Expect night raids!http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11540523/British-paratrooper-critically-injured-in-jump-accident-at-US-exercise.htmlBritish paratrooper critically injured in jump accident at US exercise
A British paratrooper is critically injured as thousands of soldiers from the UK and US take part in airborne exercises in America
British paratroopers have spent weeks training with American soldiers of the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg in North Carolina Photo: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Sean Martin
By Ben Farmer, Defence Correspondent
7:55PM BST 15 Apr 2015
A British paratrooper has been critically injured in a parachute accident while preparing for the biggest allied airborne landing exercise in nearly 20 years.
The unnamed soldier was knocked unconscious when he bumped into another soldier while jumping at Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Sunday and then landed “very badly” military sources said.
The soldier was one of nearly 800 from the 3 Para battle group,
which is part of the 16 Air Assault Brigade, taking part in joint exercises with American troops.
The accident happened as troops prepared for a massive 2,100-strong jump by 600 British and 1,500 Americans the following day in a mock assault on an airfield.
The mock raid, which took place in the dark, was the biggest of its kind since 1996 and the culmination of weeks of joint manoeuvres.
An investigation has begun into the incident and the soldier’s family have been informed.
A source said: “He took a knock into another parachute when in the air. He subsequently landed very badly because he was knocked out”.
Around 2,100 British and American paratroopers in a mock night assault of an airfield at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, earlier this week in the biggest exercise of its kind in 19 yearsThe Army confirmed a soldier was “injured during an airborne exercise at Fort Bragg on Sunday. The soldier’s family have been informed and are being fully supported by the Army.”
British paratroopers have spent weeks training
alongside America’s elite 82nd Airborne Division so the two rapid reaction forces can work together more closely to deal with international crises.
Around 50 paratroopers were hurt in the main jump from 23 American and US aircraft on Monday evening, though none of the injuries were life threatening.
About 10 were British paratroopers and 40 Americans were treated at the base’s hospital for strains or broken bones.
Military sources said the rate of injury was typical for combat parachute jumps where soldiers jump laden with large amounts of kit and ammunition. Commanders typically expect as many as three or four per cent of their soldiers to be hurt on such operations.
A senior officer said the British, American and perhaps French militaries were the only ones in the world who could mount such an operation.
He said: “We, the US and possibly the French are the only nations that could conduct that sort of forced entry operation. Other people talk a good game.”
An Army spokesman said: “We can confirm that during an exercise on Monday at Fort Bragg in the US, in which 2,100 UK and US paratroopers jumped in a joint airborne operation, a small number of UK personnel received were injured.
“There were no life-threatening injuries and the majority of troopers were able to resume normal duties by the end of the day.
“Personnel exiting an aircraft in flight carrying full combat equipment always involves an element of risk which is why precautions to minimise potential injuries are made, and were ahead of this exercise, which was the largest of its type since 1996
Subject: British paratrooper critically injured in jump accident at US exercise NIGHTTIME!! 
Thu Apr 23, 2015 10:13 pm
