Hooah, Troopers
Welcome to Paratrooper.net, a wellspring of knowledge and unending witty commentary
regarding the airborne community. Paratrooper.net is a great place for paratroopers to come and relax, unwind and
comment on things that maybe only fellow paratroopers would consider 'Normal' (although
we just call it being 'Socially Challenged').
For just about 10 years now Paratrooper.net and its early predecessor Airborne On The Web (AOTW) have served as a beacon of maroon
in a NAP (Non Airborne Personnel) filled Internet wasteland of 'Regular Army' websites.
What makes you a paratrooper?
Some argue that the you're airborne as soon as you've graduated from BAC (Basic Airborne
Course) and are authorized to wear the silver wings but your a 'paratrooper'
once you've left BAC and served with an airborne unit (jumped with the unit and learned airborne
combat tactics and training). Airborne or Paratrooper, if you wear the wings you're
part of a special fraternal order and this site is just like a family reunion.
Former Paratrooper Myth
Frequently people have talked about this mythical so called 'former paratrooper'
or 'ex-paratrooper' and since
Snopes.com hasnt busted this Internet myth once and for all, let me squash
this one forever. There is NO SUCH THING. Once you earn your wings you
are a part of the airborne and have forever shown the world that you lack whatever
chromosome that allows us to actually enjoy a couple hundred pounds of equipment
strapped on us while shuffling pathetically out a loud as hell Air Force airframe into total darkness after a 6 hour manifest
only to land smack in the middle of a scrub brush filled DZ (dropzone)
at the opposite end of whatever rally point you'll be running to (sorry, I digress).
The only time you might legitimately hear about a 'former' or 'ex' paratrooper is
if the individual is in polite company and has actually been a jump refusal and
subsequently was ushered out of a jump unit never to put his/her knees in the breeze.
Out of polite company we just call em quitter if we talk to them at all.
Why are we different?
For some reason even in such a diverse group representing every color,
creed, race, religion we seem to have some bit inside that thinks a little different.
Some wonder why the stories of paratroopers and loud, crude and often dangerous
behaviour is so much a part of the airborne history and to them I say that when
you willingly jump out of an airplane some supressed sane part of our brains knows
that there is a real chance that we could be tomorrows accident statistic. Troopers
tend to cover this bit of sanity with our colorful songs and bravado about horrific death's but hey,
we all cope with the reality. Knowing that our choice of work commute could lead
to a
terminal velocity date with Sir Issac Newton's now famed law makes
us appreciate life a little more and sometimes we live like tomorrow isnt a guarantee.
Are
Non Airborne Personnel (NAP) welcome here?
Yes, if you're a future paratrooper, relative of one of our fellow troopers,
spouse of a paratrooper (oh, you deserve SO much respect) or are an enthusiast,
historian or re-enactor then come on in. If you've stopped in because you think
it might be fun to mess with a large group of paratroopers, turn and run now, it
wont be fun and it will just end badly. We are always happy to answer questions
and commentary that is clean, clear and well articulated (sorry Infantry guys, that
means using the NEW crayons). You may not agree with whats being said but thats
why it called an opinion and every soldier here has fought and earned the right
of free speech (and we likely paid for yours as well so keep it in mind). Students
and those considering service should search first and then ask intelligent questions,
these men and women who come here are a wealth of knowledge you will likely NOT
find in a recruiters office.
Thank you and welcome to Paratrooper.net
Mark 'Rigger82' Christianson - Webmaster (and warden of this asylum)
