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| Africa: East |
| American and French Forces make history with Commando School |
| 2003-12-08 |
| (severely shortened for brevity, read the whole thing at the site provided) Personnel supporting the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa made history Nov. 20 when they became the first Americans to graduate from the French Commando School here. Twenty Army soldiers and five Marines completed the three-week course and were each awarded the French Commando medal and a certificate of completion. "It was one of the hardest training operations I’ve faced, but at the same time one of the better schools I’ve been through," said Lance Cpl. Bryan Napier, who graduated in the top five of his class. "I feel honored to represent the American platoon in the top five. It will definitely be an experience to remember." Before entering the course, service members were required to take a test ensuring they could meet the physical demands of the commando school. The test involved pushups, sit-ups, pull-ups, squats, an upper-body rope climb and a 200-meter swim with a rifle. Within the first few days, the original 34-member platoon had dropped to 26 due to either failing the test or injury during training. "The reason for attending the French Commando School was to better prepare the soldiers and Marines for nautical and mountain warfare challenges in the terrain of Djibouti," Army Master Sgt. Chris Fields said. "These particular challenges trained each soldier and Marine for a hostile situation if one occurred in an area similar to this region." The American platoon trained alongside a platoon of French Foreign Legionnaires. Both accomplished the same training, but as separate units. The two forces participated in training and exercise that included working with each other’s equipment and competed in timed races over different courses. Under the supervision of French instructors, trainees were graded on a variety of exercises requiring the nine-man squads use teamwork to successfully complete the tasks. |
| Posted by:Jarhead |
| #9 I watched a Discovery Channel show on the Best Ranger competition for two man teams. That year the team that one included a guuny from the USMC. It would be interesting to see some particpants from the British, French, Israeli, Aussie and Polish militaries. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-12-8 5:39:21 PM |
| #8 Bomb-a-rama: The Free French learned Commando tactics in WW2 from the people who invented the concept: the British. One of the positive points is that the British ignored the French ranks: officers who were unfit were thrown out while capable NCOs were quickly promoted to captain and major (one of them, Bigeard, became a general after the war). For that reason the post-war French commandos remained unpolluted from the old There is still a para regiment whose Free French roots result in its men wearing the beret the British way instead of the French way. |
| Posted by: JFM 2003-12-8 3:20:10 PM |
| #7 One little bubble was all I had anon... now phhhhht. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-12-8 2:08:14 PM |
| #6 Thoses who took out the Rainbow Warrior were underwater-demolition trained paramilitary agents from the DGSE, not french army. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-12-8 2:05:09 PM |
| #5 RC Right. Whenever I get to down on the Frogs I think about that shinning moment. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-12-8 1:54:08 PM |
| #4 "La Lgionaires" You can bet that school would kick some but. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2003-12-8 1:51:15 PM |
| #3 Hey, they took out Rainbow Warrior, you bet they have a good reputation. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-12-8 1:25:06 PM |
| #2 A French commando school??? I hope they have a good reputation... |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-12-8 11:24:54 AM |
| #1 Which goes to show that admiration for the attainment of excellence amongst professionals is truly transnational. Congrats to our men and the members of the FFL for passing this course. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-12-8 9:24:46 AM |