[MarkSheppard]

42nd Airborne Brigade
42 Brigada de Infantería Paracaidista

The Venezulan Airborne forces trace their lineage to Mechanic 3d Class Manuel Murillo, who executed the first parachute jump (of free will) in Venezula on 2 January 1937.

After World War II, a group of men were sent to the Infantry School at Fort Benning, GA; where they received Jump Wings on 16 November 1948.

Returning to Venezula, they created the first parachute tactical unit in the country (under the command of the Venezulan Air Force) and executed the first massed parachute jump in the country on 10 December 1949, when three C-47s were used to jump 7 officers and 35 men.

In 1952, the Parachute Detachment Aragua (Destacamento de Paracaidistas Aragua) was created, also belonging to the FAV.

In 1977, the Aragua Parachute Regiment (regimiento de Paracaidistas Aragua) was transferred over to the Army, and in 1989, it became the 42nd Airborne Brigade.

The red berets of the Paratroopers have become synonymous in the last 20 years with the current regime that rules Venezula, because Hugo Chavez was a paratrooper.

Cazadores / Caribes

First "SOF" unit in Venezulan Army. Created 1963 to fight against Castro-backed guerillas and were so successful that in the time period 1963-1967, 13 battalions were created.

Mainly light infantry forces; with most officers and NCOs trained by US Army Rangers and Special Forces.