Parachute Rigger - Army National Guard

Take your skills to new heights as a Parachute Rigger in the Army National Guard. You will be responsible for the safety of the men, women, and equipment that are using the parachutes you pack. This requires incredible attention to detail, as chutes of varying sizes must be precisely packed and maintained. In addition to packing chutes, you will take responsibility for maintaining the materials of the chute as well. This includes patching, sewing, and storage of the chutes, packs, and web gear. 

Did we mention that you’ll be jumping too? To test your chute-packing abilities, you’ll be required to jump in a chute you packed yourself. But don’t worry! Your training, which includes airborne jump training, will fully prepare you for the adventure.

Job Duties
• Rig supplies, equipment, and vehicles for airdrop
• Perform technical, routine, and in-storage rigger-type inspection on cargo, extraction, and personnel parachutes, as well as other airdrop equipment before, during, and after each use
• Inventory, clean, receive, store, and issue all airdrop equipment used in airdrop operations
• Use and maintain machines and tools for fabrication, modification and repair to parachutes and other airdrop equipment
• Inspect, test, and install extraction and release systems

Some of the Skills You’ll Learn
• Maintenance of air-sea rescue equipment
• Repair of inflatable rafts and other survival equipment

Helpful Skills
• Knowledge of shop mechanics and science
• High attention to detail
• Interest in contributing to the safety of others

Through your training, you will develop the skills and experience to enjoy a civilian career with parachute rigging and supply companies, commercial parachuting schools, some government agencies, and survival equipment manufacturing firms.

Earn While You Learn
Instead of paying to learn these skills, get paid to train. In the Army National Guard, you will learn these valuable job skills while earning a regular paycheck and qualifying for tuition assistance.

Job training for a Parachute Rigger consists of 10 weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 16 weeks of Advanced Individual Training. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field.