TRAINING THE AMERICAN PARATROOPER

Following the success of the U.S. Army's Test Platoon in 1940, which established the viability of airborne warfare, and as more airborne units were activated with the outbreak of the war, it became apparent that a centralized training facility should be established. As a result, that facility was organized at Fort Benning on 15 May 1942. Since that date, the US Army Parachute School has been known by a variety of names:

• The Airborne School (1 January 1946)
• Airborne Army Aviation Section, The Infantry School (1 November 1946)
• Airborne Department, The Infantry School (February 1955)
• Airborne-Air Mobility Department (February 1956)
• Airborne Department (August 1964)
• Airborne-Air Mobility Department (October 1974)
• Airborne Department (October 1976)
• 4th Airborne Training Battalion, The School Brigade (January 1982)
• 1/507th Parachute Infantry, The School Brigade (October 1985)
• 1/507th Infantry (Airborne), 11th Infantry Regiment (July 1991).

Whatever, its designation, the jump school program has remained substantially the same since its early days of operation as evidenced by the current training manual, U.S. Army Field Manual FM 57-220.

Ground Training (Week 1)

During ground training week, you begin an intensive program of instruction building individual skills designed to prepare you to make a parachute jump and land safely. Click here to learn more about PLF's. The equipment your platoon will train on are the mock door (Click here to learn more about the mock door, the 34 foot tower (Click here to learn more about the tower), and the lateral drift apparatus (LDA). You must qualify on the 34 foot tower, the LDA, and pass all PT requirements to go on to tower training week.

Tower Training (Week 2)

The individual skills learned during week one will be refined during tower week and a team effort or "mass exit" concept is added to the training. The apparatus used during this week are the swing lander trainer (SLT), suspended harness (SH) (Click here to learn more about the harness), and the wind machine. Week two completes the individual skill training and builds team effort skills. You must qualify on the mass exit procedures, the SLT, and pass all PT requirements to go forward to jump training week.

Jump Training (Week 3)

This is it! The previous weeks of training have prepared you for this week. If you are not ready to jump you will not enter this phase. Week three is devoted to your five qualifying jumps. Before you make your first jump you will receive a review of malfunctions and aircraft orientation and be organized and manifested for the jump. Of course, things happen. One jumper recalls, "On my first jump ay Benning I had the Flu, but I was told either make the jump or recycle. So I made the Jump. As I wobbled to the door I had to use a barf bag and I stood in the door and took position, I handed the bag to the jumpmaster and exited the plane. Last thing I heard the jumpmaster yelled something then threw the bag out the door at which time the prop blast blew the contents back on him and the next trooper out. I did get my wings." Another jumper, who would later become a Staff Sergeant remembers on his first jump, "I was coming down and it looked good from about 100ft up. I didn't see the truck just below me. It was too late to move so I landed right on top of it."

And, during his final week, one jumper, who is now an active duty Airborne Ranger, recalls making his third jump out of a C-130. "When I landed I got tangled up in my risers and the wind took me tumbling down Fryer DZ."

Unless restricted by the lack of jump aircraft or weather, graduation is normally conducted on Friday of week three at the Airborne Walk. Guests are welcome to observe jumps at Fryer Field, watch graduation, and participate in awarding the wings.

As one new paratrooper said on that Friday morning. "It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I have great respect and honor for those who jumped before us, and made the supreme sacrafice, those are jumping now and in the future. We are grateful."

Practicing the

Parachute Landing Fall (PLF)

Description and purpose of the parachute landing fall is given in Section 1 of U.S. Army Field Manual FM 57-220, Static Line Parachuting Techniques and Training.

a. Move the body to form an arc as the PLF continues. Start the PLF when the balls of the feet touch the ground. Do not hesitate on the balls of the feet.

b. Complete the PLF by falling in the direction of drift, and lay the (body) points of contact on the ground.

c. Keep the chin on the chest and keep the neck tense throughout the PLF.

d. Use a twisting-bending motion, beginning in the hips, to push the knees around, exposing the calf and thigh (right or left) as the legs give with the impact.

e. Table 4-1 lists common PLF errors, their causes, and ways to correct them.

Before making a parachute jump, students make several refresher jumps from platforms. They are required to make a satisfactory PLF in each of the principal directions before they leave the platform area. Before making a parachute jump, students make several refresher jumps from platforms. They are required to make a satisfactory PLF in each of the principal directions before they leave the platform area. Before making a parachute jump, students make several refresher jumps from platforms. They are required to make a satisfactory PLF in each of the principal directions before they leave the platform area.

Mock Door Exercise

Description and purpose of Mock Door training is given in Section 2 of U.S. Army Field Manual FM 57-220, Static Line Parachuting Techniques and Training. The mock door is a replica of the cargo/troop compartment of a troop carrier aircraft. This apparatus includes openings about the size of the aircraft door and anchor line cables for each door. For training purposes, the instruction is divided into a basic phase and an advanced phase. The basic phase teaches basic jump techniques and familiarizes students with equipment, aircraft terms, and safety procedures. The advanced phase provides instruction in the sequence of jump commands and the mass exit technique.

Teaching objectives include the shuffle position, the STAND BY position, the exit and body positions, and the 4000-count.

a. Personnel and Equipment Requirements. One instructor and one assistant instructor are required for each mock door in use. One section of static line (about 4 feet long and not attached to the parachute assembly) is required per student. Loudspeakers will be needed if the class or facilities are large.

b. Training. The initial instruction in the mock door apparatus includes a lecture and demonstration followed by practical exercises.

(1) Each student is given the commands STANDBY and GO. The student is critiqued and corrected by the instructor on the movement to the door, his exit, his body position, and the 4000-count.

c. Terms. The following terms are important in mock door training and are explained during the initial phase of instruction.

