The U.S. Army plans to reclassify approximately 20,000 parachutist positions as part of a major restructuring aimed at improving the readiness of its airborne forces, according to officials cited by the Army Times.
The changes, which will take effect on October 1, are intended to better allocate limited resources and prioritize training for soldiers most likely to be deployed in frontline airborne operations.
“It’s not about the money, per se,” Lt. Gen. Gregory Anderson, commander of the XVIII Airborne Corp said on a recent episode of the From the Green Notebook podcast. “It’s literally about the forces who will jump in the alpha echelon and fight off a potentially contested drop zone. We want them at the highest level of readiness.”
Currently, the Army maintains over 56,000 paid parachutist positions, a number that has grown by more than 13,000 since 2002. By contrast, just 13,000 paratroopers participated in the historic Normandy landings during World War II.
To maintain jump status, soldiers must complete at least one jump every three months, but many units fall short of this standard. Over the past three fiscal years, members of the 82nd Airborne Division averaged only 2.5 to 3 jumps annually.
Anderson called the standard unsustainable, citing limited access to transport aircraft like C-17s and C-130s, as well as shortages in parachute riggers and experienced jumpmasters.
“All these things are contributing to a decline in the collective proficiency of our forces,” he noted.
Under the new policy, soldiers assigned to paid parachutist positions will continue to receive jump pay and must maintain their jump status, according to Army officials. Reclassified personnel will no longer be required to maintain jump status or receive jump pay but they can still attend airborne school and refresh their skills.
According to Army officials, the affected positions span beyond combat units to include personnel in administrative and support roles.
Initial estimates suggest the reclassification will impact 3,500 positions from Forces Command, 9,000 from Special Operations Command, 1,000 from Army Pacific, 850 from Army Europe-Africa, 3,600 from the Army National Guard, and 1,900 from the Army Reserve, though final numbers are still being determined.
To further support readiness among active jumpers, the Army is also considering increasing the current $150 monthly jump pay and introducing a new “proficiency pay” for jumpmasters who are critical to planning and conducting safe airborne operations.
