Dozens Of U.S. Army Paratroopers Reported Injured During Night Training Jump

Paratroopers descend toward Malemute Drop Zone at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 17, 2018. The soldiers are assigned to Army Alaska’s 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Javier Alvarez

Task & Purpose: Multiple Army paratroopers reported injured during night training jump

Multiple Army paratroopers were taken to local hospitals on Wednesday after being injured during a nighttime training jump at Camp Shelby, a Joint Forces Training Center run by the Mississippi National Guard.

The number of injured may number more than 80 soldiers, who apparently parachuted from a C-130 and glided into a wooded area, Lt. Col. Deidre Smith, a spokesman for the Mississippi National Guard, told WDAM-7.

"We do not have final numbers of injured or the extent of injuries right now and there are no life-threatening injuries reported at this time," Daniel Szarek, a spokesman for Camp Shelby, told Task & Purpose, adding that some paratroopers had "missed the intended drop zone," though he cautioned that not all were injured or landed in trees.

"This is an ongoing investigation and more information will be released as it becomes available," he said.

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Update: 22 Soldiers Hurt After Parachuting Into Trees During Mississippi Training Exercise (NPR)

WNU Editor: Over 600 soldiers were involved in this exercise.

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