, image = HIANG delivers airlift support in Europe for exercise Swift Response 18 (24).jpg , caption = Portuguese Pathfinder's with Italian Paratroopers. , nickname = ''Precs'' , motto = ''Deixa arder em ti a chama de ser Prec''
''Let burn in you the flame of being Prec'' , colors = , march = , ceremonial_chief = , type =

Pathfinder Pathfinder may refer to: Businesses * Pathfinder Energy Services, a division of Smith International * Pathfinder Press, a publisher of socialist literature Computing and information science * Path Finder, a Macintosh file browser * Pathfinder ( ...

, branch = Portuguese Army , dates = Unknown – Present day , country =

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

, allegiance =

, command_structure = Aeroterrestrial Support Battalion , size = 60 elements (1 company) , role =

Close-quarters combat Close-quarters combat (CQC) or close-quarters battle (CQB) is a tactical situation that involves a physical fight with firearms involved between multiple combatants at short range. It can occur between military units, police/corrections offic ...

Cold-weather warfare Cold-weather warfare, also known as arctic warfare or winter warfare, encompasses military operations affected by snow, ice, thawing conditions or cold, both on land and at sea. Cold-weather conditions occur year-round at high elevation or at ...

Counterinsurgency Counterinsurgency (COIN) is "the totality of actions aimed at defeating irregular forces". The Oxford English Dictionary defines counterinsurgency as any "military or political action taken against the activities of guerrillas or revolutionari ...

Desert warfare In desert warfare, the heat and lack of water can sometimes be more dangerous than the enemy. The desert terrain is the second most inhospitable to troops following a cold environment. The lack of water, extremes of heat/cold, and lack of cover m ...

Direct action

Electronic warfare Electronic warfare (EW) is any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EM spectrum) or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponen ...

Forward observer An artillery observer, artillery spotter or forward observer (FO) is responsible for directing artillery and mortar fire onto a target. It may be a ''forward air controller'' (FAC) for close air support (CAS) and spotter for naval gunfire sup ...

High-altitude military parachuting High-altitude military parachuting, or military free fall (MFF), is a method of delivering military personnel, military equipment, and other military supplies from a transport aircraft at a high altitude via free-fall parachute insertion. Two ...

Irregular warfare

Jungle warfare Jungle warfare is a term used to cover the special techniques needed for military units to survive and fight in jungle terrain. It has been the topic of extensive study by military strategists, and was an important part of the planning for bo ...

Long-range penetration A long-range penetration patrol, group, or force is a special operations unit capable of operating long distances behind enemy lines far away from direct contact with friendly forces as opposed to a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol, a small group ...

Mountain warfare Mountain warfare (also known as alpine warfare) is warfare in mountains or similarly rough terrain. Mountain ranges are of strategic importance since they often act as a natural border, and may also be the origin of a water source (for example, ...

Parachuting

Patrolling Patrolling is a military tactic. Small groups or individual units are deployed from a larger formation to achieve a specific objective and then return. The tactic of patrolling may be applied to ground troops, armored units, naval units, and co ...

Raiding Raiding may refer to: * The present participle of the verb Raid (disambiguation), which itself has several meanings * Raid (military) * Raid (video games), a group of video game players who join forces * Raiding, Austria, a town in Austria * Par ...

Reconnaissance In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities. Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmisher ...

Signals intelligence

Special reconnaissance Special reconnaissance (SR) or Recon Team is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organizations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detec ...

Tactical emergency medical services Tactical Emergency medical services (TEMS) is out-of-hospital care given in hostile situations by specially trained practitioners. Tactical support provided through TEMS can be applied in either the civilian world, generally with special law enfor ...

Tracking Tracking may refer to: Science and technology Computing * Tracking, in computer graphics, in match moving (insertion of graphics into footage) * Tracking, composing music with music tracker software * Eye tracking, measuring the position of t ...

Urban warfare Urban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. Urban combat differs from combat in the open at both the operational and the tactical levels. Complicating factors in urban warfare include the presence of civilians a ...

