United States Army Airborne

United States Army Airborne
Unit name	United States Army Airborne
Caption	Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 82nd Airborne Division
Dates	1940–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Airborne forces
Role	Airborne infantry
Size	Multiple divisions and brigades
Command structure	United States Department of the Army
Garrison	Various
Nickname	"Airborne"
Motto	"Death From Above"
Battles	World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Invasion of Grenada, Invasion of Panama, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
Decorations	Numerous Presidential Unit Citations

United States Army Airborne. The airborne forces of the United States Army are specialized light infantry units trained to conduct military operations by arriving on the battlefield via parachute from aircraft. These elite formations are designed for rapid deployment, seizing key objectives, and operating behind enemy lines. Their history, marked by pivotal contributions in major conflicts, has cemented their reputation as a strategic shock force within the American military.

History

The concept was championed in the early 1940s by senior leaders like General George C. Marshall and realized under the command of Major General William C. Lee, considered the "Father of the Airborne." The first official unit, the 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion, was activated in 1940 at Fort Benning. During World War II, airborne divisions like the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division executed critical operations, including the Invasion of Normandy on D-Day and Operation Market Garden. Their performance in battles such as the Battle of the Bulge proved decisive. The Korean War saw further action, notably by the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team during the Battle of Sukchon. The Vietnam War utilized smaller-scale airmobile and parachute assaults, with units like the 173rd Airborne Brigade conducting operations such as Operation Junction City.

Organization

The primary airborne units are organized under the XVIII Airborne Corps, headquartered at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg). This corps serves as the United States Department of Defense's global response force. Its major subordinate commands include the 82nd Airborne Division, a full division capable of deploying anywhere within 18 hours, and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), which transitioned to helicopter-based air assault operations. Other key formations are the independent 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, and specialized support units like the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division in Alaska. The United States Army Special Operations Command also contains elite airborne-capable units such as the 75th Ranger Regiment.

Training

All airborne soldiers must complete the rigorous three-week Basic Airborne Course at the United States Army Airborne School at Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning). The course, divided into Ground Week, Tower Week, and Jump Week, culminates in five successful parachute jumps from an aircraft to earn the coveted Parachutist Badge. Further specialized training is conducted at units like the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. Advanced skills include Military Free-Fall (HALO/HAHO) operations, combat equipment jumps, and airfield seizure tactics. Continuous rigorous physical training is mandatory to maintain jump status and operational readiness.

Equipment

Airborne forces utilize specialized equipment optimized for light, deployable infantry. Their primary individual weapon is the M4 carbine, often fitted with accessories like the M203 grenade launcher. For heavy firepower, they employ the M240 machine gun, M224 mortar, and FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile. Parachute systems have evolved from the T-10 parachute to the modern T-11 parachute and the advanced MC-6 parachute for special operations. Mobility is provided by light vehicles such as the M1161 Growler and the M1288 GMV 1.1. Critical command and control is enabled by systems like the Blue Force Tracking network and the AN/PRC-117G multiband radio.

Major operations

Beyond their storied World War II campaigns, airborne forces have been at the forefront of numerous modern conflicts and interventions. The 82nd Airborne Division spearheaded the Invasion of Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury in 1983 and the Invasion of Panama in Operation Just Cause in 1989. During the Gulf War, the XVIII Airborne Corps executed a massive left-hook envelopment. Elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 173rd Airborne Brigade conducted parachute assaults in the opening phases of the War in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and the Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom), seizing key airfields like Objective Rhino. They have also been frequently deployed for global crisis response and non-combatant evacuation operations.

Notable units

The most famous airborne unit is the 82nd Airborne Division, nicknamed the "All-Americans," with a combat history spanning from World War I to present-day operations. The 101st Airborne Division, the "Screaming Eagles," gained legendary status at Bastogne and is now the Army's premier air assault division. The 173rd Airborne Brigade, known as the "Sky Soldiers," has seen continuous combat since the Vietnam War. Within United States Army Special Operations Command, the 75th Ranger Regiment is a key special operations light infantry unit that routinely conducts airborne insertions. Other historically significant units include the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team and the 11th Airborne Division.

Category:Airborne units and formations of the United States Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1940