The Airborne Olympics

THE 82d AIRBORNE ON A PRACTICE JUMP

Watching the Olympics, I reflected on what it meant to be a soldier in an “elite” military unit, like the 82d Airborne, as compared to an Olympian. An example of a day or so in the life of a paratrooper: Sleep, what the hell is that? In the 82d Airborne, a soldier would be on his first jump at daybreak, about 6AM. He/she had to be at “Green Ramp” which was the assembly point, two hours ahead of time. That meant the paratrooper had to be there at four. In essence, he was up all night. Then by the time he “jumps,” (parachuting from a plane), it is noon. Then, more than likely after the jump, comes an exercise (called live fire) which would last all day. Then the paratroopers were loading up again from the “field” to go to the jumping off point, Green Ramp, to jump again. The soldier would repeat the process. Part of the training is to see how fighting men can function without sleep. They were up about two days and nights by this time—Sleepless. The paratroopers hardly knew their names, so tired and sleep deprived. This is pretty much a soldier’s life in the 82d Airborne. I think I had rather be an Olympian.