PINGTUNG (TVBS News) — Observers gathered at the Chaozhou Township (潮州) in Pingtung County on Friday (Dec. 20) to watch the Taiwan army's skydiving team (神龍小組) conduct high-altitude jumps. The Ministry of National Defense (MND, 國防部) invited military reporters to witness the rigorous training of paratroopers at the Airborne Training Center (陸軍空降訓練中心) in Pingtung (屏東) between Dec. 19 and 20.
The training involved instructors and trainees boarding a Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft (C-130H型運輸機) for four groups of parachute jumps. In the first three groups, instructors led trainees on their sixth training jump, with each turn including four trainees equipped with P275 parachutes and instructors using N260 parachutes, jumping from 4,500 feet and landing west in the drop zone.
The fourth group featured nine skydiving team instructors in three groups, each with three members, jumping from 10,000 feet using T-190 parachutes and deploying their chutes at 5,000 feet. The first group carried the national flag and ribbons, skillfully landing at the drop zone amidst colorful smoke trails, while the second and third groups performed a series of maneuvers, including three-person relays and formations, before breaking formation and landing precisely within the zone.
The military's skydiving team, the only parachute stunt team in the military, requires members to pass specialized high-altitude infiltration and jumpmaster courses before joining. Though most may remember the skydiving team only for their stunts, they will need to lead paratroopers in anti-infiltration operations in the instance of war, highlighting the rigorous training and expertise required to be part of this elite unit.
