 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Perhaps no military development has been so revolutionary as the employment of paratroopers.� Certainly none has been so spectacular or singularly effective.� The history of the American paratrooper is one of the most colorful in American military history.� |
|
|
|
General Billy Mitchell conceived the idea of parachuting troops from aircraft into combat.�� Shortly after WW I, Gen Mitchell arranged for the first display of this concept at Kelly Field, Texas.�� In the demonstration, six American soldiers parachuted from a Martin Bomber, landed, assembled their weapons on the field, and were ready for action in less than 3 minutes after they left the plane.� Unfortunately, the officials who witnessed this historic event dismissed the whole idea as a folly.� |
|
|
|
Not all of the observers arrived at the same conclusion.� Representatives of Soviet Russia and Germany were greatly impressed with the demonstration.� In August 1930, at Veronezh, Russia, paratroopers participated in military maneuvers for the first time.� German observers also quickly grasped the potential of parachute troops and planners worked feverishly to develop an effective military parachute organization.� |
|
|
|
Early in 1940, America awoke from its dream of isolation, and all branches of the armed forces began an all-out preparedness program.� In April 1940, after much controversy among the branches of the armed forces as to who would assume command of a proposed ?Air Infantry,? the War Department approved plans for a test platoon of Airborne Infantry.� The platoon was to function under the direction and control of the US Army Infantry Board.� The test platoon was organized in July 1940 with 2 lieutenants and 48 enlisted volunteers.� The first jump by members of the platoon from an aircraft in flight was made from a Douglas B-18 over Lawson Field, Georgia, on 16 Aug 1940.� On 29 August 1940, at Lawson Field, members of the platoon made the first platoon mass jump in the United States.� As more airborne units were activated, it became apparent that a centralized training facility should be formed.� As a result, the Parachute School was established at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 15 May 1942.� Volunteers attend this same school.� It is a 3-week TDY course and when possible, students attend en route to their duty assignment.� Air Weather Service ?jumpers? have been used since 1944, seeing action during World War II at Normandy Beach, France; and, in the Netherlands and Yugoslavia.� Since that time, they have proven themselves in other parts of the world as well.� |
|
|
|
In Oct 1990 the first Air Force female graduated from jump school.� In Nov 1990, MSgt Brenda Frazier was assigned to an operational jump unit at Fort Bragg NC. |
|
|
|
As with many elite groups, truths become distorted, traditions become altered, and it becomes difficult for the newcomer to separate facts from fiction.� Here is some information that should be revealing and helpful to the potential weather jumper.� |
|
|
|
The overwhelming majority who arrive at Fort Benning and subsequently fail the course are eliminated because they are not in good physical conditions.� The remainder fails to complete the course because they are not highly motivated or because they lack the courage to overcome their natural fears.� Approximately 10 percent of all students who enter the course fail to graduate.� Those who are in good physical condition and are properly motivated will complete the course.� Remember that this course is intentionally designed to tax a person both physically and mentally.� Those who meet the challenge will indeed value their parachute badge. |
|
|
|
In the 50 years that the Fort Benning Jump School has been in existence, more than 600,000 parachutists have graduated after completing more than 3,000,000 jumps.� Since 1942, the injury rate has declined to its current level of less than four-tenths of one percent.� This extremely low injury rate is due to two factors -- superior training and superior equipment.� |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Web Page Courtsey of Ranger Wood |
|
| � |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COL MALTESE |
|
|
LRRP HISTORY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MAJOR HUNT |
|
|
|