Airborne Apparel Company

10/15/2026

The Marines Lost Him to a Recruiting Poster

Kenneth “Rock” Merritt had planned to join the Marines because he liked their uniforms. While waiting to speak with a Marine recruiter, he spotted a poster of a Paratrooper descending beneath a canopy, a Thompson resting across his reserve.

Merritt later recalled the challenge underneath: “Are you man enough to fill these boots?”

The extra $50 a month in jump pay helped settle it. On October 15, 1942, the 19-year-old enlisted as a parachute volunteer. According to Merritt, he weighed just 120 pounds, and the recruiter told him he wasn’t going to make it.

Five days later, he was at Camp Blanding as the 508th was activated. He would jump into Normandy and Holland with 1/508 and earn the Silver Star for knocking out a German machine-gun position in Normandy.

Merritt’s Army career lasted 35 years, 31 of them on jump status. He served twice as the XVIII Airborne Corps CSM and continued mentoring Paratroopers long after retirement.

That recruiter underestimated him.

10/15/2026

Anybody else with dogs have a glass on their end table for these lil fu***rs?

10/14/2026

From "Just Another Base" to the Center of the Universe

On October 14, 1942, the 82nd Airborne Division's official chronology records its move from Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Airborne Command was already headquartered there, and the 101st had also arrived for training. But the 82nd's arrival would mark the beginning of something much bigger.

Following WWII, the 82nd returned to Bragg in 1946, this time to stay. What had been a wartime training base was becoming the permanent home of the American Airborne.

Then, in 1952, just ten years after the 82nd's arrival, the Army established its Psychological Warfare Center at Bragg, the predecessor of today's John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. With the 82nd firmly established and the Army's emerging Special Warfare community taking root, Bragg's transformation was complete.

What began as an artillery training post had become the Home of the Airborne and, to generations of Paratroopers and Special Operations Soldiers, the Center of the Universe.

October 14, 1942. The beginning of 84 years of Airborne history at Fort Bragg.

10/13/2026

40-years ago, this Army PSA, "My Hometown" hit the airwaves and nudged "Freedom isn't Free" deeper into the American vernacular. While we didn't update the visuals, we did ask our pal Dusty Riser to cover the song- and he did a helluva job! Fun fact, the production company used movie clips to make parts of this video - can you spot them?

10/13/2026

Long before “three miles up, three miles down” became part of Airborne legend, it was just another miserable morning at Camp Toccoa.

On October 13, 1942, David Kenyon Webster wrote home from Fco 506th after a run up Currahee.

Webster wrote that “every run they take around here leaves men strewn by the path.”

Some were doubled over with cramps. Others had sprained ankles. One Soldier, he wrote, repeatedly ran until he collapsed.

Webster is remembered today for Easy Company, but on October 13 he was still with F Company.

The legend came later.

That morning, Currahee was still doing what it did best.

Making Paratroopers hurt.

10/13/2026

Rangers, Still Leading the Way

A lot gets said about standards. Yesterday at AUSA, the 75th Ranger Regiment gave a pretty good demonstration of them.

The Regiment won Army Best Squad. Colin Doyle was named NCO of the Year. Michael Shield was named Soldier of the Year.

Alongside them were William Masters, William Schaeffer, and Marshall Garren.

Five Rangers. Three top Army honors. Still leading the way.

Photo 1: U.S. Army Photo by SPC Hannah Becker, United States Army Special Operations Command
Photos 2–4: U.S. Army Photo by SSG Alexander Nieves

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

Sixty-five years ago today, President Kennedy came to Bragg.

The 82nd filled the flight line at Pope.

At McKellar’s Pond, Special Forces demonstrated psychological warfare, rappelling, SCUBA operations and unconventional warfare.

Then somebody flew a 125-pound rocket belt toward the Commander-in-Chief.

The day ended at Sicily DZ with bombs, na**lm and a mass tactical jump.

Special Forces lined the route wearing newly authorized green berets.

Kennedy didn’t create the Green Beret that day.

He made it impossible to ignore.

October 12, 1961 — Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

10/12/2026

A Ranger never takes the easy way out... except at the airport