[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Breaking a Sweat in 30 Seconds of Training... Flying with Special Forces in the Sky

Special Warfare Command High-Altitude Parachute Training Experience
High-Altitude Parachute Jump in Typhoon-Level Winds in Wind Tunnel

Special Warfare Command (SWC) High-Altitude Center in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. It is the only place in the entire military where 'High Altitude Low Opening (HALO)' infiltration training takes place. HALO is an infiltration method where one jumps from an altitude of over 7.6 km, stabilizes their body in midair, and lands precisely at the target location. Only select personnel from the 707 Special Mission Battalion, reconnaissance units, and some members of the 9th Brigade, collectively known as the 'strongest special forces,' carry out HALO missions. Special mission soldiers from all branches of the military also train here.

Inside the SWC High-Altitude Center building visited on the 6th, the first thing that greeted the reporter was a large transparent pipe measuring 5 meters in diameter and 15 meters in height. It is a wind tunnel that blows strong wind upward from the bottom, creating the effect of descending in midair.

Basic Posture Training Leaves You Sweating in 30 Seconds

Stepping into the middle of the wind tunnel, a wave of tension swept over me. Although I was wearing a high-altitude suit, helmet, and windproof goggles, the strong wind hitting my entire body from the entrance was enough to contort my face.

The basic posture for HALO training is to lie face down with the stomach against the floor, stretch the head and legs upward, and form a 'U' shape. I was drenched in sweat within 30 seconds. Muscles I rarely used ached. I also learned hand signals. Raising the index finger means 'lift your head.' Extending the index and middle fingers means 'straighten your legs,' while folding them back signals 'bend your legs.'

After learning the basic posture, the wind tunnel was activated. The monitor in front of the controller displayed the wind speed. The wind speed was 250 km/h, comparable to a large Category A typhoon, and the speed experienced during free fall from 7 km altitude. According to officials, running the wind tunnel for one hour consumes as much fuel as ten commercial airplanes flying simultaneously for about an hour.

"Let's start with the basic environment of falling from 10,000 ft (3 km) altitude."

Following the instructor's command, as soon as I assumed the basic posture, my body floated like a bird in the air. The wonder was brief as my torso flailed uncontrollably in all directions. My entire body collided repeatedly with the transparent wind tunnel walls. When the instructor floated up and caught me, I barely regained balance. The instructor raised one index finger?a signal to lift my head. But I couldn't recall anything.Facing typhoon-level winds, my mind was in a daze.

I lifted my head and legs. As I assumed the basic posture, my body gradually stabilized. I spread both palms facing downward and straightened my curved waist, and my body slowly descended 8 meters. Spreading both palms downward and straightening my curved waist caused my body to rise up to 8 meters. However, even slight movements quickly flipped my body over. Moving slowly is the key to this training.

Actual soldiers performing HALO enter the wind tunnel six at a time, moving freely in various postures, but inside the 5-meter diameter cylinder, my body felt cramped and wobbly with even the slightest lapse in concentration. Maintaining the basic U-shaped posture required keeping my waist stiff, which caused pain.The 30-minute training felt like an eternity. The instructor emphasized, "If you lose balance, your body can get tangled in the parachute lines midair and fall. Since no one can help you during infiltration, you must focus your mind even more."

This time, I relaxed my entire body. But I still couldn't maintain balance. About an hour into the training, the instructor advised stopping. Overexertion could cause back injuries due to the strong winds. My knees and heels were repeatedly bruised from hitting the wind tunnel walls dozens of times, and when I took off the sweat-soaked high-altitude suit, my whole body was covered in bruises.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.