<P> Finally, soldiers get to practice their new skills while jumping out of real aircraft in flight . The C - 130 or C - 17 aircraft pick up the paratrooper students in front of the hangar at Lawson Army Airfield . From there it is a very short flight to Fryar Field (commonly referred to as "Fryar Drop Zone"), where all of the training jumps are accomplished . Fryar Field is named after Private Elmer E. Fryar of the United States Army's 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War II . </P> <P> The Air Force aircraft fly at 1250 feet above the ground at an airspeed of about 130 knots . After the flight crew completes the pre-drop and slow - down checklists, soldiers rise out of their seats and move at the jumpmaster's direction to one of two paratroop doors (on each side of the aircraft). At "green light" one stick of soldiers exits the plane--jumpers continue to move to the door until the red light is illuminated . At that point the aircraft will begin its racetrack maneuver circling back to the beginning of the drop zone and continue to do this until all jumpers have jumped . </P> <P> A soldier must complete 5 jumps, normally including at least one night jump, to graduate Airborne School . During jump week, the schedule varies and soldiers will jump in a variety of configurations from unloaded Hollywood to fully equipped and loaded Combat jumps . Jump week can seem chaotic, with a large group of soldiers gathered in the ready - room waiting to be loaded onto the aircraft one chalk at a time . Immediately after landing on the Drop Zone (DZ), the soldiers collect their parachutes and other gear and meet back at the rally point on one side of the DZ, where they wait for a bus to take them back to Lawson Army Airfield to get ready for their next jump . </P> <P> The jump schedule varies greatly based on class dynamics, weather, and aircraft . Graduation is normally conducted at 0900 on Friday of Jump Week at the south end of Eubanks Field on the Airborne Walk . However, if there is inclement weather, or other factors delay the scheduled jumps, graduation may be conducted on Fryar Drop Zone following the last jump . Guests and family members are welcome to observe all of the jumps at the DZ, attend the graduation ceremony, and participate in awarding the parachutist wings to the soldiers . On graduation day, families typically spend only a few minutes with their soldier, pinning on his or her new airborne wings . The soldier frequently departs Fort Benning that day or the following day, to attend another advanced military school or to report to another duty station . </P>

How many times do you jump in airborne school