The forced entrants from the skies

Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.

They are used for tactical advantage as they can be dropped into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to operate in areas not accessible by land. It is one of the three types of 'forced entry' strategic techniques for entering a theatre of war; the other two being land and sea. The ability to enter the battle from different locations allows paratroopers to evade fortifications meant to prevent attack from a specific direction. The use of paratroopers forces an army to spread its defences to protect other areas that would normally be safe by virtue of geography. Another common use of paratroopers is to establish an airhead for landing other units.

These soldiers have formed an integral part of the military since World War II. There is one common bond that keeps paratroopers closer to one another regardless of their origin, nation and culture. They all belong to the International Airborne Society (IAS). The body was born out of the realisation that paratroopers regardless of their national origin, share a common bond and esprit de corps not found among any other soldiers. The IAS was formed in 1992 by Bernard Hasenbein for serving, retired and reserve paratroopers in the world over. Hasenbein and other members of the society were in Botswana last week to exchange knowledge, skills and ideas with members of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Airborne Division at the Thebephatshwa Airbase in Molepolole. The former paratrooper served in the US Army as a member of the famous 82nd Airborne Division.  Hasenbeid told The Monitor that IAS is meant to give all interested paratroopers an opportunity to socialise with like-minded individuals at an international level. "We started the society as a small thing as former paratroopers in the US Army, but the idea quickly snowballed and it became an international society." He said their role is to promote peace through cultural understanding by way of visits to foreign militaries. Since its formation, members of the organisation have travelled the world to jump in countries like Russia, Poland, Belarus, India and Pakistan hence their motto 'The World Is Our Drop Zone'.

Editor's Comment
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