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Paratroopers find stopping is the hard part



SYDNEY, Australia -- Some of the best paratroopers in the United States and Australia have been injured in what should have been routine training.

But during a joint military exercise on a moonless night, they hit the ground with a thud, breaking bones and spraining ankles.

A total of 39 soldiers were hurt on impact -- nine with broken bones -- and another 13 have since reported injuries such as ankle sprains, an official said.

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With little visibility last Saturday, the crack paratroopers did what they are trained not to do -- reach for the ground with their toes.

"Night jumping is typically more dangerous because it is difficult to see the ground," U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Bobby Campbell told Reuters.

The 381 paratroopers on the night jump came from the U.S. Army's crack Geronimo 501, the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, and Australia's rapid-deployment 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

Campbell said the conditions were perfect for the jump with little breeze, except there was no moon to light up the ground.

"The soldiers reached for the ground with their toes, something they are trained not to do," said Campbell.

Campbell said injuries were to be expected in night jumps, but they were a critical training exercise for the U.S. and Australia, citing the arc of Asian-Pacific instability to Australia's north.

"It is a capacity both the United States and Australia needs to maintain for its strategic interests in the region," he said.

Reuters said the joint military exercise, called Tandem Thrust, was held in the northern Australian state of Queensland.

Reuters contributed to this report.







RELATED STORY:
RELATED SITES:
• Government of Australia
• U.S. Defense Department
• About Parachuting

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