One of the first things that you learn in joining the Armed Forces is that you are a member of a team, and that the team is only as strong as its weakest link. You learn to rely and literally put your life in your teammates hands, which is what occurs with the Parachute Rigger. As a Parachute Rigger you will work to care for the parachute that personnel will bet their lives on. Equipment such as parachutes are used in emergencies and they are carefully inspected and packed to make sure they work reliably, every time. People in the military often have duty assignments that take them into hazardous or dangerous places. The Army Parachute Rigger is responsible for maintaining, inspecting, rigging and insuring that the parachute and other survival equipment such as air sea rescue equipment and aircraft life support equipment work every single time they are needed, without fail.
The Army Parachute rigger is tasked with the primary responsibility to make sure that the canvas and textile parts of the parachute, including webbing, equipment and clothing are in good running order. When they are not, it is the job of the parachute rigger to repair if possible, or declare un- usable if not. They are responsible for inspecting and passing a parachute as acceptable, and they put their reputation on the line as well as someone’s well being every time they certify a parachute.
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Some of the duties of a parachute rigger may include packing parachutes for safe operation, operating and using darning, sewing, button and other repair machines for textiles, repairing and fabricating covers, canvas parts, tarpaulins and other equipment, and inspecting parachutes for tangled lines and rips. Job Training for a Army Parachute Rigger begins as always with Basic Combat Training, where you will learn how to be an Army enlisted person. After basic training you will attend ten weeks of individual advanced training, both in the field in simulated exercises and in the classroom. You will learn how to maintain oxygen emergency equipment, how to repair and maintain inflatable rafts and survival equipment, various parachute rigging techniques, and an overview of emergency equipment maintenance and repair.
Advanced level enlisted Parachute riggers supervise and help train other personnel and junior enlisted personnel. If you have an ability to handle detailed and precise work, are a person that has an ability to work accurately, and if you enjoy working for the safety of others then this may be the job career for you.
