By Dahncye Baucom, 7th SFG(A).

Soldiers and Airmen participated in a four weeklong jumpmaster course on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Oct. 2-27, 2023. Jumpmaster school prepares students for precision parachute and airborne operations. The course consists of an intensive curriculum that equips them with the skills and knowledge to lead successful airborne missions.

“This is the 6th class that the 7th SFG(A) has run since the USASOC decertification back in 2020. We have had a consistent 60-70 students for the past 4 classes” said Master Sgt. Leonel D. Castillo, Special Operations Forces static line jumpmaster course (SOF-SLJMC) chief instructor. “My job was to make sure the students received accurate and up-to-date information and training.”

Jumpmaster school sets specific qualifications for its students. Prior to attending, candidates must complete the Basic Airborne Course (BAC) and earn their jump wings. Once they arrive, they undergo physically and mentally demanding training, ensuring they are prepared to make critical decisions in high-stress scenarios. The course consists of a Nomenclature Exam, Pre-Jump Exam, Written Exam, PWAC Exam, JMPI Exam, and Safety Duties Exam.

“The mission of the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Static Line Jumpmaster course is to train paratroopers in the skills necessary to perform jumpmaster duties during an airborne operation. This includes duties as the Airborne Commander, Primary and Assistant Jumpmaster, Safety, Departure Airfield Control Officer, and the Drop Zone Safety Officer,” said Castillo.

Photo: U.S. Paratroopers from 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) perform PWAC (Practical work inside the Aircraft) to become jumpmasters on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Oct. 26, 2023. Airmen and Soldiers worked together to certify as jumpmasters. (Photo by Spc. Christopher Sanchez)

The day before graduation, students conducted a Practical Work inside the Aircraft (PWAC) Exam. During this exam, they were graded on hand and arm signals, door check procedures, in an aircraft while in flight. These future jump masters learn to supervise parachute operations, focusing on safety, accuracy, and mission success. The curriculum covers everything from jump theory and aircraft procedures to proper equipment use and drop zone control.

“Going to Jumpmaster School made me a better paratrooper and a better teacher. To know and understand why things are the way they are in an Airborne operation, makes the difference between someone who is there to be there and someone who is there to serve a purpose bigger than us all” said Staff Sgt. Clayton Wider, Jr., a 92A, automated logistics specialist.

In the end, graduation from jumpmaster school marks a significant achievement, certifying the students as qualified jump masters ready for deployment. Their role is critical in ensuring the safety and success of airborne operations, making them a key component to their respective branches of the military. Jumpmaster school remains a crucial institution in the journey to becoming elite paratroopers, and its graduates stand as a testament to the dedication and discipline required to excel in this high-stakes field.

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This article by Staff Sgt. Dahncye Baucom of the 7th SFG(A) was first published on December 4, 2023, by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Top photo: U.S. Soldiers with 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conduct an airborne operation on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, October 26, 2023. The jump served as means for jumpmaster qualification and certification. (U.S. Army photos by Staff Sgt. Ryan Jenkins)

The Army is thinking of bringing back the 11th Airborne Division. Two brigades and other units currently based in Alaska could be renamed as part of a historical paratroop unit with an extensive history during World War II and extending into the Vietnam era. The reactivation of the 11th Airborne Division would bring back a unit that was deactivated almost 60 years ago.

Soldiers may be wearing their new patch as early as this summer. US Army Alaska (USARAK) headquarters would form up the divisional staff and provide support units. Much of the future unit is based in Alaska and is part of the 25th Infantry Division base in Hawaii. Currently the members of these units are wearing the “Tropic Lightning” patch.

The news of the reactivation came during a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday (May 5). Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and Army Chief of Staff General James McConville delivered the news.

