Once the main force has landed, the platoon provides tactical intelligence and offensive action roles for the brigade.

[8][9] Following the 1982 Falklands War, 5 Airborne Brigade was established as a light, rapid reaction force for similar requirements.

Soldiers can come from various units to fill a specific role, signalers, logistics, fleet management and vehicle maintenance, but are not qualified Pathfinders unless they choose to attend and are successful on selection.

The PFPC aims to allow potential soldiers and officers the opportunity to gain insight into the Pathfinder, and to provide advice on how best to prepare for the Selection Course.

The PFPC is designed to help candidates prepare for the Selection Course, by giving advice and guidance, and the opportunity to make mistakes.

Pathfinders also attend the special forces mobility operations course run by UKSF, along with CQB and assault breaching.

The present day Pathfinder Platoon has taken part in operations in Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone, Macedonia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Deployed around Lungi under the command of Sergeant Stephen Heaney, they were engaged by a Revolutionary United Front (RUF) force trying to capture the airport.

[18][19] In 2001 the Pathfinder Platoon deployed for Operation Essential Harvest in the Republic of Macedonia supporting the Special Air Service in mapping the National Liberation Army (NLA) positions.

The men then set out on a four-day mission to a town in the north of Helmand province in Afghanistan ended up spending 52 days under siege by the Taliban.

25 men, who have been first into several Taliban-held areas during the British deployment in southern Afghanistan, came under such ferocious attack that they were forced to stay in Musa Qala fighting almost daily battles.

The group was supposed to be reinforced by a company of 120 paratroopers but they had to be diverted to the town of Sangin when they came under heavy assault by Taliban insurgents.

The platoon were finally replaced in Musa Qala when 500 British troops, in a mission codenamed Operation Snakebite broke through Taliban lines.

During the course of this tour an attached soldier Pte John "Jack" Howard (3 Para) was killed in action during a strafing run from an American Close Air Support mission.

In 2021 Pathfinders were deployed to Kabul taking part in Operation Pitting to assist in the evacuation of British nationals as well as eligible Afghans.

[27] In September 2024 it was reported the Pathfinders were deployed to Lebanon to assist British Forces in the region participating in Operation Pegasus Cedar.