U.S. paratroopers practice jumping into water at Lake Garda in Italy on April 10, 2025. The skill helps them deploy to areas where traditional drop zones are unavailable. (Mariah Gonzalez/U.S. Army)
VICENZA, Italy — U.S. paratroopers had a liquid drop zone this week, with Lake Garda serving as the latest scene of water airborne operations training for members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
The jump on Thursday involved more than 400 soldiers, with 200 of them conducting helocast jumps — descending from helicopters into the water without a parachute — while 226 parachuted from planes.
The lake event followed a “wet silk” training last month in the swimming pool at Caserma Ederle, where soldiers rehearsed how to remove themselves from parachutes that had trapped their faces underwater.
“Falling into water can be really jarring if you don’t have the training,” said brigade spokeswoman Capt. Jennifer French.
Waterborne training is critical for deployment in environments where traditional drop zones are unavailable, she added.
Dozens of family members and friends observed the training Thursday from the lakeshore under sunny springtime skies. While the event was thrilling for spectators and fun for paratroopers, French said it’s about more than a show.
“The ability to execute water jumps and helocast operations ... enhances confidence in high-risk, complex insertions,” she said.
A U.S. Army paratrooper assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, packs his T-11 parachute into a universal parachutist recovery bag on a collection boat after conducting an airborne operation over Lake Garda, Italy, Apr. 10, 2025. (Mariah Gonzalez/U.S. Army)
A U.S. paratrooper jumps into Italy's Lake Garda on April 10, 2025. Hundreds of soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade made jumps into the lake as part of water airborne operations training. (Mariah Gonzalez/U.S. Army)
U.S. paratroopers descend toward Lake Garda in Italy as part of a water airborne training on April 10, 2025. (Mariah Gonzalez/U.S. Army)
American paratroopers practice jumping into water at Lake Garda in Italy on April 10, 2025. The skill helps them deploy to areas where traditional drop zones are unavailable. (Mariah Gonzalez/U.S. Army)
