An American special operations soldier was killed in a military free-fall training accident in Arizona.
He was being taught advanced parachuting in Eloy, Arizona, during the early hours of Tuesday. The town is three hours away from the Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at the Yuma Proving Grounds.
“We are aware of an incident resulting in the death of a U.S. Army Special Operations Command Soldier during a routine military freefall training event,” said Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, a spokesperson. “No additional information can be provided as this incident is under investigation.”
The exercise may have been a “HALO” jump, short for “high altitude, low opening.” Special operations forces often engage in free fall during HALO jumps, which are conducted to covertly insert forces. The technique involves jumping from up to 35,000 feet and opening the parachute as low as 3,000 feet. The “HAHO,” or high altitude, high opening jump, is similar but the parachute is opened at higher altitude. Both techniques require troops to wear oxygen masks.
In March, Army Sgt. 1st Class Ethan Carpenter, 30, died during a free-fall accident at an unknown location in Arizona. A member of the elite 75th Ranger Battalion, Carpenter was a veteran of eight combat deployments. His awards included the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge and the Senior Parachutists Badge, the latter of which is given to expert parachutists who have completed multiple jumps.
Eloy is used by several private companies contracted for aerial training, including Airborne Systems. Airborne Systems hosts the world’s largest civilian drop zone and has been contracted to supply the Defense Department with airplanes for jump training.
