Pathfinder Company (Malaysia)

Pathfinder Company, 10 Para
Kompeni Pandura 10 Bgd Para
Active	1995–Present; 23 years
Country	Malaysia
Branch	Malaysian Army
Type	Special Reconnaissance
Role	Reconnaissance, Command, Control and Communication, Fire Support
Part of	10 Parachute Brigade
Garrison/HQ	Terendak Camp, Malacca
Nickname(s)	Pandura
Motto(s)	Pantas, Senyap, Maut (Fast, Silent, Deadly)
Beret	Maroon beret
Insignia
Pandura Badge

Kompeni Pandu Udara (English: Pathfinder Company) commonly known as Kompeni Pandura is a Pathfinder unit within Malaysian Army's 10 Parachute Brigade. Pathfinder Company is considered as Special Operations Capable and enjoy good relations with other Malaysian Armed Forces Special Operations Forces such as Malaysian Army Grup Gerak Khas and Royal Malaysian Air Force PASKAU as they always training together.^[1]

Origin

Established in 1995 as Platun Pandura (Pathfinder Platoon) to meet the need of an infiltration team to enter the area of operations to provide navigation assistance and movement control for the main paratroops forces.

Roles

Pandura Company assigned to provides 10 PARA with navigation assistance and movement control, drops, plane flight and landing in exercise or operations area. In addition, Pandura also carry out task to study, selecting and mark out drop zones (DZ), landing zones (LZ), landing sites (LS) and plane landing points.^[2]

Panduras paratrooper will infiltrate into target area and assure the area safety. There they will provide 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 also have the capability to call and correct artillery, aircraft and Naval Gun Fire Support (NGF).^[3]

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 paratrooper also must able to operates visual aids, electronics equipment, provide ground-to-air radio communication, and driving vehicle.

Pandura Company also held one month Pandura Course for its members as a preparation for actual course at Pusat Latihan Peperangan Khusus (PULPAK). Pandura badge will be given to members who pass the Pandura Course held by PULPAK.

Pandura Company members 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 members must have 'Mobility' aspect - capable to operate by air, land and ground; 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.

Operations

Pandura members will be drop weeks or days ahead of the main forces. They then secure the Landing Zone (LZ), marking the LZ, turn on the landing beacon and then providing drop control to the paratroopers from main forces.

Because of the Panduras dropped covertly ahead of the main forces, they need to stand on their own undetected without support from the main forces. If compromised, the DZ and LZ are no go.

Pandura members can act as snipers team with ability to relay information to aircraft pilot during operation.^[4]

Equipment

Pandura paratroopers use 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.

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

References

• Sjn Mohamad Solleh Jaapar (January 2005) "Platun Pandura - miliki kepakaran tersendiri", BTDM, vol. 134, pg. 33. Retrieved 3 April 2017
• Pbt Ainur Aisyah Yahaya, "Raja Muda Perlis Dipertonton Keupayaan 10 Bgd Para", bdtmonline.net, Published 29 October 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2017
• Khaleeq Shahzada Manja, "Wira Beret Semerah Hati", Majalah 3, TV3 (Malaysia), 30 May 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2017