The missions and training for the division in Hawaii and the brigade elements based in Alaska are very different. This will forge a ‘new identity’ for those Alaska-based 25th ID members. The two brigades currently in Alaska would be designated as the 1st and 2nd Brigade Combat Teams of the 11th Airborne Division. One of the brigades, 4-25th ID, is already airborne. The division would be the twelfth operational division headquarters in the Army.

The division was first activated in 1943 at Camp Mackall, North Carolina. It took part in battles against the Japanese in New Guinea and the Philippines. It then was part of the occupation of Japan. Later, elements of the division fought in Korea in the early 1950s. The division later became a training and test unit in the United States for air assault and airmobile operations before being disbanded in 1965 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Currently the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg and the 173rd Airborne Brigade based in Italy are the Army’s only airborne units – along with the 75th Ranger Regiment and the many airborne units of the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). The 101st Airborne Division is actually airmobile, focusing on air assault and air mobility, but keeps its historical name.

The Department of Defense, including the U.S. Army is looking at increasing its presence and capability in the Arctic region. Climate change is having an effect on the north region – the opening up of sea lanes, new mineral resources being discovered, and recent access to oil fields among other factors. This makes the region an area of competition among nations in the region – including Russia.

The Army, looking forward at the Arctic region as an area of competition, announced a new Army Arctic strategy in March 2021 with the publication of a document entitled Regaining Arctic Dominance. The special operations community is also paying increased attention to the Arctic region and conducts periodic training exercises like Arctic Edge to refine and develop their Arctic capabilities.

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References:

11th Airborne Division – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Airborne_Division_%28United_States%29

by ​​Maurice D. Valentine, The War Horse, April 20, 2022.

I came to Antigua, West Indies, on a lark.

Whispers went around Camp Smith, New York, that something was amiss. Herbie, the cantankerous senior jumpmaster of our unit, walked up to me as I cleaned my weapon after training. The “old geezer” (nobody was older than 45) had all the connections to the fun jumps, always tapping a few LRRPs to come. That’s what we called the guys on the long-range reconnaissance patrols. 

He glided over to me. 

“Wanna go to the Caribbean?” he said. “I can get you some water jumps in Antigua.”

My eyes bulged. “What? Hell yeah, Herbie!”

He gave me a sly look. “Have you [had your first jump], Valentine?” He used a euphemism, of course.

I smiled sheepishly. “No.”

Herbie laughed out loud, “Well, gooooolllllleeeee! Gimme 20 pushups for just being a [newbie].”

Here we go. “Yes, Sergeant.” I knocked out 20 while he cracked up. 

I had already earned my blood wings out of Airborne School. I bled profusely and was sure I was going to get tetanus.

But I hadn’t had my first jump out of school.

I knew that if I let it be known I was A) going to Antigua and B) going to have my first jump, I’d be in big trouble. I didn’t care to sweat in the parking lot doing jumping jacks and burpees until I dropped.

So, I kept my mouth shut.

One week later I was on an empty C-130 flying out of Dover Air Force Base with two other long-range reconnaissance patrol soldiers, making a quick stop on the military side of Dulles International Airport.

More guys boarded. They wore different fatigues from us—unlike anything issued in America.

Then I noticed a black, yellow, and red tricolor on the right shoulder of their blouses. I knew exactly what that meant: Germany.

And I knew exactly who they were: The German paratroopers, and they brought loads of beer, food, and parachutes as they boarded.

Sgt. Richter, one of the old warriors of my unit, was as shocked as I was. “I thought this was going to be a normal Airborne operation.” He gave me a toothy grin. “Feel like getting some German wings with your [first] jump, Valentine?”

There was a lump in my throat. “Do you really think I can?”

“As long as you jump with them. Not bad for a [first-timer]. Just don’t let everyone else know that!”

We took off again in the lumbering Hercules. The platoon of Germans were quite talkative and friendly. One of them told us they had been training in Virginia, got word of the jump, and their commander got them slots.