The Air-Land Pathfinders Company ( pt, Companhia de Precursores Aeroterrestres) - known as the ''Precs'' - is a forward observer, long-range penetration, and special reconnaissance unit of the

Portuguese Paratroopers The Portuguese Paratroopers ( pt, Tropas Paraquedistas) are an elite infantry assault force, representing the bulk of the airborne forces of Portugal. They were created in 1956 as part of the Portuguese Air Force, being transferred to the Port ...

. This unit is part of the Airborne Support Battalion which is based in

Tancos Tancos is a Portuguese ''freguesia'' ("civil parish"), located in the municipality of Vila Nova da Barquinha. The population in 2011 was 243,HAHO and

HALO Halo, halos or haloes usually refer to: * Halo (optical phenomenon) * Halo (religious iconography), a ring of light around the image of a head HALO, halo, halos or haloes may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Video games * ''Halo'' (franch ...

jumps and reconnaissance of landing zones for other paratroopers to be dropped. It is also an operational unit for the Portuguese Rapid Reaction Brigade (BRR), one of the three brigades that make up the Portuguese Army.

The Unit

The Pathfinders Company is attached to the Airborne Support Battalion, of the ETP. It is a key element for aerial infiltration, through operational free fall (using

and HAHO jumps), although the unit can be inserted by sea or ground transport. This unit was practically unknown by the Portuguese society in general and even on the

Portuguese Armed Forces The Portuguese Armed Forces ( pt, Forças Armadas) are the military of Portugal. They include the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the other unified bodies and the three service branches: Portuguese Navy, Portuguese Army and Portuguese Air ...

until very recently and is considered to be the elite of the Portuguese paratroopers. The ''Precs'' have participated in a variety of national and international exercises.

Organization

The Pathfinders Company is commanded by a major and includes: # Headquarters; # Pathfinder Detachment Alpha - includes 16 elements (1 captain, 5 sergeants, and 10 other ranks), being qualified to do HALO and HAHO jumps; # Pathfinder Detachment Bravo - includes 16 elements (1 lieutenant or 2nd lieutenant, 5 sergeants, and 10 other ranks).

The Mission

* Recon of Landings Zones for both fixed-wing and rotor aircraft and airborne drop positions, while establishing the needed assistance to air traffic control navigation and communications, in hostile conditions. * Limited direct action. * Recon on any information required by airborne Command.

Selection & Training

Only military personnel who are already qualified as paratroopers and who qualify in addition to the Operations/Operations Auxiliary course can be admitted to this company. This qualification is obtained after successfully attending the respective training given in the Parachute Regiment. :pt:Companhia de Precursores Aeroterrestres#Seleção e formação After a series of medical aptitude tests, admission tests take place. There are two days of tests in which the aim is to prove the physical and psychological endurance, the spirit of body and sacrifice necessary for the performance of the future precursor. 1st day; in the morning, a 90-meter run with a 50 kg bag; 1500 meter race with all combat gear; 8000 meter race with all combat gear; 1st day in the afternoon, a 7-meter rope climb with all war material; Swimming Evidence; 2nd day; in the morning, a 30 km march with combat gear. Whoever overcomes these tests starts the precursor/precursor assistant course the next day. Phase A The subjects taught are: Weapons, shooting, transmissions, topography, sappers, reconnaissance, patrols, close combat, first aid, technique of overcoming obstacles, nautical sports, survival, combat in urbanized areas, escape and evasion, military physical education. The course lasts for 10 weeks, after which the trainee will be able to: Get the maximum performance from the armament; Get the most out of your transmission equipment; Guide yourself as a member of a prec team using topographic maps, GPS, etc.; Apply sapper techniques; Identify material and equipment in use in military operations; Act as commander of a prec team in the execution of Patrols; Close Anticar Fight (ACar), as commander of a Prec team; Basic first aid as commander of a prec team; Obstacle crossing as commander of a Prec team; Act as commander of a Prec team in amphibious surface operations; Survive for short periods (less than 10 days) without support, in a hostile environment; Act as commander of a prec team in combat in built-up areas; Acting alone and as a team commander in supported and unsupported exfiltration. Phase B The subjects taught are: Aerial photography, meteorology, air traffic, precursor material, organization and use of precursors, launches and final exercise.

References

External links