Pathfinder Company (Malaysia)

Pathfinder Company (Parachute),; 10th Parachute Brigade
	Kompeni Pandura (Para), 10 Bgd Para
Active	1995–Present; 25 years
Country	Malaysia
Branch	Malaysian Army
Type	Elite airborne light infantry, special operations capable
Role	Direct action; Special reconnaissance; Command, control and communication; Close air support; Forward observer; Combat intelligence;
Size	1 company
Part of	10th Parachute Brigade
Garrison/HQ	Terendak Camp, Malacca
Nickname(s)	"Tinjau Para" ('Airborne recon'); "RECON"
Motto(s)	Pantas, Senyap, Maut; ('Fast, Silent, Deadly')
Beret	Maroon
Commanders
Current; commander	Major Huzairein Yacob
Insignia
Pandura Skills Badge

The Pathfinder Company (Parachute) (Malay: Kompeni Pandura (Para), pronounced /kəmpəniˈpɑːnˈdʊˈrɑː/) is a pathfinder and reconnaissance unit within Malaysian Army's 10th Parachute Brigade (10 PARA).

The company is a small team that specially trained to do special operations missions for the brigade. They enjoy good relations with other Malaysian Armed Forces' elite forces such as Malaysian Army 21st Grup Gerak Khas and Royal Malaysian Air Force PASKAU as they do train together.[1]

The Pandura is equivalent to the Commando Parachute Group of the French Army, who is the pathfinder unit for the French Army's 11th Parachute Brigade.

Origin

Established in 1995, as Platun Pandura ('Pathfinder Platoon'), to meet the need of an infiltration team to enter the area of operations to give navigation assistance and movement control for the main paratroops forces.[2] The word 'Pandura' is an abbreviation of the Malay word 'Pandu Arah Udara' which directly translated to 'Pathfinder'.

This team is influenced by the Pathfinder Platoon of the British Army.[2]

Roles

In the beginning of its establishment, the Pandura Platoon roles is to provides 10 PARA with navigation assistance and movement control, drops, plane flight and landing in exercise or operations area. In addition, they also carry out task to study, selecting and mark out drop zones (DZ), landing zones (LZ), landing sites (LS) and plane landing points.[3] Pandura paratroopers will infiltrate into target area and assure the area safety. There they will give navigation assistance to allow the main force accurately locate the landing area and dropped as a cohesive forces and not spread out into smaller teams. They are capable to call and correct artillery, aircraft and Naval Gun Fire Support (NGF).[2]

Later, many other combat elements were added into the Pandura Platoon, such as sniper and combat intelligence, thus, the platoon were expanded into a company size.[4] Pandura paratroopers can act as snipers team with ability to relay information to aircraft pilot during operation.[4] With its multi-abilities, the Pandura is the 'eyes and ears' to the 10 PARA.[5]

As an elite among elite, Pandura paratroopers often selected as instructors to teach jungle survival skills and combat tactics to local and international military unit.[6][7][8] The Pandura company along with the 10th Squadron (Parachute), Royal Engineer Regiment (Army's Airborne Sapper) also in-charge to overseer the Para Integrated All Weather Multi Mission Range (PIAW), a shooting range belongs to the 10 PARA.[9][10]

Formations

Because of the company is small and exclusive, there are not many information shared to the public. However, there are few platoons in the Pandura company that are known to the public. The platoons are:[3][11][12]

Name (English)	Name (Malay)	Roles
Recon Platoon	Platun Tinjau Pandura	Inserted ahead of main airborne forces to do special reconnaissance and marking the DZ, LZ or LS
Combat Intelligence Platoon	Platun Risik Gempur Para	Inserted behind enemy lines to collect intelligence

Selections

The 10 Parachute Brigade's Pandura Company selections made based on qualifications and skills of insertion by parachute, including static line and free fall. Pandura paratroopers also must able to operates visual aids, electronics equipment, provide ground-to-air communication, and driving various all-terrain vehicles.[2]

Pandura Company paratroopers must have the ability to make interpretation and valuation immediately about the weather, wind direction, conditions and cloud height, visibility, and safety of the landing area. Each Pandura paratroopers must have 'Mobility' aspect - capable to operate by air and land, and 'Flexibility' aspect - capable to operate in short notice in various way to deal any form of contingency whether it is low level or high level.[2]

Preparatory course — at the company (4 weeks)

The Pandura Company held one month of their own Pandura Course for the candidate as a preparation before the actual pathfinder course conducted by the Special Warfare Training Centre (PULPAK).[2]

Pathfinder Course (7 weeks)

Known as Kursus Pandu Arah in Malay language, this course lasts for 7 weeks at PULPAK. Pandura badge will be given to members who pass the Pandura Course.[13] The conditions to received pathfinder badge are:

Pass Basic Parachute Course
Pass Pathfinder Course

Basic Free fall Course (6 weeks)

Miltary free fall is the forte of the Pandura Company that differ them to other unit within the 10 PARA.[14]

Advanced training

Among the advanced training offered to the paratrooper of the Pandura Company are:

Advanced free fall (HAHO/HALO)
Sniper
Combat intelligence
Close air support

Equipment

Besides the free-fall equipment, the Pandura paratroopers used vital navigation equipment such as Operational Parachutist Navigational System (OPANAS) and Global Positioning System (GPS). They also use ground-to-air communication to communicate between themselves and aircraft for the main force drops.[2]

Pandura members carry the same combat equipment as other 10 PARA's infantry.

References

"A monthly jump, progressive training with PASKAU". Facebook: Bureau of Parachuting Malaysia. Retrieved 2017-04-23.
Mohamad Solleh Jaapar (January 2005). "Platun Pandura - miliki kepakaran tersendiri". Berita Tentera Darat Malaysia. 134: 31.
GaGaK. "Eks Gerak Pantas 10 Bgd Para". Malaysia Military Power. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
Khaleeq Shahzada Manja (30 May 2016). "Wira Beret Semerah Hati". Majalah 3, TV3 (Malaysia).
Mohamad Haziq Mohd, Captain (2020-01-25). "Lawatan Ulung Panglima 10 Bgd (Para) dan Pemeriksaan Tadbir Tahunan Komp Pandura (Para)". Berita Tentera Darat Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 2020-05-01.
"Kelas OBUA Komp Pandura Para". Berita Tentera Darat Malaysia (in Malay). 2017-05-18. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
"Latihan Immersive Virtual Training Simulator System (VIRTSIM) PL 9 RAMD (Para)". Berita Tentera Darat Malaysia (in Malay). 2017-09-19. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
"Eksesais Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019". Berita Tentera Darat Malaysia (in Malay). 2019-04-26. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
Muhamad Zainalarifin Mohamad Zainal Abidin, Lieutenant (2018-05-16). "PIAW Memacu Kecemerlangan Skill Menembak Warga 10 Bgd (Para)". Berita Tentera Darat Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 2020-04-30.
Mohammed Fahmi Ishak, Major (2019-08-30). "Wisma Perwira 3 Div Anjur Hari Pengajian Menembak di PIAW". Berita Tentera Darat Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 2020-04-30.
Amar Aziz (24 August 2017). "Luahan Askar Yang Terlibat Operasi Daulat Lahad Datu". SoZCyili. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
"Semangat Wira Negara tidak pernah luntur di Lahad Datu". Berita Harian (in Malay). 2019-08-28. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
"Pembukaan Kursus Anjuran PULPAK". Mytradoc (in Malay). 27 August 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
"Ex Eagle Swift Tingkat Kemahiran Taktikal Komp Pandura". Berita Tentera Darat Malaysia (in Malay). 2017-06-15. Retrieved 2020-04-30.