A sore ass and hours later, we hit the ground again with a thunk, vibrating like crazy. We were in Antigua. I craned my head to look out the small port window: rolling tarmac, palm trees, and lots of military planes mixed with civilian ones. Then I saw a sign not too far off in the distance. Welcome to Bermuda.

I leaned over to Sgt. Richter. “We’re in Bermuda. What for?”

“Beats me. Maybe we need gas.”

The cargo door opened again and in came a bunch of guys wearing blue T-shirts and tan shorts. They carried small backpacks and quickly found empty seats.

An athletically built blond guy with a chiseled face sat not too far from me. His T-shirt had a small gold decal of an eagle holding a trident and a revolutionary pistol. Beneath it were the words “SEAL Team Two.”

I jabbed Cpl. Miles sitting across from me like I had just seen a superstar. “Yo, Miles,” I whispered. “We got SEALs on board!”

“Looks like this is going to be some helluva training mission.”

Herbie, hanging in the cockpit with the crew chief, came over. “Hey, Herbie, Germans, SEALS, who’s next?”

He gave me a wink. “JSOC. This jump is with them.” 

“That’s why I had to be sneaky,” Herbie added. “If everyone knew that JSOC was going, everyone would’ve wanted to go.

Photo: Spc. Maurice Valentine, right, poses with a teammate. Photo courtesy of the author.

“You should feel lucky, Valentine,” he said. “And this is your [first jump]? Gimme 20.” I laughed, and jumped up on some seats to knock out the pushups.

I just hoped nobody else saw. 

The flight to Antigua was long. I wondered who else would be at this jump fest. The PJs? Combat Control? Rangers? This was going to be very elite, indeed.

My answers came when the doors opened up once again. A warm breeze blew into the aircraft as the engines shut down. We disembarked with the stars out brightly that night. The place looked heavenly. Several birds from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and other parts of America surrounded us. A few soldiers gravitated to us, greeting Herbie as if he were an old friend. 

I looked at the patches on the uniforms surrounding me, and most were members of JSOC, with a couple of 82nd Airborne thrown into the mix. It was awe-inspiring to be among them.

After an hour, we sat in a Navy office for our in-country briefing. The officer there briefed us about what to see during our off hours. I was excited, this trip being my first outside of the United States.

The young officer quieted us all down as he began. 

“Welcome to Antigua,” he said, bored. “For those of you who don’t know, Antigua is the largest island of the Leeward Chain, with Barbuda, not too far from here, being the smaller. …”

He warned us about the local transportation of Antigua, which was notoriously slow. It ran on that “Caribbean Time,” and you couldn’t count on it if you had to get anywhere in a hurry. Renting a car from the airport was the only way to go.

And of Barbuda, he said, “It’s very expensive. If you watch Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, you’d know the people living there don’t want to see you. Don’t go.”

But the beaches? They were everywhere. Our barracks had one of the best beaches on the island, too. All we had to do was walk out the door, grab a towel, and stretch out to watch all the jumping.

“So who’s the [new guy]?” a Green Beret named Stan said as the plane we were going to jump out of banked hard. He was a big African American soldier, at least six-foot-four. He sat on one knee maintaining his balance in all the turbulence from the open cargo door. He had a large tattoo that said “De Oppresso Liber” on a muscular arm. He wore a gray free-fall parachute on his back as he hung on the edge of the ramp, looking down into the ocean. I was amazed he didn’t get sucked out.

I raised my hand. “Me, Sergeant.”

He smirked. “You know how lucky you are, right? It’s Valentine’s Day, your last name is Valentine, this is your [first] jump, and you’re getting German jump wings?” He shook his head.

I grinned, happy to have been lucky enough to escape being dogged by everyone.

Miles stood in front of me. I looked over his shoulder out the gaping cargo door. Nothing but a huge beautiful blue expanse.

The German gave Miles the signals. The jump light inside the aircraft went from red to green, and within moments he had a “Go!” and was gone.

Seconds later I saw him. His chute opened with no problems and he gently turned out of the slipstream to enjoy the ride down.

