Assessor Resource

DEFMIL027
Perform a team free fall parachute descent

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit describes the skills required to perform a free fall parachute descent, carrying combat equipment, as part of a team. Descents commence from an altitude below 12 000 feet above mean sea level and land on a drop zone during day and night. Team military free fall parachute descents are a method of deploying a team from an aircraft into an operational area and involve the exercise of both individual and team responsibilities.

This unit was developed for military personnel required to perform a free fall parachute descent in a deployed operational environment but is applicable to any individual in this field of work.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.

Those undertaking this unit would work as part of a team, under direct and/or indirect supervision. They would use discretion and judgement, and take responsibility for the quality of their outputs while performing specific tasks in a broad range of unpredictable contexts.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.

1. Prepare for a team free fall parachute descent with combat equipment

1.1 Confirm instructions to conduct a team free fall parachute descent.

1.2 Select, fit and pack equipment and inspect for serviceability.

1.3 Quarantine and report unserviceable equipment.

1.4 Rehearse conduct of the descent with team members prior to boarding the aircraft.

2. Complete on board aircraft procedures with combat equipment

2.1 Board aircraft with equipment and position and secure self and equipment.

2.2 Communicate verbally and non-verbally with other personnel on board.

2.3 Carry out safety checks.

3. Exit from the aircraft and descend by free fall as a member of a team while carrying combat equipment

3.1 Exit the aircraft using team techniques.

3.2 Establish and maintain stability in free fall flight and recover from instability when necessary.

3.3 Establish and maintain relative position within the team.

3.4 Maintain situational awareness during day and night descents.

3.5 Carry out individual and team free fall positions and manoeuvres.

3.6 Communicate verbally and non-verbally with other paratroopers as required.

4. Control a ram air canopy descent as a member of a team while carrying combat equipment

4.1 Activate parachute to open at a designated time or height.

4.2 Conduct relevant drills to detect and rectify malfunctions and routine opening problems.

4.3 Identify team leader and team members after canopy opening during day and night descents.

4.4 Maintain team day and night descent using canopy control and manoeuvre techniques.

4.5 Conduct controllability checks and malfunction drills.

4.6 Assess contingency and emergency situations and apply the correct drills to rectify the situation.

5. Land on a drop zone as a member of a team while carrying combat equipment

5.1 Identify designated drop zone marking and wind indicators for day and night descents and plan target approach.

5.2 Lower combat equipment at the correct height during approach.

5.3 Apply target approach techniques to land in accordance with environmental conditions.

5.4 Complete emergency landings drills.

5.5 Apply harness release and drag procedures.

5.6 Clear drop zone without adversely affecting other team members.

6. Complete free fall post descent procedures

6.1 Review performance during team free fall parachute descent.

6.2 Complete documentation.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

maintaining situational awareness during free fall descent and canopy flight

using exit techniques, canopy control techniques, landing techniques

maintaining free fall positions

carrying out activation drills, malfunction drills, emergency drills

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

controllability checks

effect of environmental conditions on parachuting

contingency and emergency situations while carrying combat equipment

Competency should be demonstrated over time and across a range of simulated or actual workplace situations involving a number of team parachute descents carrying combat equipment, supported by simulated opening problems, malfunctions and other contingencies and emergencies.

Competency must be assessed during the preparation and performance of actual free fall parachute descents as part of a team, carrying combat equipment, although due to safety limitations, assessment of the individual’s response to routine problems, malfunctions and other contingencies and emergencies will need to be undertaken in a simulated environment.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.

