I'm super interested in skydiving and want to find out if there are military roles that would let me incorporate this interest. Which jobs could get me jumping out of planes regularly?
Yes, there are several military roles that involve skydiving or parachuting, although it's important to note that the frequency of jumps can sometimes be less than you might imagine due to the nature of the job.
In the U.S Army, for example, paratroopers who serve in the 82nd Airborne Division are trained to conduct jumps from airplanes and helicopters. They typically go through the U.S. Army Airborne School, which provides a three-week course covering basics of parachute rigging and jumping techniques.
The U.S navy has the Navy SEALs, who receive parachute training as part of their Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training. SEALs can perform a range of operations, many of which involve parachuting into locations.
In the Air Force, Pararescue Jumpers (PJs) are trained to parachute into challenging areas to conduct personnel recovery operations. Also, Combat Controllers in the Air Force Special Tactics are trained in military free fall (both HALO—High Altitude, Low Opening—and HAHO—High Altitude, High Opening).
It's important to remember though, these roles encompass a great deal more than just parachuting, and each has significant training and qualifying processes. The military puts candidates through rigorous physical and mental training to ensure they're capable of performing their duties effectively, and parachuting is only one part of these jobs.
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