How To Become A Marine Parachute Rigger

A marine parachute rigger is a job that comes with a lot of responsibility, so before we see how to become a marine parachute rigger, let’s briefly discuss what becoming a marine parachute rigger involves. 

Job Description 

Marine Corps parachute riggers are responsible for maintaining the equipment related to airborne operations in the Marine Corps but that is just the start of their duties.

They are in charge of carrying out parachute repacking and performing maintenance, both preventive and corrective, on all airdrop equipment.

Additionally, they facilitate the planning and execution of an aerial mission by evaluating potential landing zones or drop zones.

In support of airborne and airdrop missions, they could carry out a variety of supervision tasks.

They must be knowledgeable about all the various kinds of parachutes and how to pack them appropriately.

 Now let’s get straight to discussing how to become a marine parachute rigger.

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How To Become A Marine Parachute Rigger – Steps/Job Requirements

There is no one definitive path to becoming a marine parachute rigger. 

However, there are certain requirements you must meet and steps to take if you want to become a marine parachute rigger.

Job/General Requirements 

• You must be a U.S. citizen:

If you’re interested in becoming a Marine parachute rigger, there are a few things you should know. First and foremost, you must be a U.S. citizen to qualify. 

If you’re not a citizen of the United States, you are not qualified for this role and will not be accepted.

• You must be a volunteer, The U.S. Marine Corps’ Parachute Riggers are highly skilled and specially trained professionals, who maintain and operate the corps’ parachuting systems. 

To become a Marine parachute rigger, you must first be a volunteer, meeting all the requirements for service in the Marine Corps.

• Must be eligible for a secret security clearance. To become a marine parachute rigger, you must be eligible for a secret security clearance. 

•  In addition to being a U.S. citizen, you must also have a valid driver’s license and pass a drug test. 

• You must also be at least 18 years old and have completed high school or equivalent education

• To become a Marine parachute rigger, one must possess a GT score of 100 or higher.

 A GT score is a compilation of scores in military tests of communication skills and reasoning ability.

This score is used to determine a person’s eligibility for certain military occupations. The Marine parachute rigger occupation is open to those who have scored at least 95 on the GT test.

Read also: Marine Basic Training: Everything You Need to Know

The Physical Requirements

To become a Marine parachute rigger, you must first meet the physical requirements.

You must be in excellent physical condition with a body fat percentage of 18% or less. 

You must also be able to pass the Marine Physical Fitness Test, which includes a timed three-mile run, pull-ups, and crunches.

The Swimming Requirements 

To become a marine parachute rigger, you must be able to swim. 

The basic swimming requirement for Marine Corps parachute riggers is to be able to swim 100 yards (91 meters) in any direction and then be able to tread water or float for 10 minutes. 

This is a basic requirement that all Marines must meet to serve in the Marine Corps. 

The Marine Corps has a high standard for its parachute riggers and requires them to be able to swim to do their job safely. 

This is just one of the many requirements that Marines must meet to become a marine parachute rigger. 

Complete The Basic Airborne Course (BAC), In The U.S. Army Infantry School In Ft. Benning, Georgia.

Assuming you get through all of the above successfully, to become a Marine Parachute Rigger in the U.S. Army, soldiers must first complete the Basic Airborne Course (BAC) at the Infantry School in Ft. Benning, Georgia.

The BAC is a three-week course that teaches soldiers how to parachute jump from aircraft and land safely.

Students must pass a physical fitness test and a written exam to graduate from the course. After this, you must take a Marine Parachute Rigger Course.

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Take A Parachute Riggers Course

A Marine Parachute Rigger Course is being taught in the U.S. Army Quartermaster School in Ft. Lee, Virginia from September 3-27, 2013. 

The course is open to all branches of the military and civilians with a requirement to become a marine parachute rigger.

 The course will provide the students with the skills and knowledge necessary to rig military parachutes and packaging systems for airdrops. 

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to rig airborne personnel platforms and loads for delivery by parachute systems into hostile or non-hostile environments.

Conclusion 

Becoming a Marine parachute rigger is not an easy task.

It takes years of training and hard work to become proficient in this field. However, the result is well worth the effort. 

So using this article as a guide, you can begin your journey to becoming a marine parachute rigger.