Honoring Women Paratroopers on National Airborne Day

National Airborne Day, observed on August 16, marks the anniversary of the first official U.S. Army parachute jump in 1940. It’s a day to recognize the dedication of paratroopers. Today we recognize this day and pay special tribute to the women who broke barriers to join their ranks.

In 1973, Privates Joyce Kutsch and Rita Johnson became the first women to graduate from Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Their graduation marked a turning point in airborne history, opening the door for women to pursue one of the Army’s most elite qualifications.

Though Kutsch and Johnson completed a slightly modified version of the course at the time, they met the core airborne standards, including five qualifying jumps from military aircraft. Even though these women were the first to be awarded their airborne wings, women parachute riggers had been serving since World War II, preparing equipment for combat jumps, even before they were allowed to participate.

Since then, women have continued to advance in airborne roles. Today, they complete the same physical and training requirements as their male counterparts and serve as jumpmasters, engineers, commanders, and more.

One of these women is Major Kyle Meisner, who joined the Army in 1996, earned her wings in 1997, and became a jumpmaster in 2015. Reflecting on her service she said:

“I was a driver and worked in a warehouse during my first enlistment. You can do both of those things in the civilian world, but you can’t jump out of an airplane, and you can’t be part of this family of paratroopers.”

In 2022, Meisner watched her daughter, Pvt. Rylee Montague, graduate from the same course. “Knowing that my [mom] already has been here and done that gave me the courage to take to go and follow through with it,” said Montague. “I just hope any other [woman] looking to join the Army also goes Airborne.”

On National Airborne Day, we honor their legacy, and all who’ve taken the leap since the first official Army jump on August 16^th, 1940.