<P> In October 1985, the assets of the 4th Student Battalion (Airborne) were used to reactivate the 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, as part of the implementation of the U.S. Army Regimental System (USARS). The 1st Bn, 507th PIR was originally organized with six companies: Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), to provide administrative support and conduct the Pathfinder and Jumpmaster Courses; four Line Companies (A, B, C, and D) to conduct the Basic Airborne Course; and Company E, a parachute rigger support company . Company D has since been inactivated . </P> <P> The first week of the Basic Airborne Course is dedicated to teaching prospective troopers how to land properly to minimize the potential for injury and general familiarization with the T - 10D and T - 11 parachute . The T - 10D is a round - shaped parachute, and the T - 11 is a square - shaped parachute both using static line extraction with a descent rate of 18--23 ft / sec and 16--20 ft / sec respectively, dependent on the weight and equipment outfitting of the individual jumper . Prospective troopers are taught how to wear the parachute harness correctly and how to use the special training gear . During Ground Week, prospective troopers will spend the majority of time learning, practicing, and perfecting their Parachute Landing Fall (PLF) and proper exit technique from the aircraft . </P> <P> To practice the PLFs, soldiers will jump from platforms of various heights into sand or pebble pits, simulating the final stage of parachute landing . This maneuver teaches a soldier to transfer the energy of his fall (landing) up the sides of the lower legs and knees, all the way up to side of the upper body . During this period Black Hat instructors closely observe and correct the prospective troopers body position and technique making corrections . This week culminates in practice landings from the Lateral Drift Assembly, a' zip line' type assembly which simulates making contact with the ground traveling at speed and in various directions . In many cases the first use of the 34 - foot tower is made at the end of this period of training . </P> <P> To continue to week 2, prospective troopers must pass all jump training test as well as the standard Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) in the 17--21 year old range, regardless of the prospective trooper's actual age . Ground week is the phase of training in which the largest number of personnel washout . Depending on circumstances personnel who fail to advance are either dismissed from the course outright or less commonly recycled back to an earlier class for additional training . </P>

What percentage of the army is airborne qualified