(1) Left and right door. When the parachutist is facing the pilot's compartment the door on his right is the right door; the door to his left is the left door.

(2) Anchor line cable. A cable is normally extended along the long axis of the cargo/troop compartment and secured at both ends. The cable is designed to accommodate the static line snap hook and to initiate parachute deployment.

(3) Stick of parachutists. This is a group of parachutists exiting from the same door (or from one side of a ramp) during one pass over the DZ.

(4) Drop zone. This is a designated area where personnel or equipment are delivered by means of parachute or free drop. The GUC designates the DZ location.

(5) Shuffle position. This is a method of moving toward the jump door that may be used to avoid losing balance or tripping.

(a) The outboard arm and hand are extended down and out to maintain balance; the other hand grasps the static line. When jumping the left door, the parachutist has the static line over the left shoulder; when jumping the right door, he has the static line over the right shoulder.

(b) Facing the rear of the aircraft, the parachutist keeps both feet directly beneath the body and staggered with the outboard foot forward; this is the shuffle foot. The inboard foot is the trail foot.

(c) The parachutist moves by stepping forward 6 to 8 inches with his shuffle foot and then his trail foot. Both feet are staggered in the same heel-and-toe position.

(6) Bight. The parachutist forms a bight of about 6 inches in the static line by making one fold and grasping the loop at eye level about 6 inches to the front (Figure 4-7). The remainder of the static line is routed over the shoulder. The free hand is used to steady the parachutist while moving toward the door.

7) Jump commands. The last two jump commands, STAND BY and GO, are used for each student when practicing exits.

(a) On the command STAND BY, the parachutists shuffle toward the jump door.

• When the first jumper is perpendicular to the jump door, he takes one more shuffle step and halts his movement about 2 feet from the center of the jump platform. He keeps his feet spread and legs slightly flexed so that his weight is equally distributed over both feet to maintain balance.
  
• He makes eye-to-eye contact with the safety and hands the static line to the safety.
  
• He executes a half-left or half-right to face the open jump door, ensures his arm is not entangled with the static line, holds his elbows firmly into his sides, and places the palms of his hands (fingers spread) on the ends of the reserve parachute with his right hand protecting the rip cord grip.
  
• At the command STAND BY, the number 2 jumper will be positioned about even with the leading edge of the jump door, 2 feet from the skin of the aircraft and facing to the rear, in the shuffle position with his feet spread and legs slightly flexed so that the weight is equally distributed over both feet to maintain balance.
  
• Follow-on jumpers close up behind the preceding jumper and keep the shuffle position with the feet spread and legs slightly flexed so that their weight is equally distributed over both feet to maintain balance.
  

(b) At the command GO, the number 1 jumper walks out the jump door, stepping out and away from the jump platform; no vigorous up-and-out or hopping motion is used during the exit.

(c) The number 2 jumper (and all following jumpers) performs the following:

• He shuffles toward the jump door, ensuring he is about 2 feet from the skin of the aircraft.
  
• When about perpendicular to the jump door, he takes one more shuffle step, makes eye-to-eye contact with the safety, and hands the static line to the safety.
  
• He ensures his arm is not entangled with the static line, and he holds his elbows firmly into his sides.
  
• He places the palms of his hands (fingers spread) on the ends of the reserve parachute, with his right hand protecting the rip cord grip.
  
• He executes a half-left or half-right to face the open jump door and positions himself about 2 feet from the jump platform.
  
• He walks out the jump door, stepping out and away from the jump platform without a vigorous up-and-out or hopping motion.
  

a. Personnel. Extra instructors may be needed to ensure that all students in the mock door apparatus react properly to each of the jump commands.

b. Execution. When the mass exit technique is taught, each stick receives the commands STAND BY and GO. Each succeeding student shuffles to the door and exits the aircraft. A 1-second interval must be maintained between students.

THE 34-FOOT TOWER

in the U.S. Army

Description and purpose of the 34-foot tower is given in Section 4 of U.S. Army Field Manual FM 57-220, Static Line Parachuting Techniques and Training. It states in performing basic training objectives of the tower, "students practice the exit technique, the proper body position, and the 4000-count. The tower also gives each student experience to overcome his fear of height, and it simulates the opening shock."

The field manual further states the tower is used for performing advanced training objectives in which "the student practices exits using the mass exit technique, with and without combat equipment, [and also] practice simulating activation of the reserve parachute."

Following is the tower's official description: "The 34-foot tower supports a replica of a section of a troop carrier aircraft (Figure 4-9). A jump door is on each side of the replica. Four steel cables are suspended parallel to the ground and slightly above each door. A trolley, which supports tow trolley risers, is attached to each cable. Each trolley riser has a ring attached to its free end. This ring is connected to a modified harness worn by students during training on the tower. The tower is a primary training apparatus to help teach basic jump techniques and points of performance. For ease in training, the instruction is divided into two phases: The basic training phase continues instruction presented on the mock door apparatus. The advanced training phase continues instruction on the mass exit technique, simulates parachute malfunctions, and familiarizes the students with jumping combat equipment."

SUSPENDED HARNESS

The suspended parachute harness apparatus is a modified troop parachute harness suspended from a spreader bar assembly by four web risers (Figure 4-8). The spreader bars react to riser (T-10) or toggle (MC1-1) manipulation much the same as the canopy. The suspended harness simulates the third and fourth points of performance: canopy control and prepare to land.

The suspended harness apparatus is designed to teach the student to execute the following maneuvers:

• T-10 slips (two-riser and one-riser).
• MC1-1 turning, holding, running, and crabbing.
• T-10/MC1-1 landing attitude.
• T-10/MC1-1 emergency landings (tree, water, and wire).
• React to twists, collisions, and entanglements.

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