The Basic Airborne Course is conducted at Fort Benning, Georgia. It is one of the most physically demanding yet rewarding courses in the US Army. This course is available to both men and women volunteers of all services and is three weeks in duration.
During the first week, students encounter daily physical fitness and basic parachutist training. They are taught how to wear the parachute harness and how to use special training apparatus. The mock door allows the student to learn the proper method of exiting an aircraft; the parachute landing fall platform assists the student in developing proper parachute landings; the lateral drift apparatus develops the proper technique for controlling the parachute during descent; and the 34-foot tower exposes the student to the physical sensation of the actual jump.
The second week of training is a
learning reinforcement period with
continued physical training and the
addition of more apparatus such as the
swing landing trainer, which teaches
the student to deal with oscillation and
landing falls. In this second week, the
cadet is also taught landing procedures
and recovery from the drag. Parachute
jumps from the 250-foot tower
culminate this week of training and
constitute the final transition from
ground training to actual parachuting.
During the evaluation phase, or jump week, the student makes five qualifying jumps. Three use the conventional parachute and two more jumps use the new steerable parachute.
Throughout the fast-moving
course of instruction, mental alertness
and physical conditioning are
emphasized. Physical conditioning is a
must prior to attending this course.
Airborne School is designed for those
who possess the desire, motivation and
courage to join the elite fraternity
known as "THE AIRBORNE."
Cadet Application Requirements
Note: very physically demanding.
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