I came across references to Airborne while researching military branches. Is it a separate branch or a part of another? Any clarification would be fantastic!
To answer your question, no, the "Airborne" is not a separate military branch. It is a distinction within the Army, particularly the U.S. Army. Essentially, airborne refers to units trained to conduct operations through parachuting from aircraft in the sky, usually from high altitudes. This involves training in specialized techniques, from how to properly exit an airplane to tactical formations once on the ground. An airborne military unit has the strategic advantage of being able to encroach on enemy territory or conduct surprise operations with heightened speed and flexibility.
The U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division, for instance, is a well-known airborne unit and part of the XVIII Airborne Corps. Joining an airborne unit requires completion of airborne training (what is often referred to as "jump school"), where soldiers learn the techniques and protocols necessary for paratrooper operations.
Thus, while not a separate branch, serving in an airborne unit is indeed a special designation that requires additional training and entails unique duties within the broader scope of the military institution it sits under.
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