Then it was my turn. I walked quickly toward the Jumpmaster, he immediately said, “Go!” and I stepped off the ramp.

My first thought? Damn, I’m a bit high up in the air. …  With my eyes open, the world whirled around me as my body position kept me straight in the air, like a bomb falling vertically from the sky. I felt the tug of the static line attached to my parachute as my canopy deployed, the risers slapping me hard in the face.

I made a 180-degree turn into the wind to slow my descent. But I wasn’t slowing down. I was speeding up. The winds pulled me backward as I descended, and I immediately worried that I would drown.

There was nothing I could do but ride it out. Down below, I saw the Navy SEALs’ rigid boat make a beeline for me, popping up and down on the choppy surf.

As I got closer to the water, I pulled my floatation vest and began to estimate my distance. I loosened my harness, unclipping the chest strap.

I tightened my body as I looked down. I could see my shadow grow in the water.

PLOOSH!

My canopy fell behind me and I surfaced. I put my hands behind my head and lay on the surface waiting for the boat to come get me. I saw the C-130 fly over once again to let out some more jumpers. 

I did it.  

The SEALs’ boat drove up. Miles and a few of the German paratroopers were inside, dripping wet.

“Yo, Valentine, whatta [first jump]! You now have some German wings!”

One of the SEALs laughed. “Hey, how does it feel? Better than sex?”

I smirked. 

“No.”

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Editors Note: This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter.

About the author: ​​Maurice D. Valentine is a born-and-bred New Yorker and was a member of the 142nd Long Range Surveillance Detachment (ABN) of the 42nd Infantry Division of the New York Army National Guard in the early 1990s. After his honorable discharge from the Army, Valentine backpacked around the world for several years before eventually finding his career in the advertising industry in New York City. He now lives and works in Sydney, Australia, where he owns his own production company, Moman Productions.

Top image: Map and photo of Antigua courtesy of CIA, photo of German wings courtesy of author.

By Twana Atkinson.

As the Army continues to reinforce their vision for 2028 to fill the force; the U.S. Army Parachute Team is also making ambitious efforts to maintain their formations as one of three Department of Defense sanctioned demonstration teams.

The USAPT, also known as the Golden Knights, conduct worldwide parachute demonstrations, competitions and tandems to connect the Army with the American public. They also enhance the Army’s recruiting efforts; while simultaneously providing technical expertise in support of military free-fall programs.

Recently, the Golden Knights implemented a “Green Platoon” initiative to recruit local Fort Bragg Soldiers that aspire to become Golden Knights, but lack skydiving experience. “The basic purpose of the ‘Green Platoon program’ is to strengthen the United States Army’s Parachute Team by ensuring that we get the right people for the team,” said Staff Sgt. Blake Gaynor, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the USAPT Preparation Program.

Currently, the Golden Knights hold an assessment and selection program once a year. But according to Gaynor, only half of the candidates make it through the program. “We get about four to eight candidates a year that make it….and it’s a constant struggle to maintain competency and people while Soldiers ETS or retire out of the organization,” said Gaynor.

The Golden Knights operate on an elite level while conducting at least 10 tandem camps, and performing at more than 40 shows a year throughout the United States. “Myself and Sgt. Skylar Romberg are former Golden Knight Assessment and Selection cadre; so we know what it will take to become a Golden Knight,” said Gaynor. The preparation platoon will better prepare interested Soldiers not only in skydiving but also in being a good ambassador for the Army. The experience that they will get from the program will give them a better chance in making it through the assessment and selection.

“As cadre, I’ve seen a lot of candidates come through and not make it because of their skydiving experience or their inability to conduct public speaking,” said Gaynor “Sometimes they have the skydiving experience but lack maturity or stress management skills. We travel all over the world and perform at very high profile events in small teams; so each individual has to remain very proficient in all of their tasks.”

