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Quiz about United States Army Airborne School

United States Army Airborne School Quiz

Questions About Military Jump School

United States military jump training began in 1940 with a group of volunteers testing out the concept of vertical envelopment. The training that developed from this experiment is still broadly used in the United States Army Airborne School.

A multiple-choice quiz by 173Kraut. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
173Kraut

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
404,041

Updated
Feb 10 25

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
57

Last 3 plays: kstyle53 (10/10), spidersfull (10/10), workisboring (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. How long does "Jump School" typically last? Hint

1 week

3 weeks

4 weeks

5 weeks

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Question 2 of 10

2. What Army unit made the very first experimental jumps? Hint

The Fort Benning Airborne Platoon

The Airborne Experimental Company

The Parachute Test Platoon

Company A, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who or what are the "black hats" to an airborne trainee? Hint

The cap for the dress uniforms at graduation.

Old cavalry troopers

Jump school cadre

Rangers wearing the black beret

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Question 4 of 10

4. What device is known as "suspended agony"? Hint

Standing in the graduation formation in June

The after effects of an SOS breakfast

The swing landing trainer

Waiting for mail call

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Question 5 of 10

5. Besides the title of United States Army Airborne School, better known as "Jump School", what other name(s) has it had? Hint

The Parachute School

Airborne Department

Air Landing Academy

Junior Birdmen

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Question 6 of 10

6. What does PLF stand for in jump school? Hint

Prescribed Loading File

Packaged lunch food

Perimeter Light Fire

Parachute Landing Fall

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which point of contact is NOT part of a well-executed Parachute Landing Fall? Hint

The top of the head

The side of the calf

The balls of the feet

The buttocks or back of the hip

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Question 8 of 10

8. Most of the instructors at jump school are Army. Other services can also be represented on the training staff. Which service does NOT generally provide a cadre representative?
Hint

Navy

Coast Guard

Marines

Air Force

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Question 9 of 10

9. What should you do if you count to four thousand and don't feel the parachute open? Hint

Pray

Pull the rip cord on your reserve chute

Look around to see what happened

Yell for assistance

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Question 10 of 10

10. Where should you look as soon as your chute opens? Hint

Down, to see how far away the ground is

Up, to check your canopy

Straight ahead, to orient yourself to the horizon

Side to side, to find the location of other jumpers

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How long does "Jump School" typically last?

Answer: 3 weeks

The actual training regimen lasts for three weeks. Some folks end up spending a little more time there waiting for orders or for a new cycle to start, but the actual training program has been designed to last three weeks.

2. What Army unit made the very first experimental jumps?

Answer: The Parachute Test Platoon

The test platoon was formed in 1940 and was made up of volunteers mostly from the 29th Infantry.

3. Who or what are the "black hats" to an airborne trainee?

Answer: Jump school cadre

The "black hats" watch and grade every portion of the training regimen. They oversee and are responsible for safely training prospective troopers through the various techniques and devices associated with basic airborne training. They seem to be fond of watching people do push-ups!

4. What device is known as "suspended agony"?

Answer: The swing landing trainer

The trainee, in his parachute harness attached to a cable, steps off a platform and swings back and forth until the instructor signals the "rope man" holding the cable. When the cable is released, he falls to the ground hopefully making a proper landing. This teaches the trooper the proper way of landing either forward, backward or sideways depending on the direction of drift.

5. Besides the title of United States Army Airborne School, better known as "Jump School", what other name(s) has it had?

Answer: Airborne Department

The school has seen its name change at least eleven times over the years. In my day it was called the Airborne Department. No matter what name it officially holds paratroopers generally refer to it as "Jump School".

6. What does PLF stand for in jump school?

Answer: Parachute Landing Fall

The parachute landing fall is a trained physical response designed to allow the trooper to minimize the chances of injury by distributing the energy of hitting the ground. The energy is dispersed beginning with the balls of the feet, and proceeding through other points of contact.

7. Which point of contact is NOT part of a well-executed Parachute Landing Fall?

Answer: The top of the head

Beginning with the balls of the feet, the jumper hits next on the calf, the thigh, the rear thigh or buttocks and the upper back. A frequent expression back in the day was "Trooper, you'd better get your head out of your fourth point of contact". This was usually shouted by an instructor at a trainee making a mistake in some required activity.

8. Most of the instructors at jump school are Army. Other services can also be represented on the training staff. Which service does NOT generally provide a cadre representative?

Answer: Coast Guard

The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines all have active units that require jump qualified individuals and thus can have cadre representing their service on the training staff.

9. What should you do if you count to four thousand and don't feel the parachute open?

Answer: Pull the rip cord on your reserve chute

Don't even think about it. Pull the reserve, the ground is coming up fast.

10. Where should you look as soon as your chute opens?

Answer: Up, to check your canopy

It is drilled into trainees to check their canopy for blown panels or problems with the suspension lines and risers. Any potential malfunctions could lead to a hard landing...or worse. Nothing looks quite as good as a properly deployed canopy.

Source: Author 173Kraut

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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