Luftwaffe (German air force)

German Air Force Regiment

The German Air Force Regiment (Objektschutzregiment der Luftwaffe "Friesland") is a ground based branch of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe).

Organisation and current role

The purpose of the regiment is ground based defence of air force bases and installations, as well as capturing and securing enemy air installations. It is divided into four battalions (Objektschutzbataillone). Each battalion, except for an inactive one, consists of a number of Staffeln (Squadrons), equivalent to an infantry company.

The three active battalions are structured based on the specialty of the unit.

I. Bn specialises in Infantry with three Squadrons, as well as one Air Defence Artillery Squadron which is equipped with Stinger missiles.
II. Bn specialises solely in Infantry

Both I. and II. Bn are "active" Force Protection.

III. Bn's role is "passive" Force Protection. This means it has squadrons who specialise in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare and defense measures (NBC), Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance and Disposal (EOR/EOD), air base damage disposal, as well as fire fighting and defensive measures. It hosts also the "Luftwaffenpionierlehrkompanie" (German, lit.: Air Force Engineers Training Company) previously subordinated to the Technische Schule der Luftwaffe 3 (TSLw 3, German, lit.: Technical School of the Air Force) in Faßberg which specialises in the training for air base damage disposal.

Structure

Objektschutzregiment der Luftwaffe

I. Bn Objektschutzregiment der Luftwaffe (Force Protection: Active)

HQ I./Objektschutzregiment
1. Sqn (Force Protection, Sniper)
2. Sqn (Force Protection)
3. Sqn (Force Protection)
4. Sqn (Air Defence)

II. Bn Objektschutzregiment der Luftwaffe (Force Protectiont: Active)

HQ II./Objektschutzregiment
5. Sqn (Force Protection, Sniper)
6. Sqn (Force Protection)
7. Sqn (Force Protection)
Feldnachrichtenkräfte Luftwaffe (Recon)

III. Bn Objektschutzregiment der Luftwaffe (Force Protection: Passive)

HQ III./Objektschutzregiment
8. Sqn (NBC Defence)
9. Sqn (Fire Fighting)
10. Sqn (EOD)
11. Sqn (Combat Engineers)
12. Sqn (Combat Engineers Training)

IV. Bn Objektschutzregiment der Luftwaffe (Reserve)

Force Protection Squadron
Force Protection Squadron
Force Protection Squadron
Force Protection Squadron
Combat Engineer Platoon
Combat Engineer Platoon
NBC Defence Platoon

History

Previously the German Air Force had an Objektschutz (Force Protection) force in each Fliegerhorstgruppe (Air Base group) to protect the air base, as well as an Objektschutzbataillon. However due to structural changes in the Bundeswehr, all previous forces have been united to one regiment, the Objektschutzregiment. Thus on July 1st 2006, the Objektschutzbataillone were dissolved and instead the new Objektschutzregiment "Friesland" was founded. The Objektschutzregiment "Friesland" comprises all former battalions (3 active and 1 inactive).

In 2006 and 2007 the 3. Sqn was deployed to Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan, as part of the German ISAF contingent.

History of the honorary name

Official History from the German Air Force: On April 26 1988 the Jagdbombergeschwader 38 (Fighter/bomber Sqn 38) received the name extension "Friesland". Then time Minister of Defence Dr. Manfred Wörner gave the Squadron its name. In his speech, he said 'This name will show the connection and the good relationship between the Squadron and the public'. After the Jagdbombergeschwader 38 was decommissioned on 31 August 2005, it was Sven Ambrosy's, County Official for Friesland, wish that this tradition of cohesion be continued by the Objektschutzregiment der Luftwaffe.