MILITARY FREEFALL INFILTRATION CANDIDATE STUDY & PREPARATION GUIDE
1. WELCOME & HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
This curriculum is your study material for the Bronze Squadron HAHO/HALO course. HAHO and HALO are the two forms of military freefall infiltration you will be trained and tested on — jumping from high altitude and either opening low (HALO) or opening high and flying a long canopy route to the objective (HAHO).
Read this guide fully before you attend. The most important thing to understand up front is this: the altitude and oxygen mechanics in this course are lethal if you get them wrong. This is not a jump where mistakes are forgiven. Section 3 covers the system that will kill an unprepared candidate — learn it cold before anything else.
How to study this guide
- Start with Section 3 (the SWAG oxygen system). If you do not understand it, nothing else matters — you will not survive the jump.
- Work through the four modules in order. Each represents a phase of the jump, from planning to landing.
- Study Section 8 (Evaluation) so you know exactly what you are being scored on and what will fail you outright.
- Come prepared to verify your own equipment. Instructors verify your loadout — they do not build it for you.
Everything in this course depends on equipment discipline. A candidate who cannot manage their own oxygen system is not ready to jump. Learn the system and check it yourself — every time.
2. COURSE OVERVIEW
The HAHO/HALO course evaluates your ability to plan, rig, execute, and survive a military freefall infiltration, then transition cleanly into ground operations once you land. You are tested from the moment you begin planning to the moment your element is consolidated and ready to move.
What It Tests
Your ability to rig and manage your own equipment, execute a controlled jump, navigate under canopy, and lead or contribute to a clean insertion — all under a live altitude-and-oxygen threat.
The Two Jumps
HALO (High Altitude, Low Opening) — short freefall, low canopy deployment. HAHO (High Altitude, High Opening) — open high and fly an extended canopy route to the objective. You may be evaluated on either or both.
Environment
ARMA Reforger with the SWAG Infiltration mod active. Above 1000m, the oxygen system is live and lethal. See Section 3.
The Four Phases
Plan & Rig, Aircraft & Exit, Freefall & Canopy, Land & Consolidate — run in sequence. A mistake early carries through the whole jump.
Outcome
You will receive one of three results: Pass, Remediation, or a review referral. See Section 8.
The jump is the insertion — not the mission. Reaching the ground alive is the minimum. How you consolidate, secure the DZ, and get your element ready to move is just as heavily evaluated as the jump itself.
3. THE SWAG SYSTEM — ALTITUDE & OXYGEN
This is the most important section in the guide. The SWAG Infiltration mod simulates altitude sickness during military freefall. Above 1000m, you lose oxygen and die unless you have the correct equipment active. There is no recovery once oxygen depletion begins — prevention is the only option.
The Four Items You Must Have
To survive above 1000m, two items must be active at the same time. One without the other will not protect you:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| SOLR Mask | Must be EQUIPPED — worn in your mask slot. Not in your inventory, not in your backpack. On your face. |
| Personal Oxygen Bottle | Must be present IN YOUR INVENTORY. It has to be in your inventory to function with the mask. |
| Sterling HAHO/HALO Parachute | This is located in your back section in Bacon Loadout Editor. This is the only approved Parachute at this time. |
| MFF Waist Bag | This is located in Extra 5 in Bacon Loadout Editor. This is used to store your rifle while conducting your jump, and or, store your mission pack in while utilizing the parachute. |
The Rule You Cannot Forget
SOLR Mask equipped PLUS Oxygen Bottle in inventory equals protected above 1000m. Both are required, simultaneously, the entire time you are above that altitude. Neither one alone will save you. If you remove the mask above 1000m, or your bottle is not in your inventory, the altitude sickness mechanic begins and you will die.
When the Threat Is Active
- On the aircraft, once you climb above 1000m — the threat is already live before you even jump.
- Throughout freefall — you are well above 1000m the entire time.
- Under canopy — until you descend through 1000m. Do not remove your mask early just because the canopy is open.
- The threat only ends once you are below 1000m. Until then, the system stays on and it does not forgive.
Memorize this before you arrive: mask ON your face, bottle IN your inventory, both active until you are below 1000m. This single rule is the difference between completing the jump and dying on it. Instructors will check your loadout before you board — but the responsibility to maintain it in the air is entirely yours.
4. MODULE 1 — PLAN & RIG
Focus: Independent planning and self-rigging before the jump.
Before you ever board the aircraft, you rig your own equipment. Instructors do not issue your gear — they verify it. This phase is your first evaluation, and it is where a lot of candidates quietly fail before they leave the ground. If you cannot check your own loadout, you are not ready to jump.
