Equipment

From the Air - an effective method of insertion to hard to reach places. SEALs utilize several different forms of insertion from the air. Static Line and Free Fall Parachuting, Fast-Rope and Rappel Operations, or just plane jumping out of a helo into the ocean with a zodiac are all common. Extracting from a mountain-top is made possible with the Special Insertion/Extraction" (SPIE) rig. During the early SEAL years testing was done with the Fulton recovery system (also called the skyhook), which utilized an aircraft to "hook" a line attached to a balloon at the top and a SEAL at the bottom, whisking the SEAL off the ground at 120 knots. The SEAL would then be drawn into the aircraft as it exited the danger area. This technique was discontinued when Petty Officer Fox's line snapped and he fell to his death in the San Diego Bay. The Fulton recovery system is used today for heavy equipment extraction from remote areas. This page will give you an overview of the most common air insertion techniques and the equipment required to accomplish them.

PARACHUTE OPERATIONS

Static Line

AIRBORNE! Starting with FT Benning Army Airborne School, Static Line Parachuting is part of every platoon work-up and is a bread and butter form of insertion. Not as sexy as Free Fall, it is nonetheless a valuable insertion tool. SEALs jump from C-130's, C-141's, C-5's, C-2's, CH-47's, CH-53's, MH-60's, UH-1's, SH-3's and anything else that a static line can be attached. The static line water jump and the night combat equipment jumps require specialized equipment and training. Basic static line equipment includes:

• MT1X or MC1-1B (open cells in rear) static line parachute
• NTR-1 reserve parachute 
• Static line extension (for helo jumps)
• Jumpsuit/Camies
• Pro-Tech Helmet 
• Signaling device (strobe/flares)
• Personal safety gear (knife, goggles, gloves, UDT life-jacket)
• Combat equipment rigged for jump: rucksack harness, lowering line and parachute bag.