VIDEO: Pathfinder Platoon
I was a little irritated to see the 75th Ranger Regiment described as “the finest light infantry force in the world.”
According to who?
I personally think that The Parachute Regiment is the finest light infantry force in the world. However, it’s British. Ooops. You know, there are competent military’s beyond the shores of this ‘Merica. Just because you say you are the best, doesn’t make it so. It’s pure enthusiasm. So myopic. You can never be the best unless you look out and see what the standards are. You can’t just decide to be the best, because you want to be.
Cue some “Hooahhhh!” false enthusiasm of the best kind!
Anyway, while looking for a suitable video, initially of The Parachute Regiment, I decided on this one instead about the Pathfinder Platoon. You won’t have heard of the Pathfinder Platoon. It’s not the SAS. It is the reconnaissance element for 16 Air Assault Brigade. The Parachute Regiment has one battalion (1 PARA) in the SFSG, and two battalions (2 & 3 PARA) in 16 AA Brigade. The Pathfinders sit in 16 AA Brigade. The Pathfinders run their own selection class.
Reader of ‘Patriot Dawn,’ and attendees on my Combat Team Tactics classes, may see some familiar looking stuff in parts of this video!
Why?
You know why!
Max
Then may we ask why you think the Paras are the world’s finest?
Because they told me we were!
They made it really hard to get in, which was of course nothing but an incentive.
Is it ever different?
I’m trying to bring some perspective here…
Oh, the Paras are definitely the finest light infantry in the world….
Maybe if you talked right I could understand what they were saying…” a carefully selected Carter of professional soldiers..” Probably couldn’t talk from all that British Tea and Cream/Sugar….
Here is some older propaganda!
More!
I’m trying to be the finest light infantry on my block, and when I do achieve that honor I know one thing I won’t get Nickleback to do my soundtrack and you know why.
Badass no matter what side of the Atlantic your from.
Max, is pathfinder selection separate from Para selection or is qualification as a Para a prerequisite for Pathfindr?
Pathfinder is not just open to Para Reg, although it used to be mostly dominated by them. Anyone from 16 AA can do it, so it was usual to have done at least ‘all arms’ pre-parachute selection (P Company) and then go on the PF selection.
BTW: The ‘reg’ in Para Reg is pronounced ‘Rej.’ So it was ‘The Reg.’ Or ‘Para Reg.’
Thank you. I have worked some with one of the battalions and have had friends who served in The Reg as well. I enjoyed their company.
The Rangers are so good because they practice patrolling so much more than most combat units. Ranger school is almost nonstop patrolling after the attrition-heavy week 1.
After week 1, they do lots of patrols for 2 months with little food and practically no sleep. Their training is worst-case scenario and it doesn’t stop.
Ranger school is a leadership school and is not done on initially joining.
Ranger School is far different than life in a Ranger Battalion. Max is 100% correct that Ranger School is a leadership school. Attrition goes well beyond week one. You can ask some of friends who bounced out of phase three with broken bones, snake bites, infections, pneumonia and other problems.
The Ranger Battalions train constantly and on much more than patrolling.
And yet if it wasn’t mainly for “Merica” all you Brits and most of Europe would be speaking what language?!?!
Yep thanks to “Merica”
Yeah. Thanks to Murka for finally showing up with the numbers and logistics after the Brits were going it alone since 1939, stemming the Nazi tide.
But back then, it was America, not the Murka we are today.
And the ‘Red Devils’ were the finest light infantry in the world back then also. So fuck you.
Ha! Good point CB and don’t forget what Neville Chamberlain did for the cause.
@Pip-Boy – it is a valid observation about Chamberlain. It is moot point though because it is all history now.
Thank God we have Obama and Camoron leading our respective countries in the fight against today’s Fascists.
Homesick are we?………
As off track as this Country is…. The Good, Moral People of this Republic have been and still are the light……. This is your house and out of respect ask you to check your fire.
Why?……..
Because we live here.
This is my home.
Could you be any more closed minded?
Why so upset with an observation that there are elite units out there in the world, and there is no objective proof that a particular US Army unit is the best “because we say it is”
Yes Paras I have heard of them their motto or credo being something like this “Rum, Sodomy and the Lash.”. Correct me if I’m wrong Max
Royal Navy I think.
Just occupied the patrol base. Chris is a Ranger instructor and I’m an old Para. There is not a tactical gap between us. Go figure.
Rangers lead the way!
Easy there, Gentlemen!
Max can ably defend himself, so, this not a defense of him. However, Max came here and took US citizenship voluntarily. He then joined the US Army. How many of you have served in the military. And, a summer in the Old Navy doesn’t count.
Giving up your citizenship to accept that of an adopted home is one of the hardest emotional decisions a person can ever make. So, lighten the fuck up. Max has done that and because of what it takes to get through the citizenship test has an excellent understanding of US history. For giggles, try that test yourself and see how well you have been educated.
The men of the Para Reg and the 75th Infantry are some of the finest light infantry in the world. They are exquisitely training and well equipped. Anyone who has served in a unit such as these has every right to be proud of their unit, the unit heraldry, and lineage.
If you want to talk about rock hard light infantry, take a look at the Ethiopian Army. While not Paras or Rangers, they are some hard as nails soldiers who can and will fight.
If you can not see through the sarcasm, get your filters calibrated. If you know of a light infantry force that you want to match against the ones mentioned, put it out there.
If not, well, you know…fuck you.
Even as a “fucking crap hat” I agree with Max but then I am some what biased.
Having recently watched 3 PARA on a joint exercise in North Carolina, I have to say I was impressed. I won’t sling mud at the 82nd, but let’s just say we watched the Brits take the objective while we laid in the grass as “casualties”. Those dudes are fast on their feet.
Paras don’t die – they go to hell and re-group!
Can we look at this subjectively?
1. The US has approximately 6 times the population of England so the US has a larger population from which to draw healthy individuals.
2. The US does much better then England in the Olympics which can be loosely considered a measure of national athleticism.
3. Which military units have the hardest physical requirements? This is rather objective.
4. Which units spend the most time training?
5. Which units had the most combat experience and success in Afghanistan and Iraq?