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

Jumpmaster

Jumpmasters are the expert Paratroopers in an Airborne unit who train and teach the military techniques for jumping from airplanes. They are responsible for transforming Soldiers who enter Army Airborne School into Paratroopers and managing Airborne jump operations in Airborne units across all...

 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

United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...

 aircraft during a day/night combat equipment jump.

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

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, The United States Army Jumpmaster School at Fort Benning

Fort Benning

Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...

, Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

 or the USASOC Moblie Training Teams Jumpmaster School. In order to enter these elite military schools, the individual must meet the following standards:

1. Active Army and Reserve Component Officer and Enlisted Personnel (E-5 or above).
2. 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, C-17 or C-5 only).
3. Must have been on jump status for a minimum of 12 months. These months do not have to be consecutive.
4. An Airborne physical current within 5 years.
5. Must be recommended by Battalion Commander or officer in the grade of Lieutenant colonel (signed service school worksheet or unit order of merit list).
6. Must have a static line jump within the past 180 days.
7. 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.
8. 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:

1. Nomenclature Exam
2. Pre-Jump Training Exam
3. Written Exam
4. Practical Work In Aircraft (PWAC)
5. Jumpmaster Personnel Inspection (JMPI)
6. 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

T-10 parachute

The T-10 Parachute is a series of static line-deployed parachutes used by the United States armed forces for combat mass-assault airborne operations and training...

 and T-11

T-11 parachute

The Non-Maneuverable Canopy Personnel Parachute System is the newest personnel parachute system to be adopted by the United States armed forces. The T-11 replaces the T-10, introduced in 1955...

 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

United States Army Airborne School

The United States Army Airborne School — widely known as Jump School — conducts the basic paratrooper training for the United States armed forces. It is operated by the 1st Battalion , 507th Infantry, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia...

 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.

See Also

• United States Army Airborne School
  United States Army Airborne School
  The United States Army Airborne School — widely known as Jump School — conducts the basic paratrooper training for the United States armed forces. It is operated by the 1st Battalion , 507th Infantry, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia...
  
  
• United States Army Pathfinder School
  United States Army Pathfinder School
  The mission of the United States Army Pathfinder School is to train personnel in the U.S. Army and its sister services in a three week course, during which the candidate Pathfinder learns how to navigate dismounted, establish and operate a day / night helicopter landing zone, establish and operate...
  
  
• 1-507th Parachute Infantry Regiment
  507th Infantry Regiment
  During World War II, the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment was a regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division and, later, 17th Airborne Division of the United States Army.The regiment was initially formed at Camp Toccoa, Georgia on 20 July 1942...
  
  
• U.S. Army Command Exhibition Parachute Team - Silver Wings

External links

• US Army Jumpmaster School Official Websitehttps://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/199th/airborne/jumpmaster/
• Fort Benning Official Websitehttp://www.benning.army.mil/
• 199th Infantry Brigade Official Websitehttp://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/199th/
• U.S. Army Official Accessions Websitehttp://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/199th/
• U.S. Army Official Homepagehttp://www.army.mil