U.S. Army Airborne Operations

U.S. Army Airborne Operations
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U.S. Army Airborne Operations Introduction The use of airborne operations by the United States Army has been a significant component in enhancing its tactics and strategies as a military organisation. The idea of using soldiers to parachute and land behind enemy lines formed part of a new strategy to enhance the army’s element of surprise. This was a revolutionary idea that changed the face of military operations from the previous era of ground forces. The U.S. Army has thus been at the front end of enhancing its airborne capabilities and has continuously deployed its forces under different combat conditions. Such airborne operations have been deployed in various situations, including World War II and the Vietnam War, setting the stage for a new type of deployment of soldiers on the battlefield. Consequently, this paper seeks to examine the history and impact of airborne operations in the U.S. Army’s military combat operations in wartime situations. The focus of this paper will be on two specific events where large-scale airborne operations were deployed, namely Market Garden D-Day operations and Operation Just Cause. These two events are considered crucial moments in time where the history of airborne operations is directly shown. Additionally, the effectiveness of such operations is also demonstrated during the course of these two operations, thus providing valuable insight into the impact they had on their continued use in military operations. The Market Garden D-Day operations were undertaken during World War II when Allied forces were attempting to advance into Germany. On the other hand, Operation Just Cause was conducted in Panama to remove the dictator, Manuel Noriega. Consequently, by examining these two operations, this paper will aim to provide valuable insights into the role of airborne operations in military combat situations and their effectiveness in achieving strategic objectives in the long run.   History Background             The U.S. Army Airborne Operations form a critical section of the army’s training and operations. As a result, the individuals in these operations have a high degree of training and can be deployed into hostile environments through aerial capabilities to conduct combat operations and establish a foothold in enemy territories (Wright, 2009). Consequently, the United States has been able to maintain an adaptable source of highly skilled and mobile soldiers able to deal with any type of threats. Airborne operations have been deployed in various conflicts globally and can be traced back to the Second World War and the operation in the Middle East. The formation of this section of the army played as a strategic option to capture targets or disrupt enemy troops. The United States considered using airborne operations in the 20^th century, with the first parachute test platoon formed in the year 1940 (Wright, 2009). This was followed by the formation of the Airborne Command, which was tasked with the training of soldiers and the development of appropriate tactics.           ...