▁status ▁roughly ▁equivalent ▁to ▁that ▁of ▁a ▁British ▁Army ▁Reserve ▁or ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁National ▁Guard ▁unit . ▁ ▁History ▁With ▁the ▁implementation ▁of ▁one ▁year ▁National ▁Service ▁in ▁South ▁Africa ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 8 , ▁ 1 ▁Par ach ute ▁Battalion ▁strugg led ▁to ▁admin ister ▁the ▁P erman ent ▁Force ▁and ▁the ▁Cit izen ▁Force ▁Par ab ats . ▁ ▁To ▁prevent ▁the ▁loss ▁of ▁these ▁trained ▁national ▁serv ic emen ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁their ▁one - year ▁service ▁to ▁other ▁units ▁of ▁the ▁South ▁African ▁Def ence ▁Force , ▁it ▁was ▁decided ▁to ▁form ▁a ▁new ▁citiz en ▁force ▁par ach ute ▁unit ▁to ▁take ▁these ▁men . ▁The ▁batt alion ▁was ▁formed ▁at ▁Tem pe ▁in ▁July ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁of ▁five ▁rif le ▁companies . ▁▁ ▁On ▁ 2 0 ▁April ▁ 1 9 7 8 , ▁ 3 ▁Par ach ute ▁Battalion ▁and ▁other ▁par ach ute ▁units ▁became ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁newly ▁formed ▁ 4 4 ▁Par ach ute ▁Brigade . ▁ ▁Oper ations ▁ 3 ▁Par ach ute ▁Battalion ▁would ▁take ▁part ▁in ▁Operation ▁Rein de er ▁in ▁Ang ola ▁during ▁ 1 9 7 8 , ▁Element s ▁of ▁this ▁batt alion ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁par ach ute ▁drop ▁over ▁Cass ing a . ▁ ▁Le ad ership ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Further ▁reading ▁▁▁ ▁Category : Inf antry ▁batt al ions ▁of ▁South ▁Africa ▁Category : A ir bor ne ▁units ▁and ▁form ations ▁of ▁South ▁Africa ▁Category