The regiment is part of the Italian Army's infantry arm's Paracadutisti speciality and assigned to the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore".

[5][7] The regiment's anniversary falls on 23 October 1942, the day the Second Battle of El Alamein began.

[6][7] On 1 September 1941, the Royal Italian Army formed the 2nd Paratroopers Regiment in Viterbo.

In July 1942, after the First Battle of El Alamein, the invasion of Malta was postponed indefinitely and the Royal Italian Army's General Staff decided to send the Paratroopers Division to North Africa to reinforce the depleted German-Italian Panzer Army Africa at El Alamein in Egypt.

However, when the division deployed to North Africa, the 185th Infantry Regiment "Folgore" remained in Italy.

At the time the division fielded around 5,000 men and the 186th Infantry Regiment "Folgore" consisted of the following units:[5][7][10] From 30 August to 5 September 1942, the "Folgore" division participated in General Erwin Rommel's unsuccessful attempt to outflank the British Eighth Army at El Alamein in the Battle of Alam el Halfa.

[11] On 29 September 1942, the British forces launched Operation Braganza against the paratroopers of the "Folgore" division, which, despite their numerical inferiority, managed to repulse the attack.

At the time the 186th Infantry Regiment held the southern half of the "Folgore" division's position.

[12] The "Folgore" division, which formed the Axis' rearguard, had no motorized transport and thus was forced to walk through the desert.

[5][7] For their conduct and sacrifice during the Western Desert campaign at El Alamein the three regiments of the 185th Infantry Division "Folgore" were awarded Italy's highest military honor, the Gold Medal of Military Valor.

The 5th Paratroopers Battalion, which had served with the 186th Infantry Regiment "Folgore" at El Alamein, was named for the Second Battle of El Alamein, durich which the 186th Infantry Regiment "Folgore" had distinguished itself and been awarded Italy's highest military honor the Gold Medal of Military Valor.

[5][7][15] On 12 November 1976, the President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone assigned with decree 846 the flag and traditions of the 186th Infantry Regiment "Folgore" to the 5th Paratroopers Battalion "El Alamein".

On 2 July 1993, the regiment's 15th Paratroopers Company was ambushed by Somali National Alliance forces in the Battle of Checkpoint Pasta.

The 11th Paratroopers Maneuver Support Company is equipped with 120mm mortars and Spike MR anti-tank guided missiles.