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Canadian AIRBORNE FORCESWho We Are | Brief History | Regiment Today | Relevant Links Who We Are:
Our Brief History: THE GREAT ADVENTURE With the commitment to NATO in 1949, the Army increasingly focussed its attention on large mechanized units and the “inevitable” war against the Soviets in Europe. As a result, Canada’s paratroopers were continually pushed to the margins of military importance. The lightly armed and equipped airborne soldiers were seen as an anachronism in a world dominated by heavy mechanized formations. However, by the mid-1960s, a changing global environment soon changed perspectives. Allard stressed strategic mobility. Specifically, he wanted a completely airportable unit that could deploy with all its equipment into a designated operational theatre within forty-eight hours. Therefore, on 12 May 1966, the MND publicly announced that “FMC would include the establishment of an airborne regiment whose personnel and equipment could be rapidly sent to danger zones.” The regiment was designed to fill a gap in the Canadian strategy - it would provide an immediate response that could deploy immediately and provide a presence until the heavier mechanized forces, if required, arrived in theatre. The Regiment ’ s mandate was impressive. The Cdn AB Regt was to be capable of performing a variety of tasks which included: the Defence of Canada; the UN stand-by role; peacekeeping operations; missions in connection with national disaster; Special Air Service (SAS) type missions; coup de main tasks in a general war setting; and responsibility for parachute training in the Canadian Forces. The respective Canadian Forces Organizational Order (CFOO) stated that “the role of the Canadian Airborne Regiment is to provide a force capable of moving quickly to meet any unexpected enemy threat or other commitment of the Canadian Armed Forces.” Unfortunately, the Cdn AB Regt experienced disciplinary problems in theatre that detracted from their actual performance. Objectively examined, the Regiment’s actual contribution to the amelioration of the suffering in Somalia was extremely laudable. Their unremitting physical presence soon created an atmosphere of control, dominance, and security. The Airborne program was so successful that the Belet Huen HRS was declared ‘secure’ by UNITAF Headquarters in a period of less than three months. Its humanitarian effort was even more effective. In total the Cdn AB Regt BG’s achievements included: the formation of five local committees to restore local government; the conduct of approximately 60 humanitarian convoys that provided aid to 96 villages; the construction of four schools attended by 5,400 students at end-tour; the instruction and training of 272 school teachers; the supervision and training of local doctors and nurses; the training of 185 policemen in their HRS, the provision of potable water to local refugees; the repair of approximately 20 wells; the repair of village generators; the repair of two major hospitals; the construction of a bridge; and the repair of over 200 kilometres of road.
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Today's Canadian paratroopers can trace their roots back to two highly distinguished units: the first Canadian Parachute Battalion and the First Special Service Force. 
The unit was to be radically different. Except for aircraft, it was to be self-contained with infantry, armour, artillery, engineers, signals and supporting administration. The new
Regimental Commander-designate
Colonel Don H. Rochester
stated that “all were to be volunteers and so well trained in their own arm or service that they could devote their time to specialist training.” 
Our Regiment Today: