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There is a great tactical advantage to being able to drop in unannounced. It is this element of surprise that makes the U.S. Airborne Ranger HALO Parachutist so valuable a fighting force. With the aircraft leveling out at up to 40,000 feet, these Airborne Rangers deploy High Altitude Low Opening, or HALO, parachutes in order to fall upon the enemy undetected. In most cases, they do not open chutes until they have fallen to an altitude of only 2,000 feet. In some cases, they wait even longer. It takes nerves of steel, more than a little luck, and some very special equipment.