Yes the A400 has been undergoing trials for the last four years for Parachuting conversion. A good friend who spent the last 5 years of his 22 in The Parachute Regiment, was at RAF Brize Norton Number 1 PTS doing just that.
Very brave if you ask me, not a job I'd like to have done, but it was all wasted as the aircraft had a modification and all his chancing with death was wasted and the trials continue.

16 Air Assault Brigade has a new General..... Andy Harrison, and with that comes fresh ideas.

Probably back to being called 16 PARA Brigade (so called following the Battle for Arnhem when 1st Airborne and 6th Airborne were the Force to be reckoned with in WW2 after quick formation when Churchill needed 5,000 PARA trained troops) thought I would throw that in for those that didn't know! Thats why history plays a big part in retaining the numbers!

We will probably be called COMBAT units soon, so we can have the Royal Marines join the happy throng.................why not.....as long as they have done their PARA course and everything that entails. Afterall, they do have a company of RM's in the Special Forces Support Group with a company of RAF Regiment with 1 PARA.

WHO CARES WHO WINS!!