Archive for the ‘Parachuting’ Category
The USAF Parachutist Insignia 1956-63
Sunday, February 8th, 2015US Army Developing Parachutist Rucksack
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015Meet the MOLLE 4000. Developed by Natick Soldier Systems Center to satisfy a requirement for an airborne rucksack for the 82nd Airborne Division, it enters safety certification next month. Lead developer Rich Landry is a Veteran of the 82nd and has been instrumental in work on several airborne items over the years.
To create the MOLLE 4000, Landry combined the short MOLLE frame adopted by the Marine Corps but originally developed for Army paratroopers and created a new 4000 cu in bag for it. He also envisioned a new, removable single point release. This was the critical piece. Until now, you either rigged your pack with the Harness, Single Point Release, which is a separate item, prone to loss after a jump or you carried a pack with sewn-in air items. The latter option results in increased cost per pack and you are stuck lugging around the extra weigh whether you are jumping or not. Additionally, such specialty packs aren’t appropriate for issue to other forces due to that additional cost and weight. Instead, Landry has come up with a hybrid solution which quickly attaches and detaches from the pack. This saves both rigging time and weight, once he gets on the ground, for the paratrooper.
Bob Reinert of the Natick Public Affairs Office wrote a great story on the project. It’s definitely worth a read. www.army.mil/article/141297.
CCT HALO Jump
Sunday, January 4th, 2015
The T-10 Parachute Transitions Into Retirement
Wednesday, December 31st, 2014
ALARACT 275/2014 officially retires the T-10 parachute effective today, 31 Jan 2014. Thanks for all the memories.
Firebird Evo Container in MultiCam Black
Saturday, October 25th, 2014
Firebird’s Evo container is currently available for order in MultiCam Black with Arid and Tropic in production.
National Airborne Day
Saturday, August 16th, 2014August 16th commemorates the first official US military parachute jump in 1940. In 2001, it was officially recognized by proclamation of President George W Bush.
Those early paratroopers were crucial to our victory in WWII. One of our readers shared this video with us. “Project Vigil: D-Day 2014, The saluting boy on Omaha beach”, take a moment to watch it and know that not everyone has forgotten about the contributions and sacrifices of our Greatest Generation.
Thanks Doc Haight for the video!
Air Force Paratroopers Place 3rd at Rhode Island LeapFest
Tuesday, August 5th, 2014As a retired USAF Paratrooper, I am always proud to see my fellow jumpers in blue do well. Love those OCP uniforms. Let’s see the rest of the Air Force swap over as well. Congratulations!
According to the TACP Association, members of the 18th ASOG, 18th WX squadron (and one TACP) placed 3rd (out of 55 American and international teams) at last weekend’s annual International jump competition in Rhode Island. They made four total jumps with static line chutes and were graded on accuracy and time.
They missed second place by 4 seconds, and first place by 9 seconds.
(Pictured: MSgt Misiak, TSgt Allen, SSgt Romero-Napolitano, MSgt Williams. Photo from TACP Association)
Forces Focus – Pararescue in Iceland 2014
Friday, June 6th, 2014Guardian Angel (GA) is a US Air Force, non-aircraft, equipment-based weapon system. GA is organized into nine specific capabilities: Prepare, Mission Plan, Insert, Movement, Actions on Objective, Medically Treat, Extract, Reintegrate, and Adapt.
These nine capabilities are supported by a family of nine acquisition systems: precision aerial insertion, information management, force application/personal protection, visual augmentation, maritime, ground mobility, technical rescue, medical, and Survival EvasionResistance and Escape (SERE). The sum of these capabilities and acquisitions support the PR execution tasks of report, locate, support, recover, and reintegrate.
This equipment-based weapons system is employed by Combat Rescue Officers, Pararescuemen, and SERE Specialists and enabled by uniquely trained combat support personnel.
Recently, a GAWS team deployed to Iceland. This is their experience.
