What Are the Duties of a Paratrooper?

Perfecting landing techniques

Military aircraft drop paratroopers over hostile territory to quickly get soldiers onto the battlefield.

Parachuting Duties

A paratrooper's parachute duties include knowing how to jump, day or night, carrying combat equipment; knowing how to safely deploy and control his parachute; following aircraft procedures; and employing landing techniques.

Drops from Various Aircraft

A paratrooper should be prepared to be dropped from helicopters as well as from fixed-wing aircraft.

On the Field

Paratrooper duties on the field include parachuting into remote areas, navigating through foreign terrain, relaying coordinates to a command center, establishing safe landing zones for aircraft and additional soldiers and providing air traffic control. Depending upon the mission, duties may also involve taking control of a city or hunting for terrorists.

HALO Jumps

Paratroopers who successfully train to Pathfinders are trained for HALO (High-Altitude Low-Opening) jumps. Carrying an oxygen supply, soldiers free-fall from 21,000 feet and open their parachutes close to the ground to avoid being caught by enemy radar.

Training for Duty

U.S. Army Airborne schools train soldiers for paratroopers through the three-week Basic Airborne Course: (1) Ground Training---soldiers learn exiting the plane and landing; (2) Tower Week---soldiers perfect falling and landings, jumping from a 250-foot tower; and (3) Jump Week---soldiers apply their newly learned skills to 1,250-foot jumps. Five jumps (two with combat equipment and one at night) earn a paratrooper his "Silver Wing."

References

• U.S. Army: Airborne School
• HALO Jumps