1 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division conduct a parachute jump on Sicily Drop Zone, Fort Liberty, NC, August 21, 2024. The 82nd Airborne Division rapidly deploys within 18 hours of notification, strategically deploys, conducts forcible entry parachute assaults, and secures key objectives for follow-on military operations in support of U.S. national interests.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Vincent Levelev)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division move to board a CH-47 Chinook for Operation Gator Drop at St. Mere Eglise Drop Zone on Fort Bragg, North Carolina, June 17, 2025. Operation Gator Drop was an airborne operation where Paratroopers exited from a CH-47 Chinook to earn British jump wings.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Devyn Adams)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines attached to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, rig up with T-11 parachutes before boarding a C-17 cargo aircraft to successfully conduct a static line jump during jump week at the Basic Airborne Course onto Fryar Drop Zone, at Fort Benning, Georgia, June 9, 2025. Basic Airborne Course is a three-week course where soldiers from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces are trained in basic paratrooper techniques. It focuses on developing leadership, self-confidence, and aggression through physical and mental conditioning, preparing soldiers for parachute operations in combat.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Kestner)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
A U.S. Soldier prepares to participate in a personnel drop from a C-17 Globemaster in support of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 near Queensland, Australia, July 13, 2025. The bilateral exercise reflects the close military relationship between Australia and the U.S. (Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tarelle Walker)VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army, Air Force and International Paratroopers conduct a foreign wing static line jump from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter onto Glen Rock Drop Zone during Leapfest in West Kingston, Rhode Island, Aug. 5, 2025. Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event and competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island Army National Guard to promote high level technical training and esprit de corps within the International Airborne community. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Kelsey Kollar)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Kelsey Kollar)VIEW ORIGINAL6 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Paratroopers with 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division conduct integrated Joint Force Entry training in Bardufoss, Norway May 13, 2025 during Swift Response, a supporting exercise of DEFENDER 25. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeff VanWey)VIEW ORIGINAL7 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade conduct a joint airborne operation for Agile Spirit 25 Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, July 21, 2025. The operation marked the start of Agile Spirit 25, with approximately 340 paratroopers from the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade jumping from Incirlik Air Base alongside 100 Turkish Army paratroopers. Following the airborne assault, U.S. forces will transition to Georgia for a series of multinational training events, including live-fire exercises.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose Lora)VIEW ORIGINAL8 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, conduct an airborne operation during family day at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Aug. 11, 2025. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, capable of projecting ready forces anywhere in the U.S. European, Africa or Central Commands' areas of responsibility. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Francisco Torres)
(Photo Credit: Pfc. Francisco Torres)VIEW ORIGINAL9 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
A Spartan paratrooper from the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division puts his “knees in the breeze” over Malemute Drop Zone at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson as part of the celebration of National Airborne Day, Friday, Aug. 16. This year, nearly 84 years after the first official Army parachute jump at what was then Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), Georgia, in 1940, the U.S. Senate again passed a resolution designating August 16, 2024, as “National Airborne Day,” commemorating the anniversary of that first jump.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by John Pennell)VIEW ORIGINAL10 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Sgt. 1st Class Rafael Torres, Sgt. 1st Class Zach Krietenstein, and Staff Sgt. Griffin Mueller of the U.S. Army Parachute Team fly in an advanced canopy maneuver for parachute jump at Mont Saint-Michel on 7 June 2024. The parachute jump was part of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day commemoration ceremonies in Normandy, France.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Megan Hackett)VIEW ORIGINAL11 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army and International Paratroopers conduct a static line Airborne jump using their MC-6 parachutes out of a Ch-47 Chinook Helicopter during Leapfest at Glen Rock Drop Zone, Exeter, Rhode Island, August 2, 2025. All competing Paratroopers use the MC-6 parachute, a steerable canopy, to navigate towards designated target areas on the drop zone. Their performance is judged on how quickly they can land, execute a parachute landing fall and reach a specific target area. The competition is both individual and team-based, with the fastest combined times determining the winners.
Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event and competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island Army National Guard to promote high level technical training and esprit de corps within the International Airborne community.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Kestner)VIEW ORIGINAL12 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, conduct an airborne jump out of a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Juliet Drop Zone, Aviano, Italy, July 22, 2025. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, capable of projecting ready forces anywhere in the U.S. European, Africa or Central Commands’ areas of responsibility. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. James Robinson)
(Photo Credit: Spc. James Robinson)VIEW ORIGINAL13 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army and International Paratroopers conduct a static line Airborne jump using their MC-6 parachutes out of a Ch-47 Chinook Helicopter during Leapfest at Glen Rock Drop Zone, Exeter, Rhode Island, August 2, 2025. All competing Paratroopers use the MC-6 parachute, a steerable canopy, to navigate towards designated target areas on the drop zone. Their performance is judged on how quickly they can land, execute a parachute landing fall and reach a specific target area. The competition is both individual and team-based, with the fastest combined times determining the winners.
Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event and competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island Army National Guard to promote high level technical training and esprit de corps within the International Airborne community.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Kestner)VIEW ORIGINAL14 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army and International Paratroopers conduct a static line Airborne jump using their MC-6 parachutes out of a Ch-47 Chinook Helicopter during Leapfest at Glen Rock Drop Zone, Exeter, Rhode Island, August 2, 2025. All competing Paratroopers use the MC-6 parachute, a steerable canopy, to navigate towards designated target areas on the drop zone. Their performance is judged on how quickly they can land, execute a parachute landing fall and reach a specific target area. The competition is both individual and team-based, with the fastest combined times determining the winners.
Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event and competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island Army National Guard to promote high level technical training and esprit de corps within the International Airborne community.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Kestner)VIEW ORIGINAL15 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Paratroopers assigned to 982nd Combat Camera Company (Airborne) document U.S. Army, Air Force and International Paratroopers conducting foreign wing static line jumps from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter onto Glen Rock Drop Zone during Leapfest in West Kingston, Rhode Island, Aug. 5, 2025. Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event and competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island Army National Guard to promote high level technical training and esprit de corps within the International Airborne community.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kelsey Kollar)VIEW ORIGINAL16 / 16Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army and International Paratroopers conduct a static line Airborne jump using their MC-6 parachutes out of a Ch-47 Chinook Helicopter during Leapfest at Glen Rock Drop Zone, Exeter, Rhode Island, August 2, 2025. All competing Paratroopers use the MC-6 parachute, a steerable canopy, to navigate towards designated target areas on the drop zone. Their performance is judged on how quickly they can land, execute a parachute landing fall and reach a specific target area. The competition is both individual and team-based, with the fastest combined times determining the winners.
Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event and competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island Army National Guard to promote high level technical training and esprit de corps within the International Airborne community.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Kestner)VIEW ORIGINAL
WASHINGTON — Since the inception of airborne warfare, the practice of using parachutes to insert troops into combat zones without land passage has turned the tides of conflicts. Commanders use airborne forces to seize the initiative. A brigade of paratroopers can envelop the ground from the sky in moments, allowing an army to strike deep inside enemy territory to gain key terrain and rapidly build combat power.
Paratroopers board a Douglas C-47 aircraft to perform a practice jump at Fort Benning, Ga., August 1946.
(Photo Credit: DOD photo)VIEW ORIGINAL
Paratroopers today learn their craft in the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, where Soldiers leapt into history 85 years ago.
On Aug. 16, 1940, 48 volunteer members of the Army Parachute Test Platoon jumped from a Douglas B-18 Bolo bomber at 1,500 feet. The jump was less than 45 days after the establishment of the platoon and marked the true beginning of U.S. airborne forces.
Paratroopers everywhere now celebrate that date as National Airborne Day, commemorating "the bravery and daring spirit of sky Soldiers," according to the 2002 presidential proclamation that established the observance.
The Art of the Jump
Paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade descend during an airborne operation at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Jan. 13, 2025. The 173rd Airborne Brigade serves as the Army's rapid response force in Europe.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Francisco Torres)VIEW ORIGINAL
Ever wonder what it's like to learn to be a paratrooper? Check out The Art of the Jump on Defense.gov to find out what it's like for students of the Army's Basic Airborne Course. Get ready for a crazy ride!
Social Sharing