Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and formed into an airborne force. Paratroopers have a tactical advantage in that they can appear on the battlefield anywhere that aircraft can fly over. Thus they can evade enemy fortifications designed to repel an attack from a specific direction, and also force the enemy to devote manpower to protecting its rear.

Paratroopers were first used extensively in World War II (and in German service, were referred to as fallschirmjäger.) A common use for paratroopers is to establish an airhead.

In World War II paratroopers most often used parachute of a round design. These parachutes could be manipulated in a minimal way by pulling on the risers, a strap connecting the paratroopers harness to the connectors and suspension lines which attach to the parachute canopy itself. German paratroopers, whose harnesses which much more like a sling were not manipulated in such a manner. Due to the limited capacity of period cargo aircraft they rarely if ever jumped in groups much larger than 20 from one aircraft. In American parlance, this load of paratroopers was called a "stick."

Today, paratroopers still use round parachutes, or round parachutes modified as to be more fully controlled with toggles and deployed by use of a static line. Due to the fact these are used en masse and at low altitude, mobility is purposely low as to limit collisions and prevent the scattering of a unit. Some military exhibition units, but most often special operations units, use "ram-air" wings which offer higher ability to turn and maneuver and are deployed without a static line from high altitude. In the American military any load of soldiers gathered for air movement is known as a "chalk."

Paratroopers forces around the world

Israeli Defence Forces - Paratroopers Brigade

Italian Army - Paratroops Brigade "Folgore"

British Army - The Parachute Regiment

United States Army - 82nd Airborne Division

United States Army - 101st Airborne Division Now Airmobile