Australian Defence Force Parachuting School
{{Short description|Training unit of the Australian Army}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Australian Defence Force Parachuting School
|image=Australian Defence Force Parachuting School Logo.png
|image_size=160px
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|country=Australia
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|branch=Army
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|command_structure=Defence Special Operations Training and Education Centre
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|garrison=HMAS Albatross, Nowra, New South Wales
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The Australian Defence Force Parachuting School is an Australian Army unit part of the Defence Special Operations Training and Education Centre (DSOTEC) that provides training in parachuting techniques, develops parachute doctrine and techniques and conducts trial-evaluations of parachute systems and associated equipment. The school is based adjacent to HMAS Albatross, Nowra, New South Wales.{{cite web|title=Australian Defence Force Parachuting School|url=https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/units/special-operations-command/australian-defence-force-parachuting-school|website=Australian Army|date=20 November 2019|access-date=1 January 2020|archive-date=26 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226123415/https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/units/special-operations-command/australian-defence-force-parachuting-school|url-status=dead}}
History
The first parachute training unit was formed in 1942 the Paratroop Training Unit (PTU) and at the end of the war was disbanded. On 12 August 1951, the Parachute Training Wing was formed as a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) unit at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales.{{cite web|title=A History of Military Parachuting in Australia since World War II|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/army/pts/history.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011118014357/http://www.defence.gov.au/army/pts/history.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 November 2001|website=Australian Army|date=2001}} The unit's first Commanding Officer/Chief Instructor was Squadron Leader C.A.V. Bourne. The instructors on the staff were both Army and RAAF personnel. The first course of trainees commenced in September 1951. In 1958, the wing was renamed the Parachute Training Flight. In 1961, the first Military Free Fall (MFF) Paratroop Course was conducted.
The Army assumed responsibility for parachute training on 14 May 1974 and the school was renamed the Parachute Training School, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith. The school relocated to Naval Air Station HMAS Albatross in 1986 and has continued its role there until the present.
On 1 October 2011, the school transferred from Forces Command (FORCOMD) to Special Operations Command (SOCOMD).{{cite magazine |last1=Stevens |first1=LTCOL Matt |title=Airfield Seizure: Rangers Lead the Way |date=April 2016|magazine=Commando news / Australian Commando Association Inc.|issue=7|publisher=Statewide Publishing P/L |location=Surfers Paradise, Qld |url=https://www.commando.org.au/resources/Commando-News/Commando-News-07.pdf |access-date=31 December 2019}}{{cite news|last1=Wiseman|first1=Spr Nick|title=Para school celebrates|url=https://www.defence.gov.au/Publications/NewsPapers/Army/editions/1266/1266.pdf|access-date=1 January 2020|work=Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper|edition=1263|publisher=Department of Defence|location=Canberra|issn=0729-5685|date=1 September 2011}} On 19 November 2019, the SOCOMD training units were reorganised with the school renamed the Australian Defence Force Parachuting School and placed under the command of the newly raised Defence Special Operations Training and Education Centre.{{cite news|last1=Beurich|first1=Cpl Sebastian|title=A merger for the future|url=https://www.defence.gov.au/Publications/NewsPapers/Army/editions/1457.pdf|access-date=1 January 2020|work=Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper|edition=1457|publisher=Department of Defence|location=Canberra|issn=0729-5685|date=12 December 2019}}
Structure
The school is believed to be organised as follows:{{cite web |title=PTS Unit Information |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/army/pts/unit.html |website=Australian Army |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915164458/http://www.defence.gov.au/army/pts/unit.html |archive-date=15 September 2007 |date=2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=31 December 2019 }}
- Headquarters – co-ordinates the functions of the School.
- Training Wing – conducts all parachute training activities of the School.
- Development Wing (DEV WING) – conducts evaluation and testing of personnel parachute systems and associated equipment.
- Parachute Maintenance Wing (PMW) – stores repairs and repacks all personnel parachutes.
- Logistic Support Wing – stores, transport, medical and catering.
