They take it in easy stages at the parachute training grounds at Fort Benning, Ga. Not until the “rookie” parachute troopers have tried dropping from the skies in a variety of safe ways are they permitted to make an actual jump from a plane. The first step in tower training is a controlled descent in which two trainees come down in a seat like that familiar to New York World’s Fair visitors. Later the regulation parachute harness replaces the seat. In another stage of practice the pupil, in a prone position, is lifted 150 feet and then on signal from his instructor he pulls the ripcord and drops 15 feet to be jerked upright. This simulates the sensations of an actual jump.