the brigade to the status of a regiment, and in 2000 this came into effect when the formation was reduced to 44 Parachute Regiment (South Africa). Expansion of the brigade: 1982–1986 During this period the brigade went through a real period of expansion with additional staff officers being transferred into the brigade Headquarters. With the headquarters established and staffed domestic administration of the brigade was possible. This period also saw the following developments within the Citizen Force Units: Approval in principle for the establishment of 4 Parachute Battalion Approval for the upgrading of the following Sub-Units to: 44 Anti-Aircraft Regiment 44 Signal Unit 44 Maintenance Unit. 37 Field Workshop (Under the brigade from 1 January 1984) The following sub-units were also activated: 44 Anti-Tank Company 44 Pathfinder Company 44 Dispatcher Platoon 44 Provost Platoon Colonel D. J. Moore took command of 44 Parachute Brigade on 1 January 1985 having spent 13 years at 1 Parachute Battalion serving 4 of those years as Officer Commanding. In 1985 the brigade also produced a manual on airborne operations, in which the concept of a Parachute Battalion Group as the basic, balanced airborne assault force is set out, together with its doctrinal employment. Organizations within the brigade were accordingly amended to conform to this concept, which gave the brigade the capacity to mobilise three balanced Parachute Battalion Groups. The Parachute Battalion Group concept: 1988 During 1988 the Chief of the SA Army tasked 44 Parachute Brigade to maintain a full-time parachute group ready for immediate deployment. This was as a result of the changing and uncertain operational situation in Angola at the time. In order to achieve this, several National Servicemen Companies from 1 Parachute Battalion were placed under the operational command of the brigade. 2 Parachute Battalion and other elements constituted the force from the brigade side. This combined formation was dubbed '14 Parachute Battalion Group' (The 1 referring to 1 Parachute Battalion and the 4 to 44 Parachute Brigade). Air Drop Capabilities: 1982–1986 During this period the brigade conducted extensive tests on developing a heavy drop capability. The tests originated at 1 Parachute Battalion in 1982 with stripped-down Land-Rovers dubbed 'Fireflies', progressing to successfully dropping light armored reconnaissance vehicles carrying potent anti-tank weapons systems. Vehicles were dropped by means of both the Platform Extraction System, as well as the Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System. In 1986 the brigade also evaluated several proto-types