In the GDR there were militärischerseits, different combat units (pilots and parachute emergency service times excluded), with those the parachuting for training belonged. That were certain units of the Ministry for public security - here the distinction between the university-formed parachutists, who had for instance the same training as the paratroopers (it even annually three NCO pupils in the UAZ of the FJB/LStReg became. to become trained over in her unit group leader) and a with difficulty transparent component, who jumped in civilian clothes. These there „ civilians “ we met usually only with our large summer jump camps in addition, kept ourselves these men covered and had little contact with us. Or one could do others from the officer school, but one did not converse about its activity. The KSK – 18 (combat float command) was disloziiert in the Baltic Sea bath cooling fount. With these men actually only our blowing up diver course (late clearing-up course) had to do regularly. With the maneuver „ “ we acted fraternity in arms 80 together with the combat floats. In the core mine training centre Klietz dipped our blowing up divers. Side by side with the combat floats and also in the TLE – 40 (diver frame) contacts developed for the People's Navy of the GDR to the very secret „ weapon “. The men whom I personally know learned, was very modest, outstanding trained full professionals, whom around their task and around itself no large Brimborium organized.

In each military district (comparable with an army) there was a SAK (special clearing-up company temporarily; comparably with the remote scouts of the German Federal Armed Forces). To them we had regularly contact. One knew oneself from the officer university and from common activity. In the special clearing-up companies served beside Offz. and Uffz. also particularly select soldiers in the basic military service. All were trained in the parachuting. At the officer university of the ground forces became in the section MON. - Contactor commanders the future officers of the paratroopers trained.
First – for instance of center of the 60's up to the beginning of the actual university education 1972/73 – in a six month's use training course, in after one approx. 2-jährigen normal officer training selected officer school candidates were shifted. Starting from approximately 1972/73 there was then a clearing-up company, the 2. Company of the section MON. - Contactor commanders. This sat down from two courses 2. Academic year and in each case 2 courses third and – since the award of the diploma right to the officer university – the fourth academic year together. The course strength were appropriate for men, which were naturally selected toward end of the first academic year according to the capability and fitness principle and after existing own interest with approximately 25 – 30. These officer school candidates received 2 starting from that. Academic year one in large parts other training, than the MON. - Contactor officer school candidate, thus also parachute jump training. All these men were used later in the clearing-up units (the regiments, the clearing-up battalions, the SAK etc.) and with the paratroopers than young second lieutenants, because each MON. - Protecting or tank regiment had a clearing-up company, which acted in the tactical depth of the opponent.

In order to become however soldier with the paratroopers, one must have completed special training for instance since 1967/68 with the GST (society for sport and technology). The GST was a mechanism, which accomplished before-military training in many ranges. One paid a small member contribution (I believed it was 1.10 Marks in the month) and could to its hobby frönen here. Here palpation and speech radio operator, motorist (driving licence class 1 and 5 thus motorcycle and truck – by the way cost only 70 Marks), diver, fliers (sail and powered flight), sea-men (in addition it a sail school ship in grab forest even gave), with that large travel accomplished) and other specialists were trained. That young man, who wanted to carry its service out with the paratroopers, had to announce himself in the military district command and commit himself for a minimum service obligation of three years. Then this man was sent at one the BAZ (district training centres for aeronautical training), where he usually enjoyed 2 years the before-military training as the paratrooper over 1 –. Here became except during the winter months (thus Nov. – to Febr.) ever one week, trained in a kind of kasernierter accommodation, glass-hard. The teachers were usually former paratroopers. That could be done to in the morning and in the afternoon training loosely in the morning with early sport, over the morning appeal.
Into this time also, the driving school fell, had to be each paratrooper nevertheless in the possession of the driving licences for motorcycle and truck (truck closed passenger car in). Solid parachute jump training formed the heart of this activity. That began with which had to pack each future paratrooper its main and its emergency parachute. That trained to nearly the finger crests bled so long. In principle everyone packed its Sprungschirm and its evacuation equipment. Naturally individual luggage procedures were removed from experienced teachers, who were entitled to it.

The future paratrooper had 12 parachute jumps with automatic opening, i.e. to complete with elevator line - the layman says „ reissleine “ - as minimum. No additional equipment with was led. Already with the second jump it meant that the Sprungschüler should mark the manual opening. The third jump with additional opening evacuation equipment one jumped. That was a measure of the security, which was trained, so that - if in air an average arises - to which Sprungschüler arrives reliably at the earth. This jump was hated. First of all one could make then, at the otherwise controllable screen not much to fall except on the Po and secondly had one the evacuation equipment to again pack. These three first jumps were in the initial years still single jumps. Starting from the fourth jump jumping off in the group was then trained. The behavior in air with other Springer was already taught to the future paratroopers. Starting from that 13. Jump could accomplish the pupil, if it wanted and were in addition able, free fall jumps. That could be done loosely with 5 seconds until 10 seconds. If the pupil lay 10 seconds reliably in air and remained stable also with the manual opening of its screen, it could become certified the examination for licensees. Here a theoretical and a practical examination had to be completed. If one had only the license in the hand, one could call oneself sport Springer, which Sprungschülern show during the jump operating service a long nose. One got a sport screen and was solely responsible for its doing.

To the training an extensive physical training belonged. Here long-distance runs were trained, overcoming water obstacles (swimming or lying on a rope), the storm course several times by day (also from desire or the punishment with small misdemeanours) was overcome. One had good teachers the first fundamental ideas of close combat was learned. That could be done naturally with the drop exercises and the bases of the Judoausbildung loose and ended partly with the fight with the measurer (from rubber), to different variants of to post-attack and close combat with spades or fences - Mpi.
Large attention was put on the training of topographic abilities and surviving in the area. Expanded marches armed by 15 – 30 km in unknown area, only with compass and map, were accomplished. The a north of the map and marching after march direction number then later no more paratrooper needed to learn, that in meat and blood had changed over. The shooting training was not like that super. Here 2 – 3 time in the year with the KK rifle or the KK was shot – Mpi (22-er) at bull's eye/target. Medical training and radio training in the radio telephony belonged likewise to the bases of the training.

The high point and conclusion of training was the match between the district training centres. Here each center placed to two crews, which set itself from the comrades together, who began next their military service. This match was divided into three disciplines.
- Force haven - Klimmziehen and weight pushing (50 kg),
- Group goal jump (here the time was based from the jump to collecting on the land cross of the entire group),
- Area march 15 – 20 km with completing from stations to time, with which there were tasks to solve differently (during the solution of these tasks a time-out was given).
- Topography
- Medical examination
- Overcoming water obstacle by means of rope
- Shooting (if the possibility existed)
- Hand grenade far goal throw
- Creation of the troop protective mask
Winner was the crew (consisting of ever 4 future paratroopers) those the highest score had achieved. From today's viewpoint I would like to say: We young men had, who knew which them wanted, it were highly motivated, had fun at the thing and were well prepared for the hard service with the paratroopers. Nearly one could do mine, the before-military training as the paratrooper was better than some service at troops in the today's German Federal Armed Forces.