
The city is located in the heart of the former sovereign principality of Béarn, of which it ...
.
History
The COM FST is the heir of the Independent Special Grouping () created in 1997 and then commanded the
1er RPIMa
The 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine ( en, 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment) or 1er RPIMa is a unit of the French Army Special Forces Command, therefore part of the Special Operations Command.
Heirs to the Free Frenc ...
and a special operations flight belonging to the 4th command and manoeuvre helicopters regiment () of the
ALAT.
In 1998, the (DAOS,
ALAT detachment for special operations) was created.
The (BFST) was activated on 1 July 2002 and included the
13e RDP
The 13e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes ( en, 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment) or 13e RDP is a special reconnaissance regiment of the French Army. It is a unit of the French Army Special Forces Command, the latter itself being under the Spec ...
. The BFST conduct an annual exercise called ''Gorgones'' (
gorgon
A Gorgon ( /ˈɡɔːrɡən/; plural: Gorgons, Ancient Greek: Γοργών/Γοργώ ''Gorgṓn/Gorgṓ'') is a creature in Greek mythology. Gorgons occur in the earliest examples of Greek literature. While descriptions of Gorgons vary, the te ...
s) to ensure interoperability of the three units. The name ''Gorgones'' refers to the three units, as the three mythological figures.
The BFST has supported the peacekeeping operation in
Côte d'Ivoire
Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...
(
Opération Licorne
Opération Licorne was a French Armed Forces peacekeeping operation in support of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire. The French forces had been stationed in the country since shortly after the outbreak of the Ivorian Civil War. The ...
) and
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bord ...
(
Mission Héraclès Mission Héraclès was a 2001 operation of the French Navy, in support of the War in Afghanistan against the Taliban. Its main tasks included the provision of security and order around Kabul as well as the training of the newly created Afghan Army.
...
).
The became the (COM FST, division level) on 1 July 2016.
Structure
* Army Special Forces Command, in
Pau
** Special Forces Command and Signals Company, in Pau ()
**
1st Marine Infantry Paratroopers Regiment, in
Bayonne
Bayonne (; eu, Baiona ; oc, label= Gascon, Baiona ; es, Bayona) is a city in Southwestern France near the Spanish border. It is a commune and one of two subprefectures in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine ...
(_
**
13th Paratrooper Dragoons Regiment, in
Martignas-sur-Jalle
Martignas-sur-Jalle (; oc, Martinhàs de Jalas) is a commune in the Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France.
Historically, the town is known to have been the theater of the , where 500 to 600 longbowmen commanded by John Ta ...
()
**
4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment
The 4e Régiment d'Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales ( en, 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment) or 4e RHFS is a special operations unit of the French Army Light Aviation. It is part of the French Army Special Forces Command, therefore of the ...
, in Pau ()
** Special Operations Support Group, in Pau ()
** Special Forces Academy, in Pau ()
See also
*
List of French paratrooper units
The history of French airborne units began in the Interwar period when the French Armed Forces formed specialized paratroopers units. First formed in the French Air Force, they were rapidly integrated into the French Army, French Navy, Natio ...
External links
ShadowSpear Special Operations Community Website
{{CFAT
Special forces of France
Brigades of France
Military units and formations established in 2002
Military units and formations disestablished in 2016
Military units and formations established in 2016