World Pathfinder Platoon.
-
Pathfinder Platoon from UK.
The present-day Pathfinder Platoon was formed at the same time as 5 Airborne Brigade, in 1983. It was originally manned both by Paras and volunteers from other units within the brigade. Since 1996 it has formed part of the establishment of The Parachute Regiment. The Pathfinders have the responsibility for what are called Advance Force Operations. Chief among these is the covert reconnaissance, location and marking of Drop Zones(DZs), TLZs and helicopter Landing Zones. They may also be employed on target recces for air and land raids and limited high-value offensive action(OA). Pathfinders may be inserted up to a week before the arrival of the rest of the troops. Their role once joining up with the main force is that of brigade-level Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR). This involves operations beyond the range and capacity of the Patrols Platoons and other recce elements of the brigade. Recces could be on foot or in armed Land Rover 90s.
The Pathfinder Platoon has its own selection course and training programme, taking only men from the parachute battalions. The platoon maintains the following skills in some or all of its members:
Resistance To Interrogation training
Combat Survival
Jungle Warfare Skills
Combat Medic
Mobility Skills
Helicopter Fast Roping and Abseiling
Demolitions and Route Denial
Mountain Warfare Skills
Forward Air Controllers
Long Range Communications Skills
The Pathfinders operate in four-man patrols, four of which make up a troop under the senior patrol commander, a lieutenant. There are two troops, Air and Mountain, and a small headquarters, for a total strength of about 40, the platoon commander being a captain. Air Troop is trained in both High Altitude Low Opening(HALO) and High Altitude High Opening(HAHO) free-fall parachuting, while Mountain Troop utilises only HALO. Unlike the rest of the Paras the Pathfinders use the M16A2 rifle as their main weapon, often with the M203 grenade launcher attached. They also use GPMGs and the 66mm anti-tank rocket, retained because of its light weight. Many members of the Pathfinder Platoon go on to join 22SAS. -
US Pathfinder.
Pathfinder Operations
What is the Role of a Pathfinder?
Army pathfinders primarily provide navigational assistance and advisory services to military aircraft in areas designated by supported unit commanders. Their secondary missions include providing advice and limited assistance to units planning air assault/airdrop operations.
Appropriately equipped and trained pathfinders can fulfill the following responsibilities.
(1) Reconnoiter areas selected by supported unit commanders and select LZs and DZs.
(2) Infiltrate areas of operation by foot, vehicles, or watercraft, and airland, rappel or parachute from aircraft.
(3) Prepare LZs and DZs to include establishing and operating visual and electronic navigational aids and removing minor obstacles.
(4) Employ GTA radio communications to provide pilots with guidance and air traffic advisories within an area of operations.
(5) Advise pilots concerning friendly mortar and artillery fires through direct coordination with fire support units.
(6) Provide technical assistance for the assembly of supplies, equipment, and troops before aircraft loading for deployment to LZs and DZs.
(7) Advise and provide limited physical assistance in preparing and positioning supplies, equipment, and troops for air movement.
(
Conduct limited NBC monitoring and surveying of designated areas.
(9) Provide limited weather observations, to include wind velocity and direction, cloud cover, visibility, and approximate cloud ceiling.
(10) Operate, by agreement with the USAF, DZs and airfields for USAF aircraft in the absence of CCT.
(11) Survey DZs for use by USAF and Army aircraft. (In this situation, it maybe necessary to provide pathfinders with radios [UHF or VHF] that are compatible with USAF radio equipment. Aviators and pathfinders must coordinate to ensure they understand ground markings and radio procedures to be used.) -
website articles don't do them justice...
if u guys get a chance....read Pathfinder: First in, Last Out by Richard Burns.. -
ask me can liao.
-
-
... this from where?Originally posted by Gordonator: -
thought u knew?...hehhehe...its just a collarpin..there are varied collarpin adaptations of the actual pathfinder insigniaOriginally posted by Joshua1975:... this from where? -
I wonder if you can buy it anywhere.
-
Haha, Gordonator, trying to mask your identity huh?Don't tell me you're also a Pathfinder..*Wink wink*.Originally posted by Gordonator:
-
a team got selll......hopefully got stockOriginally posted by SingaporeMacross:I wonder if you can buy it anywhere. -
my SISPEC OC from last time had this weird badge. hehehe.. and no one knows what it is.Originally posted by Gordonator:
actually those SISPEC WOs really had lotsa' werid looking overseas badges... there's this WO who was the PC of the other platoon in the coy who took part in what desert death march thingy organised by US Army.. really alot of weird accolades. -
what shop is that?Originally posted by sidestep1984:a team got selll......hopefully got stock -
Well, I saw a WO with this Pathfinder badge, US Military Freefall badge, US Ranger, Singapore Ranger, Singapore Master Airborne, Marksman, Unarmed Combat, Guards tab too.Originally posted by 12qwaszx:my SISPEC OC from last time had this weird badge. hehehe.. and no one knows what it is.
actually those SISPEC WOs really had lotsa' werid looking overseas badges... there's this WO who was the PC of the other platoon in the coy who took part in what desert death march thingy organised by US Army.. really alot of weird accolades. -
yeah man... lotsa weird-war-hero-looking dudes in that freaky place.
-
exposed again!Originally posted by LazerLordz:Haha, Gordonator, trying to mask your identity huh?Don't tell me you're also a Pathfinder..*Wink wink*. -
marcham christmas tree sia!Originally posted by LazerLordz:Well, I saw a WO with this Pathfinder badge, US Military Freefall badge, US Ranger, Singapore Ranger, Singapore Master Airborne, Marksman, Unarmed Combat, Guards tab too.
-
double post
-
wats a pathfinder doing at nsc pass office?Originally posted by Gordonator:exposed again! -
Huh? US Ranger AND Singapore Ranger? Or was he wearing them at different times?Originally posted by LazerLordz:Well, I saw a WO with this Pathfinder badge, US Military Freefall badge, US Ranger, Singapore Ranger, Singapore Master Airborne, Marksman, Unarmed Combat, Guards tab too. -
guess those old warrants who were first batch to go ranger in US?.....i saw one b4......his uniform got both too...Originally posted by Gedanken:Huh? US Ranger AND Singapore Ranger? Or was he wearing them at different times? -
Hmm - I'm used to just seeing one - if they've got a US Ranger tab, you should be able to take it for granted that they've also got the Singapore one.
-
Well, he had both.On different sides of the sleeves.Originally posted by Gedanken:Huh? US Ranger AND Singapore Ranger? Or was he wearing them at different times? -
double post.
-
some wear them all on one sleeve as in the WO that i saw....but i guess in ure case..it'll be a triple deck huh?Originally posted by LazerLordz:Well, he had both.On different sides of the sleeves.
US Ranger
SG Ranger
Guards Tab -
correct but that was in the past. today CDO need not go local RANGER in order for them to go for the US RANGER.Originally posted by Gedanken:Hmm - I'm used to just seeing one - if they've got a US Ranger tab, you should be able to take it for granted that they've also got the Singapore one.
things change liao.