In an unprecedented feat celebrating female courage and determination, more than 100 female paratroopers from six battalions of the US Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, stationed between Germany and Italy, gathered at the Aviano Air Base to participate in the first all-female airborne operation.
On a bright day, caressed by a light breeze, the parachutists performed a jump from two C-130 cargo planes, flying over the north-eastern town of Vajont. During their descent, their parachutes deployed harmoniously, offering a veiled view of the Dolomite mountains and landing on the green fields of the 'Juliet' Launch Zone.
The event is part of the Women's History Month celebrated in the United States (Women's History Month), bearing witness to the commitment of women in positions of high responsibility, emphasising how their contribution is also essential for US national security and for NATO countries, through the support and promotion of the skills and competences acquired in a field, the military, which only opened up to women in the USA in the last century, and which only 30 years ago guaranteed them equal rights and duties compared to their male colleagues.
The exclusively female involvement, extending to launch directors and security personnel, emphasised a strong sense of community and mutual support among the participants.
The operation highlights the skills and courage of the female soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and also represents a significant moment in military history, demonstrating that valour and competence know no distinction of gender.
Women in the US Army
The United States Army included women among its forces on 15 May 1942, beginning with the formation of the Women's Army Corps (WAC), a section dedicated to women, under Public Law 554. The WAC was later elevated to full active duty status in 1943 and disbanded in 1978, when women were integrated into the previously male-only branches.
Since integration in 1978, women in the US military have served in the same units as men. This integration marked a path of progressive equality of treatment, culminating some 30 years ago when women in the US military were formally placed on an equal footing with their male colleagues, with the possibility, as of 1994, of being in, or in close proximity to, combat situations.
The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
The United States Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sky Soldiers) or 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based at Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy, has origins dating back to 1915, initially formed as the 173rd Infantry Brigade. Transformed into an airborne unit, it played a key role during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1971, becoming the first major US Army ground unit to enter combat and participating in intense battles, including Dak To.
The brigade returned to the United States in 1972, where the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 503rd Infantry were integrated into the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), while the 3rd Battalion of the 319th Field Artillery was reassigned to the Division Artillery of the 101st. The remaining units of the 173rd were disbanded.
Reconstituted in 2000, its command is divided between Italy, at Camp Del Din, and Germany, where the 91st reconnaissance squadron is located at Grafenwรถhr together with a battalion of paratroopers.
Subsequently, he took part in the Second Gulf War and three tours of duty in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In response to the Ukrainian crisis in 2014, four companies were deployed to Latvia and 200 troops to Ukraine for the annual NATO Rapid Dragon exercise in Lviv.
The 173rd consisted of approximately 3,300 personnel spread over six battalions, including specialised units such as the 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion (formerly the 173rd Special Troop Battalion), two parachute infantry battalions of the 503rd Regiment, the 1st (Airborne) Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment, an armoured cavalry squadron, a parachute field artillery battalion and a logistics support battalion, all of which qualified as parachute units.
Copyright Photo U.S. Air Force by Airman 1st Class Joseph Bartoszek
