Active 1971-present Branch U.S. Army | Country United States Garrison/HQ Fort Benning, Georgia | |
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The United States Army Jumpmaster School trains personnel in the skills necessary to jumpmaster a combat-equipped jump and the proper attaching, jumping, and releasing of combat and individual equipment while participating in an actual jump that is proficient in the duties and responsibilities of the Jumpmaster and Safety; procedures for rigging individual equipment containers and door bundles; personnel parachute components by their specific nomenclature and characteristics; procedures and standards required to conduct a Jumpmaster personnel inspection (JMPI); the duties and responsibilities of the Drop Zone Safety Officer; the presentation of the Jumpmaster briefing and sustained airborne training (SAT); and the execution of the duties of a Jumpmaster and Safety from a USAF aircraft during a day/night combat equipment jump.
Contents
Training
In order to obtain the coveted Jumpmaster rating, an individual must complete a series of requirements. Since 1950, only those in the ranks of Sergeant and above may perform any Jumpmaster duties. The individual must be a graduate of The United States Army Advanced Airborne School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, The United States Army Jumpmaster School at Fort Benning, Georgia or the USASOC Mobile Training Teams Jumpmaster School. In order to enter these elite military schools, the individual must meet the following standards:
- Active Army and Reserve Component Officer and Enlisted Personnel (E-5 or above).
- Must be qualified as a parachutist and have a minimum of 12 static line parachute jumps from a high-performance aircraft (C-130, C-141, C27, C-17 or C-5 only).
- Must have been on jump status for a minimum of 12 months. These months do not have to be consecutive.
- An Airborne physical current within 5 years.
- Must be recommended by Battalion Commander or officer in the grade of Lieutenant colonel (signed service school worksheet or unit order of merit list).
- Must have a static line jump within the past 180 days.
- Sister Service Members are authorized to attend as long as they are in a billet that requires the use of Jumpmaster skills / knowledge. Marine Corps and Air Force enlisted personnel E-4 and above may attend.
- All waivers to the above, must be routed from the first O-5 Commander or equivalent thru the Commander, 1-507th Parachute Infantry Regiment to Commander, 199th Infantry Brigade. All waivers must be received thirty (30) days prior to the start of the course.
Exams
The three Jumpmaster schools are each roughly three weeks in length and consist of six key examinations:
- Nomenclature Exam
- Pre-Jump Training Exam
- Written Exam
- Practical Work In Aircraft (PWAC)
- Jumpmaster Personnel Inspection (JMPI)
- Safety Exam
Preparation
Students are expected to come prepared for class and to spend the time required to learn the material presented throughout each day. Upon arrival each student should already know all of the nomenclature for both the T-10 and T-11 parachute systems.
Generally speaking, it takes a potential jumpmaster at least two attempts to pass the course (less than 30% of attendees earn a first time Go). In recognition of this, returning students are commonly referred to as “alumni” by their Black Hat instructors. There is also a common joke that those who pass on their first attempt actually tested out early from the “full six week course”.
Graduation
Upon completion of the course new jumpmasters are expected to report to their units with a thorough understanding of the basic skills presented in class. They should then familiarize themselves with their units SOPs, so that they can keep up with the accelerated rate of learning required to keep up with their unit's operational tempo. Above all else they should always stress rehearsals.
Honor Graduate
The Jumpmaster student who graduates the U.S. Army Airborne School in the highest standing receives the Harry "Tug" Wilson Award. This award is named after W.O. Harry "Tug" Wilson, the Army's most experienced Airborne jumper during World War II, who served in an instrumental position within the Army's elite Parachute Test Platoon, testing multiple new parachute systems under a variety of conditions.