In a recent Great Power War exercise on Hawaii’s Big Island, 864 Army paratroopers took to the skies in C-17 transport planes, but only 492 made it to the drop zone due to various issues with the aircraft. One soldier, Pvt. Second Class Erik Partida, suffered a harrowing 1,200-foot fall when his parachute failed to open, highlighting the dangers that soldiers face as the U.S. Army prepares for potential conflicts with China.
The Pentagon has labeled such a conflict as a Great Power War, which would involve the world’s two strongest militaries, both nuclear superpowers, potentially leading to a broader conflict with other nuclear adversaries like North Korea and Russia. The Army is training for this scenario, which would involve fighting on the ground, at sea, in the air, and even in space.
In this high-stakes environment, it is evident that the risks to soldiers are significant. Pvt. Partida’s fall serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by military personnel as they undergo training and preparation for potential conflicts. With the possibility of such devastating consequences in mind, it is clear that the Army’s readiness and preparedness are of utmost importance in order to protect the lives of its service members in the face of a potential Great Power War.
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