What you must be able to do
- Select your own equipment from the arsenal — including the SOLR Mask and Oxygen Bottle — and place each item correctly (mask equipped, bottle in inventory).
- Self-verify your loadout without being prompted. You should be able to confirm your own readiness, not wait for an instructor to catch a mistake.
- Understand your jump: know your jump type, your exit altitude, your planned opening altitude, and your drop zone and rally points.
- Plan for things going wrong — an alternate rally point, what you do if the team separates, what you do if your canopy has a problem.
Study points
| SKILL | WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE |
|---|---|
| Equipment Selection | You choose the SOLR Mask and Oxygen Bottle without being reminded, and you place each one correctly. |
| Self-Verification | You run your own loadout check and can confirm you are jump-ready. You do not rely on an instructor to find your gaps. |
| Jump Knowledge | You can state your jump type, exit altitude, and opening altitude out loud before boarding. You understand your oxygen exposure window. |
| Contingency Planning | Your plan includes what to do if things go wrong — not just the ideal case. You have a rally plan and a separation plan. |
5. MODULE 2 — AIRCRAFT & EXIT
Focus: Equipment discipline during the climb, and a clean, controlled exit.
Once you board and the aircraft climbs above 1000m, the oxygen threat is live — before you even jump. This phase tests whether you can exit the aircraft cleanly, in order, at the right point. A sloppy exit sets up a sloppy jump.
What you must be able to do
- Stay composed and focused during the transit. Do not distract yourself at the point where you most need to be ready.
- Exit cleanly at the assigned point, in the assigned order. Do not hesitate, break order, or exit at the wrong position.
- Stay switched on for updates. Plans can change while you are on the aircraft — you need to hear and act on new information before you jump.
Study points
| SKILL | WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE |
|---|---|
| Oxygen Discipline | Your mask stays equipped and your bottle stays in inventory the entire time above 1000m. No lapses, no exceptions. |
| Composure | You are focused and deliberate during the transit and at the exit point — not rushed, distracted, or visibly unready. |
| Exit Discipline | You exit cleanly at the correct point in the correct order. Your exit is controlled, not a scramble. |
| Staying Alert | You take in updates and adjust. If the plan changes before you jump, you catch it and account for it rather than jumping on old information. |
Details of the jump can change while you are on the aircraft — the drop zone, the exit point, the timing. Stay listening and stay ready to adjust. A candidate who tunes out during the climb and jumps on outdated information has made an avoidable mistake.
6. MODULE 3 — FREEFALL & CANOPY
Focus: Stable freefall, correct opening, and canopy navigation to the DZ.
This is the heart of the course. From exit to landing you are managing altitude and navigation. The oxygen system is still live for most of this phase. This is where the differences between a prepared candidate and an unprepared one become obvious fast.
HALO — Freefall
- Exit cleanly and get stable in your body position within the first few seconds. Control comes from stability.
- Keep your oxygen system active throughout freefall — you are well above 1000m and the mask stays on.
- Open at your planned altitude. Opening too early or too late is a logged mistake.
- Once your canopy is open, orient to the DZ immediately. Do not drift without a plan.
HAHO — Canopy Navigation
- A high opening gives you a long time under canopy. This is a navigation problem, not just a flying problem — you are flying a route, not just descending.
- Track your heading, adjust for wind, and steer to your designated DZ or rally point.
- Stay with your element. A team that scatters across the sky without a recovery plan has failed the navigation standard.
- Keep your oxygen system active until you descend through 1000m. Do not remove the mask until you're on the deck.
Study points
| SKILL | WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE |
|---|---|
| Opening Discipline | You open at your planned altitude — not early, not late. You hit your number. |
| Navigation | You steer deliberately to your DZ, adjusting for wind and heading. You always know where you are going. |
| Oxygen to the Threshold | You keep your mask on until you're on the deck. |
| Team Awareness | You keep track of your element and support the rally plan rather than flying your own solo route. |
Expect things to change on the way down. A drop zone can shift, an element can separate, a threat can appear near your landing area. Stay flexible, keep navigating deliberately, and do not let a surprise turn into a scramble. The candidates who adapt calmly are the ones who pass.
7. MODULE 4 — LAND & CONSOLIDATE
Focus: Landing, DZ security, accountability, and readiness to move.
Landing is not the finish line — it is the handoff from insertion to mission. This phase tests whether you can land, account for your element, secure the drop zone, and be ready to move to your objective. A great jump followed by a chaotic landing is still a failed insertion.
8. HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED
You are scored across four focus areas — one for each part of the jump. Each area carries equal weight. You cannot pass by being strong in three and weak in one. Know what each measures so you can prepare deliberately.
The Four Focus Areas
| Focus Area | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Equipment Discipline | Did you rig, verify, and maintain your oxygen system correctly throughout? Did you self-check without prompting? Were there any lapses above 1000m? |
| Jump Execution | Did you exit cleanly, stay stable, and open at the correct altitude? For HAHO, did you navigate effectively under canopy? |
| Team Cohesion | Did you stay aware of your element through freefall and canopy, and support the rally plan and your teammates after landing? |
| Mission Continuity | Did you transition from the jump into ground operations without losing focus — contributing to DZ security, accountability, and readiness to move? |
Your Possible Results
| Result | Description |
|---|---|
| PASS | Competent across all four areas. You managed your own equipment throughout, executed a clean jump, and any minor mistakes were self-corrected. Ready to move forward. |
| REMEDIATION | Strong in most areas but with a significant problem in one that you did not correct. You will get specific feedback and a chance to be re-evaluated. |
| REVIEW | A serious problem in more than one area, or a single critical failure. This goes to command before any next step. |
Critical Failures — Know These
The following will end your evaluation no matter how well you did everything else. There is no acceptable version of these:
- Boarding the aircraft without your SOLR Mask equipped and your Oxygen Bottle in inventory.
- Removing your oxygen equipment above 1000m during any phase.
- Dying to altitude sickness because of an equipment failure you caused.
- Abandoning a teammate after landing without a command decision.
- Being dishonest about your equipment status or your actions in the debrief. Own your mistakes — misrepresenting them is worse than making them.
Notice that three of the five critical failures are about oxygen. That is not an accident — equipment discipline is the spine of this entire course. If you take one thing from this guide, take the oxygen rule from Section 3.
9. PREPARATION CHECKLIST
Work through this before you attend. If you can honestly check every box, you are prepared.
Knowledge
- I understand the oxygen rule: SOLR Mask equipped + Oxygen Bottle in inventory, both active until on the deck
- I know the difference between HALO and HAHO and what each requires of me.
- I understand what each of the four phases tests and what good performance looks like.
- I know the five critical failures and I have committed to never causing one.
Skills & Setup
- My ARMA Reforger install and the SWAG Infiltration mod are working, and I am comfortable with the jump mechanics.
- I can rig my own loadout — mask equipped, bottle in inventory — and verify it myself without prompting.
- My push-to-talk is configured and tested for both radio and local voice.
- I can navigate under canopy — track a heading, adjust for wind, and steer to a point.
Mindset
- I will check my own equipment rather than relying on an instructor to catch mistakes.
- I will stay alert on the aircraft and adjust if the plan changes before I jump.
- I will keep my oxygen system active until I am on the deck — every time.
- I will treat the landing as the start of the mission, not the end of the jump.
Bring questions with you. The candidates who do best are prepared and thought ahead. Rig your gear right, know the oxygen rule, and arrive ready to jump — not hoping to figure it out on the ramp.
10. CANDIDATE QUICK REFERENCE CARD
The essentials, on one page. Know these before you arrive.
1. THE OXYGEN RULE
SOLR Mask EQUIPPED (on your face) + Oxygen Bottle IN INVENTORY. Both active until on the deck. Neither alone protects you.
2. THE FOUR PHASES
- Plan & Rig
- Aircraft & Exit
- Freefall & Canopy
- Land & Consolidate
Plan & Rig
Rig your own gear. Place mask and bottle correctly. Self-verify. Know your jump type, altitudes, and rally plan. Be at the aircraft on time.
Aircraft & Exit
Oxygen stays active above 1000m — including on the plane. Stay composed. Exit clean, in order, at the right point. Catch any updates.
Freefall & Canopy
Open at your planned altitude. Navigate to the DZ. Keep the mask on until on the deck. Stay with your element.
Land & Consolidate
Secure the DZ first. Headcount at the rally point. Transition gear correctly. Be ready for a casualty and the next objective.
3. NEVER DO THIS
- Never board without a mask + bottle
- Never remove oxygen gear above 1000m
- Never abandon a teammate
- Never lie in the debrief
4. REMEMBER
The jump is the insertion, not the mission. Equipment discipline is everything. Preparation is how you pass.
The SWAG mod does not forgive equipment negligence. Rig right, check twice, breathe.