A total of 197 students of Philippine Army’s Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) completed the basic airborne, jump master, parachute packing and military freefall courses after several weeks of rigorous training at the headquarters in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on April 5, 2022.
PNP Chief Police Gen. Dionardo Carlos officiated the joint graduation ceremony of the of Basic Airborne Course Class 131-2021, Jump Master Course Class 85-2021, Parachute Packing Course Class 52-2021, and Military Free Fall Course Class 27-2021. Dir. Gen. Carlos, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy “Maringal” Class of 1988, is a seasoned free faller who served in the PNP’s most elite unit, the Special Action Force.
SFR(A) Acting Commander Col. Eliglen Villaflor together with Police Gen. Carlos, and other Special Forces paratroopers, performed a military freefall using the C-130 aircraft of the U.S. Army Pacific which is in the country for Balikatan 2022. Skydivers were released at an altitude of 10,000 feet and landed at the Drop Zone Royce in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija.
The Paratroopers used the Filipino-designed and patented “Haribon” parachute which was acquired through the Philippine Army Capabilities Upgrade Program.
Enhancing the skills of individual soldiers and unit capabilities is one of the thrusts of Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr.