On September 28, 2026, La Poste (the French postal service) issued a block of two stamps to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Airborne Troops Training Center (CETAP).
Attached to the French Army on July 10, 1945, the French airborne troops faced the challenge of having their training centers dispersed.
Military authorities decided to consolidate all parachute regiments, along with the necessary ground and air resources for their instruction and training, in the Southwest, a region whose infrastructure had been spared by the war.
In September 1945, the first class of paratroopers graduated, and the Airborne Troops Organization and Training Center was established in October in Mont-de-Marsan. Around the same time, the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment trained in Pau and carried out its jumps at Uzein from Junkers Ju 52 aircraft arriving from Le Bourget. The geographical location of the Pau garrison, combined with favorable weather conditions known since the dawn of aviation, naturally designated it as the future national parachute training center.
Starting in February 1946, the Lannion school was gradually transferred to the region. The Airborne Troops Training Center (CETAP) was established in Pau and Idron on April 16, 1946. It brought together the Mont-de-Marsan center, the Lannion school, and military personnel of all ranks from the 25th Airborne Division who had remained in mainland France. In May 1946, CETAP incorporated 3,000 recruits destined to reinforce the 25th Parachute Division stationed in North Africa.
On June 1, 1946, the military parachutist badge was created. Earning it required eight automatic-opening jumps, performed under varying conditions. On June 1, 1947, CETAP became the Airborne Troops School (ETAP). To date, more than 713,000 military parachutists have earned their wings in Pau, a center of expertise for military parachute training.
