FM 3-05.211 (FM 31-19) MCWP 3-15.6 NAVSEA SS400-AG-MMO-010 AFMAN 11-411(I) Special Forces Military Free-Fall Operations APRIL 2005 DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Distribution authorized to U.S. Government agencies and their contractors only to protect technical or operational information from automatic dissemination under the International Exchange Program or by other means. This determination was made on 15 December 2004. Other requests for this document must be referred to Commander, United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, ATTN: AOJK-DT-SFA, Fort Bragg, NC 28310-5000. DESTRUCTION NOTICE: Destroy by any method that will prevent disclosure of contents or reconstruction of the document. Headquarters, Department of the Army Foreword This publication has been prepared under our direction for use by our respective commands and other commands as appropriate. JAMES W. PARKER RONALD E. KEYS Major General, USA Lieutenant General, USAF Commanding Deputy Chief of Staff U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Air & Space Operations Warfare Center and School JOHN M. KELLY J. N. MATTIS Rear Admiral, USN Lieutenant General, USMC Program Executive Officer Commanding General Expeditionary Warfare Marine Corps Combat Development Command *FM 3-05.211 (FM 31-19) MCWP 3-15.6 NAVSEA SS400-AG-MMO-010 AFMAN 11-411(I) Field Manual Headquarters No. 3-05.211 Department of the Army Washington, DC, 6 April 2005 Special Forces Military Free-Fall Operations Contents Page PREFACE .................................................................................................................. v Chapter 1 MILITARY FREE-FALL PARACHUTE OPERATIONS ..........................................1-1 Characteristics .........................................................................................................1-1 Planning Considerations ..........................................................................................1-2 Phases of Military Free-Fall Operations ..................................................................1-5 Chapter 2 MC-4 RAM-AIR PARACHUTE SYSTEM ................................................................2-1 MC-4 Ram-Air Parachute System Components ......................................................2-1 Donning and Recovering the MC-4 Ram-Air Parachute System ..........................2-15 Chapter 3 AUTOMATIC RIPCORD RELEASE .......................................................................3-1 Automatic Ripcord Release Activation Setting and Operation ................................3-1 FF-2 Automatic Ripcord Release ............................................................................3-1 DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Distribution authorized to U.S. Government agencies and their contractors only to protect technical or operational information from automatic dissemination under the International Exchange Program or by other means. This determination was made on 15 December 2004. Other requests for this document must be referred to Commander, United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, ATTN: AOJK-DT-SFA, Fort Bragg, NC 28310-5000. DESTRUCTION NOTICE: Destroy by any method that will prevent disclosure of contents or reconstruction of the document. Marine Corps distribution: PCN 14300004300 *This publication supersedes FM 31-19, 1 October 1999. i FM 3-05.211 Page AR2 Automatic Ripcord Release, M451 ................................................................. 3-6 AR2 Barometric Calculator, Model 466-001 ........................................................... 3-9 Sentinel MK 2100 .................................................................................................. 3-20 Military CYPRES ................................................................................................... 3-22 Chapter 4 USE OF OXYGEN IN SUPPORT OF MILITARY FREE-FALL OPERATIONS ..... 4-1 Physiological Effects of High-Altitude Military Free-Fall Operations ....................... 4-1 Oxygen Forms ......................................................................................................... 4-4 Oxygen Requirements ............................................................................................ 4-5 Oxygen Life-Support Equipment ............................................................................. 4-7 The “PRICE” Check .............................................................................................. 4-19 Oxygen Safety Personnel and Preflight Checks ................................................... 4-19 Oxygen Handling and Safety ................................................................................ 4-24 Chapter 5 EQUIPMENT AND WEAPON RIGGING PROCEDURES ..................................... 5-1 Equipment and Weapon Packing Considerations .................................................. 5-1 Parachutist and Parachute Load Limitations .......................................................... 5-1 Hook-Pile Tape (Velcro) Lowering Line Assembly ................................................. 5-3 Combat Packs and Other Equipment Containers ................................................... 5-5 Parachutist Drop Bag ............................................................................................ 5-31 Weapon-Rigging Procedures ................................................................................ 5-36 Life Preservers ...................................................................................................... 5-50 Chapter 6 AIRCRAFT PROCEDURE SIGNALS AND JUMP COMMANDS .......................... 6-1 Aircraft Procedure Signals ...................................................................................... 6-1 Jump Commands .................................................................................................... 6-7 Chapter 7 BODY STABILIZATION ......................................................................................... 7-1 Tabletop Body Stabilization Training ...................................................................... 7-1 Recovery From Instability ....................................................................................... 7-3 Chapter 8 RAM-AIR PARACHUTE FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS AND CANOPY CONTROL ..................................................................................... 8-1 Ram-Air Parachute Characteristics ......................................................................... 8-1 Ram-Air Parachute Deployment Sequence ............................................................ 8-3 Ram-Air Parachute Theory of Flight ....................................................................... 8-7 Ram-Air Parachute Flight Characteristics ............................................................... 8-8 Canopy Control ....................................................................................................... 8-9 Turbulence ............................................................................................................ 8-19 ii FM 3-05.211/MCWP 3-15.6/NAVSEA SS400-AG-MMO-010/AFMAN 11-411(I) 6 April 2005 FM 3-05.211 Page Land and Sea Breezes ..........................................................................................8-20 Valley and Mountain Breezes ................................................................................8-21 Chapter 9 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR MILITARY FREE-FALL OPERATIONS ......9-1 Refresher Training ...................................................................................................9-1 Emergency Measures ..............................................................................................9-1 Chapter 10 HIGH-ALTITUDE HIGH-OPENING AND LIMITED-VISIBILITY OPERATIONS .......................................................................................................10-1 Techniques and Requirements .............................................................................10-1 Special Equipment .................................................................................................10-2 Free-Fall Delays ....................................................................................................10-3 Parachute Jump Phases .......................................................................................10-3 Limited-Visibility Operations ..................................................................................10-4 Chapter 11 MILITARY FREE-FALL DROP ZONE OPERATIONS .........................................11-1 Responsibilities ......................................................................................................11-1 Drop Zone Selection Criteria .................................................................................11-1 Drop Zone Surveys ................................................................................................11-2 Drop Zone Personnel Qualifications and Responsibilities ....................................11-3 Military Free-Fall Drop Zone Markings ..................................................................11-6 High-Altitude Release Point and Military Free-Fall Drop Zone Detection .............11-6 Aircraft or High-Altitude High-Opening Team Identification ..................................11-7 Authentication System ...........................................................................................11-7 Chapter 12 DELIBERATE WATER MILITARY FREE-FALL OPERATIONS .........................12-1 Additional Support Requirements ..........................................................................12-1