Spotlight: National Airborne Day

National Airborne Day, celebrated on August 16th each year, is a day set aside to honor the airborne qualified soldiers of the U.S. Armed Forces. The date commemorates the first official U.S. Army parachute jump which took place at Fort Benning, Georgia on August 16, 1940. This successful exercise paved the way for the creation of airborne divisions and the use of airborne tactics to insert ground soldiers into combat during World War II. The first U.S. combat jump occurred in November 1942, when paratroopers jumped from a C-47 airplane and landed behind enemy lines in North Africa as a part of Operation TORCH. Paratroopers were critical to Allied success in many significant missions during World War II, including the D-Day invasion at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge.

National Airborne Day was established in 2002 by proclamation of President George W. Bush, who noted, “Airborne combat continues to be driven by the bravery and daring spirit of sky soldiers. Often called into action with little notice, these forces have earned an enduring reputation for dedication, excellence, and honor.” George W. Bush is a veteran of the Texas National Guard, and his father, George H.W. Bush, was the most recent U.S. President to serve in combat. The elder Bush served as a Naval aviator in the Pacific during World War II. He enlisted in the Navy on June 13, 1942, the day after his 18th birthday, and earned his wings in June 1943.  He flew 58 combat missions before being honorably discharged from active duty in September 1945.

Interestingly, Benjamin Franklin considered the advantages of airborne military forces as early as 1784. The first manned hot air balloon flight took place in France in November 1783. Building upon that, Franklin pictured employing 5,000 hot air balloons, capable of raising 2 men each, such that a fighting force of 10,000 men could descend from the clouds before troops could be assembled to repel them. While the concept of rapid, strategic deployment by air remains the same, today’sairborne soldiers look much different from Franklin’s vision. The best known Army Airborne Divisions are the 82nd Airborne based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  These units have grown to play distinct roles in protecting our country, which is reflected in their training. The 82nd remains a true airborne division, specializing in insertion by parachute jumps to seize and secure areas for follow up military operation. The 101st is now an air assault division, focusing on rapid, long range deployment and primarily using helicopters for insertion.

The Army Airborne School, still housed at Fort Benning, conducts basic paratrooper training for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Approximately 14,000 soldiers complete the physically demanding 3-week Basic Airborne Course each yearto earn their Parachutist Badge, also known as “Jump Wings,” which signifies the soldier is qualified to participate in airborne operations. The course begins with Ground Week where the soldiers become familiar with landing techniques, parachutes,and other equipment. Week 2 is Tower Week, when prospective paratroopers begin to put what they have learned into action jumping from 34 foot and 250 foot tall towers. Week 3 is Jump Week where the soldiers complete 5 parachute jumps from airplanes, usually including one night jump.

Springfield native Conrad Noll IV earned his jump wings in 2001 and served as a JAG officer with the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, NC and Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan from 2001-2004.  He was in his third week of Airborne School (jump week) during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.  As Conrad recalls, “We were loaded into a plane and ready to complete a jump and then the plane was grounded. Everyone in the training initially thought that the reports of the terrorist attacks were part of the training and didn’t actually happen, but that was short lived. We soon saw the destruction caused by the attacks and knew we were in the right place to do something about it.” As Conrad explains, the men and women of the Airborne Corps stand ready to deploy globally within 18 hours of receiving the order from the Commander-in-Chief.  They have pledged to leave their home and family at a moment’s notice to put their lives on the line for the country they love.  Airborne School is comprised of soldiers from all areas of the military, from special forces, rangers, cooks, mechanics, administration, doctors, lawyers, infantry, to engineers - anyone who serves in the military plays a necessary and vital role. As Conrad proudly reflects, “In the Army and specifically the Airborne Corps, I had the honor to serve with the most disciplined, honorable, patriotic, selfless men and women I have ever met.  Airborne, All the Way!”