Mexican Army Airborne School

[Drivindeath]

Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas
Mexican Army Airborne School
Private/Secret/Encrypted​

Location: Centro de Adiestramiento de Paracaidismo (Airborne Training Center), Mexico City, Mexico
Units Involved:

• 1st Parachute Rifle Battalion-1,500 Personnel (Class 001-99)​
• 2nd Parachute Rifle Battalion-1,500 Personnel (Class 003-99)​
• 3rd Parachute Rifle Battalion-1,500 Personnel (Class 004-99)​
• HQ Battalion (Airborne)-1,000 Personnel (Class 002-99)​
• High Command Special Air Transport Unit (UETAAM)
  

  • Boeing 737-700- 3/3
• 105 Air Squadron
  • Cessna 500 Citation I- 2/2
• National Guard Air Wing
  • CASA/IPTN CN-235-400- 2/2

Mission:
Due to lack of aircraft and the high volume of personnel, training shall be extended. A rotation basis will be implemented so that all troops may receive adequate training. Airborne school will consist of 3 weeks, Ground week, Tower week, and Jump week. The 1st Parachute Rifle Battalion will be the first group to begin the training. Once completed with their first week, HQ Battalion (Airborne) will begin their Ground week. As those unit's progress 2nd Parachute Rifle Battalion will begin, followed by 3rd Parachute Rifle Battalion. Aircraft will be utilized from the 105 Air Squadron and the National Guard Air Wing. Pilots will be provided by the Mexican Air Force. The High Command Special Air Transport Unit (UETAAM) will fly the soldiers in for their training. To complete this training all troops must demonstrate the capabilities to complete a Parachute Landing Fall (PLF) during Ground week. Must complete a series of 2 proper jumps from the 34ft tower, and 1 proper landing from a 250ft tower during Tower week. Finally, they must perform 3 satisfactory jumps from an aircraft while in flight. Once complete they will be given their Jump Wings and the coveted Maroon Beret. Once completed they will return to their units as Paratroopers. Cost per class is $15,000.00 per soldier, plus jet fuel expenses.

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[Drivindeath]

Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas
Mexican Army Airborne School
Private/Secret/Encrypted​

The 1st Rifle Parachute Brigade would land in Mexico City on the 20th of August 1999. They would begin their training by completing their in-processing into the school, this would consist of updating their next of kin, along with waivers for the school. They would then have the weekend off to enjoy themselves, being aloud down time in Mexico City. That next Monday on the 23rd of August they would begin Ground week. They would be pushed to their limits with rigorous physical training. In between this physical training would be blocks of instruction on the proper techniques to exit an aircraft and how to land. They would also be taught how to rig their parachutes, using a buddy system. They would be using the T-10D Parachute, made by the United States and utilized and adopted into the Mexican Army. They would be taught about pre-jump procedures. This would include what to do if they were to land in a tree, wires, or water. They would go over this training all week and test out on what they learned on the last 2 days.

 

[Drivindeath]

Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas
Mexican Army Airborne School
Private/Secret/Encrypted​

By the second week, the 1st Parachute Rifle Battalion would move onto Tower week. Here they would get a taste for what it is like to jump out of an aircraft. The would strap into a harness and ascend the 34ft tower. After a week of practicing how to land, and rig a parachute to one another, they would now be faced with the fear of heights. They would first jump individually and be assessed by a grader on the ground. They would need to perform 2 satisfactory jumps from the tower in a row in order to progress to the next phase of Tower week. By the 3rd day of Tower week, all jumpers would have completed their solo jump from the towers. The next portion would cover group jumps to simulate a mass exit of an aircraft. Groups of four would strap into their harnesses and ascend the tower. They would be hooked into the zip line, and one after another would jump out of the tower. They would need 2 satisfactory jumps in a row as a group in order to progress. On the last day of Tower week, they would be strapped into an open T-10D parachute, and would be attached to a 250ft drop tower. After being raised in the air, the tower would drop them, and they would have to perform a satisfactory Parachute Landing Fall. Once completed the 1st Parachute Rifle Battalion would progress to Jump week.

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Meanwhile, HQ Battalion (Airborne) would begin their ground week, performing the same steps as the 1st Parachute Rifle Battalion the week prior.

 

[Drivindeath]

Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas
Mexican Army Airborne School
Private/Secret/Encrypted ​

As the third week arrived, the 1st Parachute Rifle Battalion would progress to Jump week. The men would do a 2 mile run down to the hanger, from their barracks. There they would be given a refresher on the proper routines for jumping out the aircraft. They would go over landing procedures and be given breakfast soon after. They would then put their parachutes on and wait to be called by number for their turn to jump. Over the course of the next 6 days, all 1,500 personnel of the 1st Parachute Rifle Battalion would jump a total of 3 times from an aircraft while in flight. They would do one day time jump with only the parachute, 1 day time jump with combat equipment and a parachute, and one night time jump with only the parachute.

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The HQ Battalion (Airborne) would complete their ground week and begin their tower week, following the same guidance as the class before them.

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The 2nd Parachute Rifle Battalion would begin their ground week, following the same guidance as the classes before them.

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The 1st Parachute Rifle Battalion would go to their graduation ceremony. Family and Friends would be able to attend. Each of these now paratroopers would be given their jump wings and coveted maroon beret. They would then go back to their assigned duty station.

1st Parachute Rifle Battalion Earning their jump wings and maroon berets, becoming paratroopers

 

[Drivindeath]

Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas
Mexican Army Airborne School
Private/Secret/Encrypted ​

The HQ Battalion (Airborne) would now progress to Jump week, and like the 1st Parachute Rifle Battalion, they would perform 3 jumps in 6 days following the same jump patterns. Once complete they would earn their Jump Wings and Maroon Berets, becoming the first support group to earn Jump Wings since 1995.

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The 2nd Parachute Rifle Battalion would move on to Tower week, following the steps and procedures from the earlier classes.

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The 3rd Parachute Rifle Battalion would begin Ground week, following the steps and procedures from the earlier classes.

 

[Drivindeath]

Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas
Mexican Army Airborne School
Private/Secret/Encrypted​

The 2nd Parachute Rifle Battalion would complete their 3 jumps during Jump week, but do to weather it would take them 8 days, rolling into the 3rd Parachute Rifle Battalions training days. However despite the set back the 2nd Parachute Rifle Battalion would go on to earn their Jump Wings and Maroon Berets. They would then be sent back to their assigned duty station.

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The 3rd Parachute Rifle Battalion would move onto Tower week, however it would be delayed 1 day due to the weather. None the less all the same steps as before where performed and they would be ready to progress to Jump week.

 

[Drivindeath]

Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas
Mexican Army Airborne School
Private/Secret/Encrypted​

The 3rd Parachute Rifle Battalion would proceed to Jump week, completing their 3 necessary jumps. There were no complications aside from a minor injury, where one jumper landed wrong, and twisted his ankle however all completed Airborne School. With no further complications all units for this training cycle and earn their Jump Wings and Maroon Berets, and earn the designation as Paratrooper. All units would return to their assigned duty stations as Paratroopers!

COMPLETED​