Interested Soldiers will conduct more than 300 free-fall parachute jumps, receive public speaking coaching, develop stress management skills and receive U.S. Parachuting Association licenses. Sgt. 1st Class William Comancho from the 27th Eng. Bn., an interested candidate, used his lunchtime to come and get information on the upcoming program. “I would love to travel all over the world representing the Army doing something that I love,” said Comancho.

The Golden Knights held several information briefings for interested Soldiers in their headquarters building for a week. As the Army continues to fortify their mission of building a more modern, lethal force, the Golden Knights are duty-bound to help the United States Recruiting Command to achieve that. Soldiers local to the Fort Bragg area have until Feb. 17 to submit their packets to usarmy.knox.usarec.list.meb.apt.gkas@army.mil.

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This story by Twana Atkinson was originally published on February 15, 2022 by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Photo of Golden Knights jumpmaster by Sgt. Brian Collett, U.S. Army, February 3, 2021.

By Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Williams.

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – Clip, clip, snap … an Army Reserve paratrooper breathes heavily through his facemask while donning the harness of an MC-6 parachute. As the paratrooper adjusts his parachute, noises could be heard six feet away as two Sailors assist one of their own in donning the parachute system. With temperatures reaching the mid 90’s and individuals adhering to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, service members work together to refine and retool their proficiency in airborne operations.

More than 70 paratroopers, including members of the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 12 conducted joint airborne operations training here on Aug. 13, 2020 in order to “maintain currency” among their jumpmasters.

“We have to be able to talk purple, especially when we deploy,” said Lt. Col. JohnPaul Le Cedre, commander of the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion. “We have units deployed around the world and when we conduct joint ops with the active component or Navy jumpmasters we need to be able to cross talk which allows us to cross operate.”

During the last five months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 404th has maintained their readiness by administering virtual airborne refresher classes to Soldiers. During these virtual classes, jumpmasters talk through each of the steps involved in airborne operations, touching on tasks and procedures from donning a parachute to properly exiting an aircraft. As Solders move away from virtual training and come together for the first time, members of a U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal unit were invited to train alongside them and exchange their best practices.

“We invited them here because their proficiency allows them to bring their point of view and we don’t want to keep our experience insular,” Lt. Col. Cedre said. “We want to share our experience with others because it builds our own proficiency and we feel that, ‘hey maybe we can tweak things to become a little better and safer.’”

As members of EODMU 12 take turns in donning the MC-6 parachute system, Jumpmasters made their way around the field, observing the paratroopers engaged in rehearsals for sustained airborne training.

“They did a really good job of offering hands-on training and putting the parachute on to physically jump out of a mock airplane,” Lt. Jack James, an officer in charge with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 12 said. “Learning how to practice the parachute landing fall is extremely important to staying safe during combat falls, and learning the positioning on how to jump from an airplane was helpful as a refresher.”

EODMU 12 sailors are trained to diffuse conventional bombs, ordnance, and even biological weapons. Besides the ability to defuse bombs under water, the unit also possesses airborne capabilities which allow them to support operations alongside Army assets. Being offered an opportunity to train alongside their counterparts enhances their ability to perform at a higher level.

Lt. James said it was interesting to see the how things are done differently between the services and how much insight he was given into how a battalion level Army airborne programs works through this joint training.

“This unit requires a sailor to be a jack of all trades,” Lt. James said. “We have to have the ability to insert with a lot of different units. At the end of the day airborne is like diving. It gets us to the point of the problem. Wherever we need to go, that’s the route, whether it’s diving in the water or jumping out of an airplane onto a target.”

No matter what military branch a paratrooper belongs too, each jumper’s mindset is different when it comes to mentally preparing for an airborne mission. Whether it’s pacing around a grassy area talking through the motions, or sitting down on hot concrete mentally mapping how a scenario plays out, jumpers prepare their minds for what their bodies are about to go through.

