|  High
altitude parachute jumps are sometimes performed by
Special Operations Forces as a means of infiltration
which they call "HALO" or "HAHO."
These forces include Army Green Berets, Navy SEALs and
Marine Corps Force Recon. Pararescue PJs, use HALO/HAHO
as part of their capabilities for combat paramedic operations.
HALO/HAHO jumps are not the same as Army
Airborne static-line jumps, the most common type of
military parachuting. Static-line jumps are done very
low (1000 feet or less) and they use round parachutes.
Airborne use static-line technique to deploy large numbers
of troops into an area by the quickest means possible.
Following photos from DefenseLINK photo gallery show
some static-line jumps:
HALO" for High Altitude Low Opening,
the military term for skydiving, is freefalling in "tactical
grouping" (sport skydivers call this no-contact
RW). There is also "HAHO" for High Altitude
High Opening where the jumpers open at a high altitude
like 25,000 feet, and glide long distances to the landing
area (sport skydivers call this cross country).
Military skydiving rigs are known as HAPPS
(High Altitude Precision Parachute System) or "stealth
parachutes" because they cannot easily be seen
from the ground. In this photo of the MT-5 you can see
that these rigs are very similar to sport skydiving
rigs. All the handles are in the same place but there
are a number of attachment points for additional equipment
and a harness for the O2 equipment. The typical canopy
size is 360 sq ft on both the main and reserve.
HALO altimeters similar to the SSE, Inc
Altimaster II of 12,000 feet per revolution (with 250
ft marks) but these units are more heavy duty, more
accurate readings, and the units include a nightlight
(powered with 2 AA cells).
Another type of HALO/HAHO rig is the MT1X
shown here. It is the previous issue from the above
unit in dark green. Virtually the same with attachment
points and fittings for oxygen and other equipment.
All the handles are in the same place as sport skydiving
equipment. The main is ripcord activated.
Unlike the civilian skydiver who
jumps for fun and ends the day by partying, drinking
beer, and swapping jump stories, the military freefall
jumper uses the equipment simply as a means to reach
their final objective, such as recon, "achieving
the objective," extraction and mission de-briefing.
Military jumpers also carry tons of equipment (150 lbs).
Why so much? Two reasons: One, HALO/HAHO personnel are
typically dumped in very remote areas and have to carry
all their food, guns, survival gear, water, and all
kinds of secret stuff. Two, keeping with tradition that
military jumps be rough so their men have to be tough.
Military
Training Articles:
US
Army Golden Knights Information
February 2005
Navy
Parachute Team Image and Video Gallery
February
2005
Navy
SEAL Candidate Information
February 2005
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