What is "treejumping"

Treejumping is a form of parachuting, into a forest or jungle – typically, from a relatively low altitude. It is generally considered to be a particularly dangerous form of parachuting. Treejumping is also especially damaging to the parachuting equipment.

The technique was pioneered by the British Special Air Service Regiment in 1951 during the Malayan Emergency, when insertion into dense jungle was required to combat the insurgents of the Malayan Races Liberation Army. Soldiers carried a 30-metre rope to enable them to abseil down from the forest canopy.

In the United States Army, there is one company of combat engineers, Bravo Company of the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat)(Airborne), trained to intentionally jump into forested areas in order to create drop zones for follow-on forces. In 2008, the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat)(Airborne) transformed, changing Bravo Company (Combat)(Airborne)(Rough Terrain) to the 57th Engineer Company (Airborne)(Sapper)(Rough Terrain).