The platoon moved into tents near Lawson Army Airfield, and an abandoned hangar was obtained for training and parachute packing.

Eighteen days after forming, the platoon was moved to New Jersey and trained for one week on the 250-foot free towers, which proved to be particularly effective – drops from the tower added realism otherwise impossible to duplicate outside of an airplane drop, and proved to the troopers that their parachutes would function safely.

Less than forty-five days after it was formed, members of the test platoon made their first jump from a Douglas B-18 Bolo bomber over Lawson Field on 16 August 1940.

Lieutenant Ryder and Private William N. (Red) King became the first officer and enlisted man to make an official jump as paratroopers in the United States Army.

The first week of the Basic Airborne Course is dedicated to teaching prospective troopers how to land properly to minimize the potential for injury and general familiarization with the T-10D and T-11 parachute.

Prospective troopers are taught how to wear the parachute harness correctly and how to use the special training gear.

During ground week, prospective troopers will spend the majority of time learning, practicing, and perfecting their parachute landing fall (PLF) and proper exit technique from the aircraft.

To practice the PLFs, soldiers will jump from platforms of various heights into sand or pebble pits, simulating the final stage of parachute landing.

Depending on circumstances, personnel who fail to advance are either dismissed from the course outright or less commonly recycled back to an earlier class for additional training.

After the flight crew completes the pre-drop and slow-down checklists, soldiers rise out of their seats and move at the jumpmaster's direction to one of two paratroop doors (on each side of the aircraft).

Jump week can seem chaotic, with a large group of soldiers gathered in the ready-room waiting to be loaded onto the aircraft one chalk at a time.

Graduation is normally conducted at 0900 on Friday of Jump Week at the south end of Eubanks Field on the Airborne Walk.

Guests and family members are welcome to observe all of the jumps at the DZ, attend the graduation ceremony, and participate in awarding the parachutist wings to the soldiers.

On graduation day, families typically spend only a few minutes with their soldier, pinning on his or her new airborne wings.

[3] However, all students at the school are required to address them as "Sergeant (or Petty Officer in the case of a Navy instructor) Airborne".

A student's interaction with Black Hats consists largely of shouting, "clear Sergeant, Airborne!

Marine Recon, ANGLICO, and MARSOC personnel will also attend as part of their pipeline or as advance training.