The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-29
MASS METHODS USED IN 'CHUTE
 TROOP TRAINING
By DAVID LOEHWING United Press Staff Correspondent

Helena, Mont, Oct. 29.-(UP)- The army is using mass production methods here to teach members of the list Special Service Force how to jump out of airplanes and land with both feet on the ground-and guns blazing.
 On an average of 300 soldiers bale out of transport planes over Fort Harrison every day, most of them making their first parachute jumps.
 The 1st Special Service Force, composed of selected volunteers from both the Canadian and U. s. armies, Is the first international unit to be formed as part of the American forces.
 It is scheduled to receive special training encompassing winter, des- ert. and mountain tactics as well as the parachute curriculum.
 Officers explained that the para chute, for men of the 1St Special Service Force, is simply a means of transportation and little emphasis is placed upon the niceties of the 'chutist's trade. The men don't learn how to make any trick jumps.
 Packers Jump Too ''They just learn how to step out of the plane, how to guide them selves to where they want to land, and how to take up the shock of landing" an oflcer explained.
 Parachutes at Fort Harrison are packed by professional packers who may be required at times to pick one of their own 'chutes at random and make jump. Special Service men don't need much conditioning; they're well toughened up before they come here.
 Some of them, particularly the Canadians, already have seen over- seas duty-il France, Egypt or the Far East. And a few of the Amer jeans are veterans of Pearl Harbor.
 During the preliminary training the men are taught to fall properly by having them jump from two, four and six-foot heights. They learn to absorb the shock with both feet and then roll over Imply.
 From wooden "mock-ups", for facsimile fuselages. they learn how to step out the door of the trans port, giving themselves a half turn as they go. And in swings simulat- ing parachute rigs, they learn to control themselves in the air.
 Most of the men freely admit they are frightened before the first jump, but there are surprisingly few who balk at the door when the time comes. Those who do are sim ply told to step aside and let the next man go. They are never given another chance, but are immediate ly sent back to their original outfit which they left to join the para chutists.
 Carry an Extra Chute
 Officers explain this practice thus: "If a man can't jump the first time, he may not be able to when l the critical time comes. It's not a matter of being yellow some men just aren't constituted for para chute jumping"
 Each man, of course, carries an | 0AAA4AaAy PaA uNAAuIC III GdoC IAlC HI ok one doesn't open. He is taught to count. "One thousand and one. one ; thousand and two. one thousand and three" when he steps out of the plane. If by the end of the "one thousand and three" the first para chute hasn't yanked him up it.: time to look for the second rip. cord.
 The 'chutisC doesn't have tc worry about the Fip-cord on ths first umbrella. That's automatically taken care of by a long cord at. tached inside the plane which pull the chute open at the right timG and then cuts loose.
 First jumps are made from ar altitude of about 1900 feet from ( transport plane cruising at . speet Of about 100 miles an hour. Latel the men will learn to jump iron lower attitudes.