Paratroopers are special soldiers who are excessively trained in parachute and skydiving operations. These soldiers are so well trained that they can penetrate in to the enemy’s premises without knowing their enemy. They land with the help of a parachute at the planned location along with the required armaments after being dropped from the helicopter or aircraft.

They can reach ground within shortest period of time and attack their enemy from behind, destabilizing them beforehand. Paratroopers can also reach the location where a normal soldier cannot reach and sometimes they are also used for spying operations and tackle enemy’s every move.

Paratroopers are highly trained soldiers who are considered as the cream of airborne corporation, as they are very important component of the airborne security of the Nation. One could see their demonstrations, techniques and operations in the military exhibition conducted by military on special days. Soviet Union and Italy were the first countries to make a practical approach of using parachute and utilize paratroopers during the World War II, but there soldiers were overstretched and tired hence, Germany and Western Allies utilized maximum number of paratroopers in World War II. Today, paratroopers have become an important unit of military in many countries and they make a part of Air Force, Army or Navy.

Safety and Performance of Paratroopers:

To qualify for par-trooping, a soldier is rigorously trained in number of areas, so that he can safely reach the ground in the battlefield and carry out his mission. Initially a soldier is thought about skydiving and jumping techniques in a friendly atmosphere and location, and later, he she is taught about group jumping techniques from the helicopter or aircraft. Then, they are trained in parachute manipulation and other activities along with situational jumping from the aircraft in case of emergency. Paratroopers perform their routine activities to keep their performance in form and some paratroopers are also given advanced training in landing on water or difficult geographical locations. Some paratroopers are trained in rigging technique as sometimes, heavy metals, vehicles and other materials may be dropped from the aircraft. Rigging is highly responsible task as it requires enhanced skills since the material has to be dropped at right location without damaging.

Technique used by Paratroopers:

Paratroopers use variety of aircrafts to jump such as C-5, C-130/MC-130, CASA-212, C-17 and C-130; or helicopters such as UH-60, CH-53 and CH-47. They jump from tailgate, side door or the alternate door of the aircraft during day time or night time. Military jump static line range between 800 to 1200 feet. Combat Equipped paratroopers are the jumpers with weapons and Rucksack along them; Hollywood Jumpers are the jumpers without any equipment and Combat Light paratroopers are jumpers with weapons only. Typical combat rucksack weights between 16 Kg to 50 Kg and combat jumps are executed from low altitude which decreases aloft time for the paratroopers which makes difficult for their enemy to trace them. A typical parachute used is T-10D which is not steerable and falls with approximate speed of 18 to 21 feet per second. MC-1D parachutes are slightly maneuverable and fall with an approximate speed of 15 feet per second vertically or 15 kilo meters per hours in forward direction. There operation involves some steps such as:

• Calculate and check their position and proper exit time.
• Check the canopy and plan to gain control over canopy.
• While descending they have to keep a keen look on all other co-jumpers.
• Turn or slip into the wind and then get ready to land on the surface.
• Land properly and get ready for their mission.