Parachuting, or skydiving, is a recreational activity, competitive sport and method of deployment of military personnel. It involves the breaking of a free fall from a height through the use of a parachute. Many military organisations around the world still train paratroop forces, although since their first use in the Second World War nearly all deployments of paratroopers in active combat have been unsuccessful or disastrous. Photo credit: Airman Chris Otsen, U.S. Navy |