1. Prepare for a team free fall parachute descent with combat equipment

1.1 Confirm instructions to conduct a team free fall parachute descent.

1.2 Select, fit and pack equipment and inspect for serviceability.

1.3 Quarantine and report unserviceable equipment.

1.4 Rehearse conduct of the descent with team members prior to boarding the aircraft.

2. Complete on board aircraft procedures with combat equipment

2.1 Board aircraft with equipment and position and secure self and equipment.

2.2 Communicate verbally and non-verbally with other personnel on board.

2.3 Carry out safety checks.

3. Exit from the aircraft and descend by free fall as a member of a team while carrying combat equipment

3.1 Exit the aircraft using team techniques.

3.2 Establish and maintain stability in free fall flight and recover from instability when necessary.

3.3 Establish and maintain relative position within the team.

3.4 Maintain situational awareness during day and night descents.

3.5 Carry out individual and team free fall positions and manoeuvres.

3.6 Communicate verbally and non-verbally with other paratroopers as required.

4. Control a ram air canopy descent as a member of a team while carrying combat equipment

4.1 Activate parachute to open at a designated time or height.

4.2 Conduct relevant drills to detect and rectify malfunctions and routine opening problems.

4.3 Identify team leader and team members after canopy opening during day and night descents.

4.4 Maintain team day and night descent using canopy control and manoeuvre techniques.

4.5 Conduct controllability checks and malfunction drills.

4.6 Assess contingency and emergency situations and apply the correct drills to rectify the situation.

5. Land on a drop zone as a member of a team while carrying combat equipment

5.1 Identify designated drop zone marking and wind indicators for day and night descents and plan target approach.

5.2 Lower combat equipment at the correct height during approach.

5.3 Apply target approach techniques to land in accordance with environmental conditions.

5.4 Complete emergency landings drills.

5.5 Apply harness release and drag procedures.

5.6 Clear drop zone without adversely affecting other team members.

6. Complete free fall post descent procedures

6.1 Review performance during team free fall parachute descent.

6.2 Complete documentation.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

maintaining situational awareness during free fall descent and canopy flight

using exit techniques, canopy control techniques, landing techniques

maintaining free fall positions

carrying out activation drills, malfunction drills, emergency drills

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

controllability checks

effect of environmental conditions on parachuting

contingency and emergency situations while carrying combat equipment

Competency should be demonstrated over time and across a range of simulated or actual workplace situations involving a number of team parachute descents carrying combat equipment, supported by simulated opening problems, malfunctions and other contingencies and emergencies.

Competency must be assessed during the preparation and performance of actual free fall parachute descents as part of a team, carrying combat equipment, although due to safety limitations, assessment of the individual’s response to routine problems, malfunctions and other contingencies and emergencies will need to be undertaken in a simulated environment.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Confirm instructions to conduct a team free fall parachute descent. 
Select, fit and pack equipment and inspect for serviceability. 
Quarantine and report unserviceable equipment. 
Rehearse conduct of the descent with team members prior to boarding the aircraft. 
Board aircraft with equipment and position and secure self and equipment. 
Communicate verbally and non-verbally with other personnel on board. 
Carry out safety checks. 
Exit the aircraft using team techniques. 
Establish and maintain stability in free fall flight and recover from instability when necessary. 
Establish and maintain relative position within the team. 
Maintain situational awareness during day and night descents. 
Carry out individual and team free fall positions and manoeuvres. 
Communicate verbally and non-verbally with other paratroopers as required. 
Activate parachute to open at a designated time or height. 
Conduct relevant drills to detect and rectify malfunctions and routine opening problems. 
Identify team leader and team members after canopy opening during day and night descents. 
Maintain team day and night descent using canopy control and manoeuvre techniques. 
Conduct controllability checks and malfunction drills. 
Assess contingency and emergency situations and apply the correct drills to rectify the situation. 
Identify designated drop zone marking and wind indicators for day and night descents and plan target approach. 
Lower combat equipment at the correct height during approach. 
Apply target approach techniques to land in accordance with environmental conditions. 
Complete emergency landings drills. 
Apply harness release and drag procedures. 
Clear drop zone without adversely affecting other team members. 
Review performance during team free fall parachute descent. 
Complete documentation. 
Confirm instructions to conduct a team free fall parachute descent. 
Select, fit and pack equipment and inspect for serviceability. 
Quarantine and report unserviceable equipment. 
Rehearse conduct of the descent with team members prior to boarding the aircraft. 
Board aircraft with equipment and position and secure self and equipment. 
Communicate verbally and non-verbally with other personnel on board. 
Carry out safety checks. 
Exit the aircraft using team techniques. 
Establish and maintain stability in free fall flight and recover from instability when necessary. 
Establish and maintain relative position within the team. 
Maintain situational awareness during day and night descents. 
Carry out individual and team free fall positions and manoeuvres. 
Communicate verbally and non-verbally with other paratroopers as required. 
Activate parachute to open at a designated time or height. 
Conduct relevant drills to detect and rectify malfunctions and routine opening problems. 
Identify team leader and team members after canopy opening during day and night descents. 
Maintain team day and night descent using canopy control and manoeuvre techniques. 
Conduct controllability checks and malfunction drills. 
Assess contingency and emergency situations and apply the correct drills to rectify the situation. 
Identify designated drop zone marking and wind indicators for day and night descents and plan target approach. 
Lower combat equipment at the correct height during approach. 
Apply target approach techniques to land in accordance with environmental conditions. 
Complete emergency landings drills. 
Apply harness release and drag procedures. 
Clear drop zone without adversely affecting other team members. 
Review performance during team free fall parachute descent. 
Complete documentation. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

DEFMIL027 - Perform a team free fall parachute descent
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

DEFMIL027 - Perform a team free fall parachute descent

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: