Union nationale des parachutistes

The Union nationale des parachutistes (UNP) is a French association that brings together former military paratroopers. It was created in 1963 and was recognized as being of public utility by a decree dated 11 September 1978. The association is apolitical and has no denominational affiliation. Its membership is open to holders of the military parachutist brevet, as well as to pre-military brevets as associate members. The UNP aims to unite all French military paratroopers around the values of unity, solidarity, exemplarity and patriotism specific to airborne units, to defend the memory of their dead and to assist the families of those deceased. The UNP publishes a quarterly magazine, Debout les paras. The first president was Colonel Roger Trinquier. Since the national congress of Caylus in 2023, the national president has been Général de corps d'armée (2s) Vincent Guionie. The UNP is organized with a central board of directors and a territorial network of departmental sections. Regional delegates relay the action of the national office to local sections, which are themselves administered by boards elected in annual general assemblies by the members. Regimental friendly societies, veterans' associations and affiliated sports clubs complete this territorial structure, both in France, in the DOM-TOM and abroad. The activities of the sections and the national headquarters are essentially articulated around patriotic events, commemorations (14 July, 11 November, 8 May), tributes and celebrations, notably of the patron saint of paratroopers, the Archangel Saint Michael on 29 September. Sports activities (marches, raids, etc.) and representative activities (association days organized by municipalities, for example) add to these actions intended to strengthen the ties of the military parachutist family and to participate in the civic and physical training of youth.

The Union nationale des parachutistes (UNP) was created in 1963 as a French association regrouping former military paratroopers. Its first president was Colonel Roger Trinquier. The association was recognized as being of public utility by a decree dated 11 September 1978. It is apolitical and without denominational affiliation. Since the national congress of Caylus in 2023, the national president has been Général de corps d'armée (2s) Vincent Guionie. The UNP is organized with a central board of directors and a territorial network of departmental sections. Regional delegates relay the action of the national office to local sections, which are administered by boards elected in annual general assemblies by the members. Regimental friendly societies, veterans' associations and affiliated sports clubs complete this territorial structure, both in France, in the DOM-TOM and abroad. The association's activities are essentially articulated around patriotic events, commemorations (14 July, 11 November, 8 May), tributes and celebrations, notably of the patron saint of paratroopers, the Archangel Saint Michael on 29 September. Sports activities (marches, raids, etc.) and representative activities (association days organized by municipalities, for example) add to these actions intended to strengthen the ties of the military parachutist family and to participate in the civic and physical training of youth.

• 2023

  National congress of Caylus; Général de corps d'armée (2s) Vincent Guionie becomes national president.

• 1978

  Recognized as being of public utility by decree of 11 September 1978.

• 1963

  Creation of the Union nationale des parachutistes.

Apolitical and non-denominational association of former military paratroopers, recognized as being of public utility.

• Debout les paras

  Quarterly magazine of the UNP.

1. 1Union nationale des parachutistesfr.wikipedia.org
2. 2Union nationale des parachutisteswikidata.org