CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina - Suspension lines on 13 parachutes were cut before a training exercise last month, forcing three jumpers to use their reserve chutes, the Marine Corps said.
The tampering was discovered Sept. 21 when five Marines jumped from a C-17 aircraft during heavy equipment parachute training at Camp Lejeune.
Three parachutes malfunctioned and the jumpers used reserve chutes to land safely, a statement from the Marines said.
An inspection showed the lines of the three parachutes had been cut in a way to avoid detection, the statement said.
At least nine other chutes still packed and waiting on the shelves in warehouses were found with similar problems.
It was unclear where the 13th sabotaged parachute was found. A call to the Camp Lejeune public affairs office was not returned.
Marine investigators and agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are looking for a possible saboteur. There have been no arrests.
I say if they catch the low-life #&#@*&7@% that did this that they be locked in a room with those Marines.
I agree wholeheartedly, Sam. Am I being naive to believe that a fellow Marine would never do this to a fellow Marine?
PS What is the chain of events for packing chutes? Do they pack their own? Does somebody else pack them? Are only Marines involved in the chain of custody of them?
TROOPS, DO ANY OF YOU JUMP? A LITTLE HELP HERE!