Latest news with #paratroopers
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Paratroopers release footage showing capture of Russian soldiers
Paratroopers have released a video showing how they, together with neighbouring units, captured Russian soldiers on the Kursk front. Source: Air Assault Forces Command Quote: "Russian soldiers are surrendering because the abuse in their units is worse than captivity. In their units on Russian territory, they were subjected to inhumane treatment, psychological pressure and threats." Details: The paratroopers emphasised that the POWs could be used for further exchange for Ukrainian soldiers held captive in Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Fox News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Defense secretary announces pay raises for Army paratroopers: 'We have you and your families in mind'
In a speech Thursday in North Carolina to soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pledged to restore what he called the U.S. military's "warrior ethos" and announced pay raises for paratroopers. Speaking during All American Week at Fort Bragg, Hegseth laid out President Donald Trump's vision focused on combat readiness, merit-based standards, and investment in the American warfighter. "We're going to bring it back to the basics," Hegseth said. "We're going to restore the warrior ethos… and we are across our formations, a standard that's set here every single day." According to the Department of Defense, Hegseth used the occasion to announce an increase in hazardous duty incentive pay, known as jump pay. It will rise from $150 to $200 per month for paratroopers, and for the first time, jumpmasters will receive an additional $150 on top of their existing pay. "For the first time in 25 years… we are increasing jump pay," Hegseth said. "Not only are we increasing jump pay, but… jumpmasters… are going to receive an additional $150 a month in incentive pay." He added: "Here's to our paratroopers, our jumpmasters, who do the difficult things in difficult places that most Americans can never imagine." Hegseth told the crowd that troops remain the focus of every major Pentagon decision. "Inside the corridors of the Pentagon, you are on our minds, with the decisions we make in budgets, in planning, in deployments, in orders, in reorganizations. We have you and your families in mind." In his remarks, Hegseth shared a core defense strategy promoted by Trump: prioritize readiness, reject identity politics, and reassert American deterrence. "We will focus on readiness, on training, on warfighting, on accountability, on standards. Black, white, male, female, doesn't matter. We're going to be colorblind and merit-based warfighters just like you are here in the 82nd." This return to fundamentals, Hegseth argued is necessary to rebuild the force and deter growing global threats. "President Trump is committed to historic investments inside our formations. Our promise to you is that when the 82nd Airborne is deployed… you will be equipped better than any other fighting force in the world." Drawing a contrast with prior administrations, Hegseth referenced global instability, including the war in Ukraine, the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. "Unfortunately, for a number of years, the world watched and wondered where American leadership and American strength was," he said. "By putting America first, we will reestablish peace through strength." Hegseth closed by honoring the legacy and future of the 82nd. "Like those who came before you, you keep showing the world the stuff you're made of. Because we know you are ready for the important work that lies ahead." The Army office of Public Affairs did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
British paratroopers parachute onto Swedish island as part of NATO exercise preparing to defend Europe from Russia... and are asked to show their PASSPORTS
British paratroopers carrying out NATO drills were stopped and asked to show their passports as they parachuted onto a Swedish island this week. Soldiers were carrying out exercises in Sweden as part of wider Swift Defense 25 NATO drills aimed at preparing for the possibility of global conflict. Drills including seizing a 'Tactical Landing Zone' from Swedish defenders, landing planes and parachuting onto the strategic Baltic island of Gotland. Dozens of troops from the British Parachute Regiment were seen dropping from a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M in stunning video shot on Tuesday. But as they landed, it was straight to Swedish passport control, as Britain is outside of the Schengen Area. Lieutenant Colonel Chris Hitchens told local outlet Expressen: 'So I'm used to border control now. I did it in France last year, as well.' 'Sometimes you have a bit of a mental pause, you go through those motions and then I'll put my helmet back on and I'll go into the trees and we'll be back in a tactical scenario.' British soldiers were met by officials and asked to produce passports after landing in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day last summer - provoking sharp rebuke from British politicians. Some 320 British, Belgian and US paratroopers took part in the jump, descending into a historic D-Day drop zone to recreate the events of 1944. But only the 250 British paras were required to show passports as the US soldiers jumped from within France and Belgium is part of the European Union. The 250 British paratroopers took off from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, before jumping into the drop zone near Sannerville to commemorate the airborne invasion 80 years ago. Former cabinet minister David Jones told MailOnline at the time that France only had control of its own borders because of the arrival of similar British troops 80 years ago. 'They risked their lives to make France safe for bureaucracy,' he quipped. Brigadier Mark Berry, commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, told the Sun: 'It is something we haven't experienced before. 