“I visualize everything from hooking up the static line to jumping out of the airplane,” Lt. James said. “I think about how I’ve been trained and the muscle memory I have through practice. It gets dangerous when you get complacent; training prevents that complacency.”

Lt. James said unlike what is seen in movies, jumping is a nerve-wracking experience, but he’s learned new techniques, which will help him mitigate injuries and perform better in the field alongside service partners.

As the training day winds down and the sun sets, Soldiers and Sailors wipe sweat off of their foreheads and congregate six feet apart muffling words of encouragement to one another through their masks.

“Success with a battalion airborne program in the Army Reserve means you must have good communication and relationships with your adjacent airborne units. Those units, in my experience, have been other Army units, U.S. Navy Special Operations, and Air Force Pararescue,” Lt. Col. LeCedre said. “When I see another jumpmaster from any unit there’s a recognition that this is a professional; this is an expert that can be relied upon, and I can trust this person.”

The question of “how will the military adapt to COVID-19?” is far gone as units continuously identify ways to overcome the challenges this pandemic presents, but no matter how rough the road, military services will continue to function and thrive … together.

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Story: This article was first posted on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) and is part of the public domain. “404th Paratroopers and US Navy EOD Conduct Joint Training”, by Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Williams, 361st Theater Public Affairs Support Element, August 19, 2020.

Photo: A U.S. Army Reserve Paratrooper with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion practices a landing technique by jumping out of a mock airplane here on Aug. 12, 2020. (U.S. Army Photo By: Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Williams, 361st Theater Public Affairs Support Element/Released)

About the 404th. The 404th Civil Affairs Battalion is located on Fort Dix, New Jersey. It is a unit of the U.S. Army Reserve. B Company of the 404th recently completed a tour in Djibouti while assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) in 2019.
https://www.facebook.com/404CABN/

About Civil Affairs. The U.S. Army Civil Affairs Regiment was formally established in 1955 as a U.S. Army Reserve branch. It was designated as the Civil Affairs Regiment in October 1959. In October 2006, civil affairs was further established as a basic branch of the Army. On August 17, 2020 the Civil Affairs Regiment celebrated its 65th anniversary (Army.mil, Aug 17, 2020).

The US Military Freefall Association is a collective of freefall parachutists, jumpmasters, and military freefall instructors bound by their common training, experience, and passion for military parachuting. The association seeks to promote an understanding of military freefall and to maintain a close relationship with the USAJFKSWCS Military Freefall School, veteran’s organizations, and the larger parachuting community. This is a newly formed organization that will fill a void for a selective group within the special operations community.

There are numerous veterans interest groups and organizations across the country. Some are general in nature – providing information or services to current military service members or veterans. Others are more specialized – such as the Navy SEAL Foundation that seeks to assist active and former members of the SEAL community with events, scholarships, and assistance to wounded SEALs and their families.

The Military Freefall Association (MFFA) is focused on the very technical and high-risk discipline of military freefall (MFF). One of the most technical skills in the United States armed services is MFF. It is a qualification usually restricted to the U.S. special operations community. Less than 1% of 1% of the U.S. military have received MFF training. Another purpose of the MFFA is to take actions that will memorialize fallen warriors from the MFF community.

Members Wanted

Like any newly formed organization the MFFA is looking for new members. If you are a graduate of a United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) recognized MFF school or a former schoolhouse cadre member, then you qualify to join the MFFA. What does membership in the MFFA offer? First of all, you will receive an exclusive MFFA membership packet, full of MFFA swag! But beyond the bragging rights and the ability to connect to other members, you are also helping the association support the wider MFF community through sponsorship of events, honoring sacrifices of our fallen, and supporting the MFF schoolhouse to meet requirements that cannot be paid for with appropriated funds.

In addition, the organization will pass on relevant information (reports, policy, etc.) to members via email or through its online forum. There is also a “Members Area” (requires logon and password) that will allow you to connect to other MFFA members. And you get to purchase some MFFA swag through its online store. It is easy to become a member.