The school provides static line training with the T-11 non-steerable parachute and the MC-6 steerable parachute at altitudes between {{convert|800|ft|m|-1}} and {{convert|1000|ft|m|-1}} on land and water.{{cite web |title=Parachute Training School |url=http://www.army.gov.au/Who-we-are/Divisions-and-Brigades/Special-Operations-Command/Parachute-Training-School |website=Australian Army |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324140449/http://www.army.gov.au/Who-we-are/Divisions-and-Brigades/Special-Operations-Command/Parachute-Training-School |archive-date=24 March 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Wiseman|first1=Cpl Nick|title=Riggers ready for the change|url=https://www.defence.gov.au/Publications/NewsPapers/Army/editions/1308/1308.pdf|access-date=19 February 2020|work=Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper|edition=1308|publisher=Department of Defence|location=Canberra|issn=0729-5685|date=4 July 2013|p=21–22}}{{cite web |title=AMP058.08 – Enhanced Static Line Parachute Capability |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/lsd/mincs_l_58_08/index.cfm |website=Department of Defence |publisher=Defence Material Organisation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214021519/http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/lsd/mincs_l_58_08/index.cfm |archive-date=14 February 2014 |date=October 2011}} Military Free Fall training is provided from aircraft up to {{convert|12000|ft|m|-1}}. High Altitude Parachute Operations (HAPO) is provided from aircraft up to {{convert|25000|ft|m|-1}} descending with oxygen.
Red Berets
In May 1974, the Parachute Training School established an Army Parachute Display Team the "Red Berets" renaming the Air Force's Parachute Display Team the "Dominoes". The team is composed of instructors and staff from the parachuting school. The team provides displays around Australia including jumps with flags, smoke and in formation. The Red Berets conduct 15 to 20 displays each year.{{cite web |title=The Army's Red Berets |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/pacc/facts/19-redberet.pdf |website=Department of Defence |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20021105130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/13677/20021106-0000/www.defence.gov.au/pacc/facts/19-redberet.pdf |archive-date=5 November 2002 |date=June 2000 |access-date=18 February 2020 |url-status=live }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Aircraft
In 1951, the school used the Douglas C-47 Dakota aircraft for training. The Lockheed C-130 Hercules entered service in 1962 followed by the de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou in 1964 with the Dakota retired.
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter was used for training from 1973 to 1986 and the Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter was used from 1974 to 1990 for freefall only training.
The school also used Army Pilatus Porter, GAF Nomad and de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter light transport aircraft for freefall only training.{{cite web |title=PTS Unit Equipment |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/army/pts/equipment.html |website=Australian Army |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011101085734/http://www.defence.gov.au/army/pts/equipment.html |archive-date=1 November 2001 |date=2001|url-status=dead}}
In 2007, the school entered into a service a parachute training dedicated aircraft the CASA C-212 Aviocar with two civilian C-212-200 aircraft provided by Military Support Services to replace the Caribou.{{cite journal |last1=Thamm |first1=WO1 Phil |title=Not just another day at the office! |journal=Ordnance: The Journal of the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps|date=December 2007 |volume=31 |issue=1 |url=http://www.army.gov.au///ParaRiggers/docs/Not_just_another_day_at_the_office_Vol-_31_No-_1.pdf |issn=0727-050X|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404041730/http://www.army.gov.au///ParaRiggers/docs/Not_just_another_day_at_the_office_Vol-_31_No-_1.pdf |archive-date=4 April 2011|url-status=dead}} Since 2013, two civilian C-212-400 aircraft have been provided by Skytraders.{{cite web |title=Defence |url=https://skytraders.com.au/defence/# |website=Skytraders |access-date=18 February 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://www.adf-serials.com/casa212.htm |title=Army Constructiones Aeronauticas S A CASA 212 Aviocar|website=ADF Serials |date=26 January 2014 |access-date=18 February 2020}}
File:VH-MQD CASA C-212-CC Aviocar Military Support Services (9061747694).jpg|Military Support Services CASA C-212-200
File:Parachute-Rigger-Dakota-Exit.jpg|A Red Berets parachute rigger during a jump from a Dakota
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Commons category}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20011101183012/http://www.defence.gov.au/army/pts/index.htm PTS (archived Australian Army website 2001)]
{{Aust SF}}
{{coord missing|Australia}}
Category:Military education and training in Australia
Category:Airborne units and formations of Australia
Category:Special forces of Australia
Category:Military units and formations established in 1951