parachutist jump suit rough terrain question

[Hicks]

I have come across this jumpsuit and I hope somebody can give me some more info on it.
Is this suit used for HALO jumps or normal static line jumps. There are some attachments and straps on the suit. I hope someone can fill me in on their function...I assume some have to do with H-harness attachment or so...
Also, Is this suit worn over your CU?
ANY INFO IS WELCOME!

[retrobob]

Right,here goes. Tree letdown procedures that would be used with the suit are outlined in the following pubs.
www.fs.fed.us/fire/aviation/av_library/sj_guide/index.html
Air Force Instruction 16-1202,3 May 2001,Pararescue Operations,Techniques and Procedures. http://afpubs.hq.af.mil
Found an article on US Army Airborne rough terrain parachuting at: www.army.mil/soldiers/mar1999/features/index.html

Googled up Rough Terrain Parachute Suit and it took me to a surplus dealer in SC who had them for sale at $99.00.First time I've ever seen them for sale.

[retrobob]

Went through all my stuff and I cannot seem to find any references dealing with your Rough Terrain Parachute Suit.However I did come across some info dealing with it's predecessor.
Your suit is an extensive development of the original Parachutists Rough Terrain System PRTS- which was jointly developed by US Army Natick Laboratories(now Natick Soldier Systems Centre) and the US Forest Service Missoula Development centre.First fielded back in '92 it was a two piece olive green garment made from 8 ounce kevlar fabric differing little in appearance to the tree suits used by US Forest Service Smokejumpers.
With regard to the use of rough terrain suits in MFF(HALO/HAHO) ops I didn't see any refernces to it in the current US Amy MFF manual but the it appears that the US Air Force use their pararescue suits(their equivalent of the PRTS) with MFF ops.
Ther is a brief reference to Rough Terrain Parachute Ops in USASOC Reg No.350-2 and that pertains mainly to drop zone selection and not techniques and equipment.
Still trying to locate that AF reg. pertaining to their use of rough terrain gear plus I've got somewhere a US Forest Service guide to tree letdown procedures which is the same or similar to that used by military rough terrain parachutists.Hope this helps.

[retrobob]

Right,here goes. Tree letdown procedures that would be used with the suit are outlined in the following pubs.
www.fs.fed.us/fire/aviation/av_library/sj_guide/index.html
Air Force Instruction 16-1202,3 May 2001,Pararescue Operations,Techniques and Procedures. http://afpubs.hq.af.mil
Found an article on US Army Airborne rough terrain parachuting at: www.army.mil/soldiers/mar1999/features/index.html

Googled up Rough Terrain Parachute Suit and it took me to a surplus dealer in SC who had them for sale at $99.00.First time I've ever seen them for sale.

[Hicks]

Thanks very much for the reply and the links. Much appreciated! If it's possible I would like to check out that surplus dealer to see if they can help me out with lowering lines, helmet ect. Do you have a link so I can check?

[retrobob]

Glad the info was of some use.Found that link.www.scarmysurplus.com
You'll find the rough terrain suit in the 'Field gear' section of their surplus page. Hope it helps

[Hollis]

I guess this person could not post his message so he sent it to the Mods.


Airborne Sapper says;
I used one of these while I was in the Army Very few people that know about these suits they are for Static line jumps from a Chinuck hellicopter with the searable chutes at 800-1500 feet. If you land right it is the softest landing you will ever have!

[Raw1]

Nice piece of kit you found there, very interesting.
One question i have is would the suit have to be ditched after landing?