If you were to jump out of a plane, you’d probably try to pull your parachute as soon as possible. I know I would. But the special forces of many militaries around the world do the exact opposite. A HALO jump is a military skydiving technique where paratroopers jump from extremely high heights and wait to pull their parachute until the very last second. HALO stands for “High Altitude Low Opening.”
HALO jumps were developed in the 1950s and are used for stealthy deployment of troops behind enemy lines. They are extremely risky, due to the high altitudes and high risk of oxygen deprivation from much longer freefall times. Some skydiving companies charge a hefty price to allow you to experience a civilian HALO jump, but I say we leave this one to the soldiers. I’m happy right here on the ground.
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US and Polish soldiers performing a HALO jump in 2024 near Krakow
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Special forces HALO jumping into the Arctic.
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US Navy Seal combat divers prepare for a HALO jump
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A US Air Force loadmaster before a HALO jump in Djibouti.
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A military parachutist opens his parachute during a HALO jump
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US Army and Latvian Special Forces prepare for a HALO jump
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US Navy Seal combat diver prepares for HALO jump
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Turkish Army special forces preparing for a HALO jump.
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Navy SEALS performing a HALO jump
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Navy Seal performing a HALO jump with Navy K-9, both wearing oxygen masks.
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Turkish Army HALO jump.
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Turkish Army HALO jump.
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Chilean army special forces soldier after a HALO jump
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Japanese soldier performs a HALO jump from a US Black Hawk helicopter
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A U.S. Air Force Pararescueman during HALO jump training in Afghanistan in 2018.
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US Navy Seal wears night vision goggles to prepare for a HALO jump
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Static line parachute training used by the US during World War II.
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Philippine army special forces conduct a HALO jump during a live-fire exercise
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Italian Army Special Forces preparing for a HALO jump
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Soldiers attending the Advanced Tactical Infiltration Course at the Military Freefall School prepare for a HALO jump over Yuma, Arizona.
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Italian Army Special Forces conducting a HALO jump
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RAF Pathfinders prepare for their HALO jump.
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British Pathfinder before a HALO jump in the US.
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HALO jump from a joint training exercise between the US, UK, and Canada.
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HALO jump from a joint training exercise between the US, UK, and Canada.
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RAF Pathfinders prepare for their HALO jump.
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US Air Force members conduct a tandem HALO jump over East Africa.
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RAF Pathfinders jump from a Globemaster into Macedonia.