'But given the Royal welcome we have had from every other feature, it seems like a very small price to pay for coming to France.' The British paras were cheered by hundreds of spectators who gathered at the drop zone around five miles from the sea. British soldiers will have to present passports when landing in Europe. Some 100 paratroopers were involved in the Swift Defense 25 drills on Tuesday. Speaking after the exercises, one soldier told Expressen: 'It was a good, successful jump. So now we're going to make our way to the rally point.' Swift Defense 25 is a U.S.-led exercise taking place between May 11 and May 31, 2025. NATO allies are 'conducting near-simultaneous airborne and mobility aircraft operations, and multinational training across the High North and Baltic region to enhance collective defence readiness'. Soldiers have practiced 'airbourne insertions' in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden, and carried out live fire drills, medical support operations and artillery training, supported by Allied mobility aircraft. Swift Response 25 is the opening phase of the broader U.S.-led DEFENDER 25 exercise, designed to reinforce NATO's deterrence posture and demonstrate rapid deployment capability, NATO says. 'This is about global deterrence,' said General Christopher Donahue, Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. 'Everything we demonstrate with our Allies and partners, we can replicate globally. DEFENDER gives us critical repetitions at scale for theatre logistics and warfighting.' NATO says the coordinated jumps are 'made possible through the seamless integration of strategic and tactical airlift platforms' including the British A400M seen in MailOnline video, and the American C-17 Globemaster III. Some 25,000 personnel from 29 Allied nations will take part in Swift Response 25, as part of DEFENDER 25. 'It validated NATO's ability to coordinate complex operations across multiple domains and geographies, reinforcing the Alliance's collective defence posture,' a statement said. Sweden announced last year it would discuss with NATO leaders plans to ramp up the militarisation of the island of Gotland, deemed the most strategic location in the Baltic Sea. Described by analysts and commentators as a 'giant aircraft carrier', Stockholm-administered Gotland lies just 120 miles off the coast of NATO's Baltic triad of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, but also just 230 miles north of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Its prime location offers huge advantages in the deployment and control of air and sea traffic in the Baltic Sea, and has been referenced regularly by military analysts and commentators in Russian media as a highly desirable target. Sweden maintained a military presence on Gotland during the Cold War and the island at its peak housed up to 25,000 troops, but in 2005 it was almost completely demilitarised. Now, with Sweden's accession to NATO complete, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the prospect of re-arming Gotland was 'one obvious thing to be discussed with our new NATO allies' as part of a wider ramping up of military readiness in the Baltic. 'Everything to do with the Baltic is such an obvious candidate (for the deployment of military resources),' Kristersson told the FT in an interview last March. 'That goes in terms of presence on Gotland, but also in terms of surveillance, in terms of submarine capabilities.' Russian military analyst and retired Navy Captain Vasily Dandykin told Russian newswire Sputnik that a remilitarisation of Gotland would be seen as a major problem in the halls of the Kremlin.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Volunteers wanted to tell airborne forces history
Volunteers are being recruited to help uncover the history of airborne forces in Lincolnshire. South Kesteven District Council is holding a free event for volunteers to conduct research as part of the authority's Soldiers from the Sky project. The commemorative project aims to mark the district's airborne forces history. The council's armed forces champion Councillor Bridget Ley said she hoped the ambassadors could discover and share the stories before they pass from memory. The two-hour event will take place at 10:00 BST on Saturday 7 June at the Wyndham Park Visitor Centre in Grantham, a day after commemorations for the 81st anniversary of D-Day. Following the event, attendees can pursue their own research and tell the story of South Kesteven hosting British, American and Polish paratrooper forces who trained locally for D-Day and Arnhem and flew into battle from local airfields. Paratroopers underwent gruelling training marches, dropped from C-47 Dakota aircraft stationed on giant American airfields around Grantham, drank ale in local pubs, and stayed in properties commandeered as military accommodation, according to the council. Ley said: "We have a wealth of information about this incredible chapter of South Kesteven's military heritage, a largely untold story of allied airborne forces who gathered here to fight for freedom. "There are layers of heritage that we have yet to uncover." The council said it hoped ambassadors would give local talks and share information on village websites and with parish councils and schools. The Soldiers from the Sky project received money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Tulips planted to honour WW2 airborne forces South Kesteven District Council
South China Morning Post
17-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Chinese boy inspired by heroes during deadly 2008 Sichuan earthquake becomes paratrooper
The day after the deadly 2008 Sichuan earthquake struck, 15 courageous People's Liberation Army (PLA) paratroopers risked their lives by descending on the most affected areas to help blaze a trail for aid. Advertisement Their brave deeds inspired a then 12-year-old boy, who was among the victims who received the soldiers' help, to make a decision to become one of them in the future. After holding on to his dream, Cheng Qiang joined the army and has become a paratrooper, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Cheng made headlines in 2008 by unfolding a banner bearing the words 'I want to become a paratrooper when I grow up' among a group of local residents. Cheng Qiang proudly salutes after becoming a People's Liberation Army paratrooper. Photo: CCTV The locals had rallied to bid farewell to PLA soldiers who were leaving their village after staying there for three months to deliver rescue materials and help build camps.
