The
Para-Commando Brigade
Belgian Army
http://mil.be
Belgium Comando School
The Commando
Training Centre
 The
Commando Training Centre is situated along the river Meuse at about
6 km from the town of Namur and is surrounded by straight 80 m high
rocks. The presence of rocks and of the river offers a very favorable
site to the special commando training: climbing techniques, navigation,
clearing of obstacles and crossing of rivers. The proximity of the
wooded and hilly Ardennes makes it also easier to organise commando
tactical exercises and raids.
The Marche-les-Dames
training area includes in fact two very distinct quarters:
- the Lieutenant-general
Roman quarter, gathered around the Arenberg castle
- the Wartet quarter
on the northern heights of the river Meuse
About 170 men are part
of the permanent executive unit, but para-commando candidates and
training participants added, the total strength amounts to 420 men.
Organisation
The Commando Training
Centre is composed of 4 companies:
- the Instruction
Company is in charge of the basic military instruction for troops,
with tactical, technical and physical training (4 months)
- the School Company
is responsible for:
- para-commando
instruction for officers and non-commissioned officers (4months)
- sniper course
(6weeks)
- sniper instructor
course (6 weeks)
- camouflage course
(1week)
- the Camp Company
is charged with:
- A-level commando
course (4 weeks)
- B-level commando
course (3 weeks)
- assistant commando
course and commando instructor course (8 weeks)
- Mountain leader
(5 weeks)
- close combat
instructor
- junior commando
course (1 week)
- adventure training
(1 week)
- the Staff and Services
Company takes care of administration, logistics, support and reinforcements
-
Missions
Primary missions:
- basic para-commando
instruction for soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers
- A and B level commando
course
- adventure training
- physical tests for
candidates
- specialised commando
courses
Secondary missions
- Para-Commando Brigade
reserve for any missions
- support mountainous
and amphibious training
- prospect for specialised
equipment
- support training
foreign units
- public relations
by para-commando initiation, junior commando camps and demonstrations
Miscellaneous:
- the town of Bouillon
in the Ardennes is the Centre's Godmother
- the Centre sponsors
CYCLOCOEUR, a club favouring cycle-tourism on tandems for eyesight
disabled persons
History
 The
Belgian commando troops were created in 1942 in England and trained
in the famous Commando Training Centre of Achnacarry in Scotland.
During WO II, they took part in some operations such as the campaign
for Italy and the battle of Walcheren Island. In 1945, they
took their quarters in Marche-les-Dames where they found all obstacles
a commando needs: cliffs, water and woods. In 1947, on request
of the Commando Regiment, the Training Centre for Commandos was
created at the same place and tasked with the commando instruction.
In 1953, The Commando and the Parachutist Regiments merged into
the Para-Commando Regiment with the same training for both troops. In
1979, the Training Centre for Commandos was charged with the basic
military instruction of all Para-Commando candidates; soldiers,
non-commissioned officers and officers.
To date were awarded:
- 30859 A Commando
certificates (since 1947)
- 7574 B Commando
certificates (since 1950)
- 422 Mountain
Leader certificates (since 1968)
- 375 Commando
Instructor certificates (since 1987)
- 671 Commando
Assistant-Instructor certificates (since 1974)
- 423 Fight Stretcher
Bearer certificates (since 1980)
- 29
Close Combat without Firearms Assistant-Instructor certificates
- 139 Close Combat
without Firearms Instructor certificates
- 42
sniper certificates
- 19
sniper instructor certificates
The Centre has inherited
the traditions and the Standard of the former 4th Commando Battalion.
Address
Le Centre d'Entranement
de Commando's
Quartier Lieutenant-g nral Roman
Rue du Roi Chevalier, 10
5024 Namur (Marche-les-Dames)
Fax: 081/58 61 17
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