Sponsors Wanted

All non-profit organizations require a certain level of funding to conduct its operations. If your organization, firm, or business would like to contribute to the work that the Military Freefall Association does then becoming a sponsor is the way to achieve that goal. Any person, business, or organization can sponsor, donate, or become an affiliate member of the Military Freefall Association. A sponsor’s help can assist the MFFA help our fellow military freefall warriors.

Upcoming MFFA Events

Military Freefall Instructor Reunion. The U.S. MFFA will host its annual Military Freefall Instructor Reunion on Friday, April 3, 2020 in Yuma, Arizona. Current and former instructors can share their stories, experiences, and challenges from across the generations of instructors since 1968.

Military Freefall Ball. The U.S. MFFA will host its annual “Freefall Ball” in Yuma, Arizona on Saturday, April 4, 2020 in Yuma, Arizona.

Military Freefall Association
https://www.usmffa.org

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Photos: All photographs and images are from the Department of Defense.

Video Marine MFF – Reconnaissance Marines conduct military free fall training in Temple, Texas during Exercise Desert Hawk. The Marines practiced the MFF parachute jumps in order to be able to execute free fall insertion in the most complex environments. (Video by CPL Charles Plouffe, 3rd Marine Division, March 21, 2018).

www.dvidshub.net/video/591374/recon-marines-conduct-mff

Watch a one-minute long video of members of the U.S. Army conduct a Special Forces HALO parachute jump from a helicopter. Video published March 2, 2018 by the U.S. Army posted on YouTube.com.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXHn_sxmPMQ

Video – Airborne and Special Operations Museum. Watch a 7-min long video of the displays set up depicting airborne and special operations history of the United States Army. The museum is located in downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina (Fayetteville is adjacent to Fort Bragg). If you are passing the Fort Bragg area this is a good museum to visit. Drew Brooks, military correspondent with The Fayetteville Observer, has posted this video on his YouTube site.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnpDYLzzY4k

SOF News Update 20161228 – “Will Trump Break the Special Forces”, video of U.S. Army parachute riggers, British SOF depending on charity, Belgium SOF aviation capability to grow, audio interview of book author, and more.

Video – MOS 92R Parachute Rigger. Watch a 4 minute long video about the job of a U.S. Army parachute rigger. Some great scenes of airborne operations.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4BCBuk2VxQ

Breaking Special Forces. It is a well-known fact that the SOF units of Afghanistan and Iraq are being over-used by their countries leaders in their respective counterinsurgency campaigns. The United States SOF units have also been tightly stretched over the past 15 years. Recent comments by President-Elect Trump on the importance of Special Forces have raised some concerns. Read more in “Will Trump Break the Special Forces?”, The Atlantic, December 27, 2016.

Video – Danish Special Forces. Watch a 3-min long video of Danish divers and commandos in action.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=35EjT5NtfXU

Belgium to Add SOF Aviation. In a plan called “Defense Strategic Vision for 2030” the Belgium Defense Ministry reveals that they will add a new squadron of special mission aircraft utilizing STOL capabilities. Read more in a report on Air Recognition.com, December 27, 2016.

Charity Benefits Brit SOF – Thankfully. It would seem that the Ministry of Defence has given less priority to the SAS and SBS than is deserved. Read a news report on the topic in The Sun (UK), December 27, 2016.

Audio Interview of Book Author. Dr. Ben Jones, the author of “Eisenhower’s Guerrillas: The Jedburghs, the Maquis, and the Liberation of France”, International Spy Museum. The one-hour long interview is about the book and the use of guerrilla warfare by the United States in general. Dr. Jones is a retired military officer and served as an advisor to the Afghan security ministries for two tours.
https://audioboom.com/posts/4573673-author-debriefing-eisenhower-s-guerrillas-the-jedburghs-the-maquis-and-the-liberation-of-france