First Women's Army Corps Parachutists, Fort Benning, Georgia Part 1

Description

INTERNATIONAL OF DEPARTMENT NEWSFILM RELEASE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PUBLIC AFFAIRS) UNITED STATES AMERICA WASHINGTON, D.C. - 20301 OF PLEASE NOTE DATE IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 1973 OXford 7-6161 Number 136-73 Footage: 202' 16mm Color Master Room 2E773 Time: 5:36 FIRST WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS PARACHUTISTS (Official U.S. Army Film Released by Department of Defense) DATE/PLACE: This footage was photographed December 11, 1973, at Fort Benning, Georgia. SCOPE: This coverage is of the first two women in the history of the U.S. Armed Forces to qualify as parachutists. ACKGROUND: Privates Joyce Kutsch and Rita Johnson enlisted in the Army under the parachute rigger enlistment option which has been newly opened to women. All parachute riggers had previously been men because only they could undergo Airborne training and thus adhere to the riggers creed that they will jump any 'chute that they or a fellow rigger pack. The only exception was during World War II when the jump requirement was relaxed and about 100 WACs packed parachutes. None was Airborne qualified or made jumps. Privates Kutsch and Johnson first took WAC Basic Training completed the three-week all-volunteer course to qualify them as military parachutists and now are attending the parachute rigging course at Fort Lee, Virginia. The young women made one jump on December 11, and two each on December 12 and 13 from a C-141 aircraft to qualify for their parachute badges. However, they will not be assigned to combat units or make combat jumps. SEQUENCES Footage: Video: 202' Various scenes of WAC parachutists in aircraft including jump. TE TO EDITORS: Please credit Department of Defense in title or commentary. This film was originally released by Fort Benning, Georgia, Information Office to ABC-TV on or about 11 December 1973.

Collection

Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

Series

Filmed News Releases