Air Assault Infantry Regiment 1 (Germany)

Jäger Regiment 1 was an air assault infantry regiment of the German Army. While it comes from the old German tradition of Jäger, it was a relatively recently formed air assault formation, established in 2006. The regiment was part of Airmobile Operations Division, and became subordinate to 21st Armoured Brigade on 19 December 2012. Soldiers of this unit were deployed to the combat zone by helicopters which are supposed to provide fire support as well. Until creation of the Jäger Regiment 1, the Bundeswehr had no air assault capability. The regiment was disbanded and partly replaced by a new battalion in 2015.HistoryThe regiment was activated in late 2006 and grew to its planned strength until 2008. In March 2008, Jäger Regiment 1 assumed its first operational role and deployed 600 soldiers to Kosovo as part of an operational reserve for ongoing operations of KFOR-troops in the region. In 2009, the entire regiment was deployed to Afghanistan for twelve months. During that time, Jäger Regiment 1 formed the quick reaction force for ISAF's Regional Command North and saw intense action against insurgents in the northern Kunduz Province.A member of Jäger Regiment 1 was awarded Germany's highest military decoration for gallantry, the Honour Cross for Bravery on January 22, 2010. Sergeant First Class Steffen Knoska rescued a seriously wounded comrade from incoming fire during an ambush in Afghanistan's Kunduz Province on June 7, 2009. The casualty had been struck by a bullet and was lying defenceless on the ground when Knoska charged into hostile fire. Although having been hit by incoming bullets, Knoska refused to give in and eventually was able to drag the man into safety.