GEAR UP! USAF: PARA JUMPERS (PJ) - USAF: PARA JUMPERS (PJ) - USAF: PARA JUMPERS
046 WWW.AI-MAG.COMTHE TOOLS FOR THE JOB
We have already mentioned that PJ's preferred
insertion platform was from helicopters. This
in its own right has a number of challenges for
them to overcome. The first being space and
distance from the casualty and then there the
vulnerability of the bird on the ground, whilst
the casualty was made ready to evacuate. Their
kit played a big part in not only carrying the
PJ's ammo, but also their medical equipment.
It’s not uncommon for PJ's to wear harnesses
so they can insert from winches, yes we could
have added one, but it serves no purpose on
the skirmish field. Because PJ's put themselves
in harm's way body armour was a must for the
majority of them as more often than not they
found themselves leaving the relative safety of
the helicopters hold and in some cases fighting
their way to the casualty. The vest of choice was
a Survival Incorporated Snap track vest, which
offered protection from small arms fire. The vest
was low profile and light weight and formed the
base layers of the Snap track survival systems,
but because of their rarity a good example can
command a high price on the collectors market.
We'd suggest using a low cost replacement, just
as long as its Tan in colour you'll be fine.HE AD SPACE
What you have to remember is that this period in time in the US Special Forces community was
rebelling against the issued helmet (which we have covered in great detail in previous issues),
but thankfully for us and the real guys on the ground the MICH Helmet was just being issued
and snapped up by the SF community. In fact in the early days of the Iraq war there were two
versions to choose from. The MICH TC-2000 and the high cut MICT TC 2001, which allowed the
user to easily and comfortably wear a number of different headsets. Due to the high gut sides
of the helmet its appearance was completely different from the other 4 variants and rapidly
became a firm favourite with PJ's. There is another helmet option on the table if you really want
to be accurate and that takes the form of a Gentex HGU-55/P Fixed Wing Helmet System, which
isn't as expensive as it sounds. With grade 1 examples selling for around 100 bucks on eBay, you
will struggle with coms and you can't rely upon the visor, but neither did the PJ's that adopted
them. We have taken the easy and most affordable route here and gone with the TC 2001, thrown
in a pair of replica Z Tactical COMTAC 2 Style Noise Reduction Headset and added a pair of ESS
Ballistic goggles, which are right for the time line and can be worn with either helmet.040-047 PJS.indd 46 29/05/2018 11:51