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From 1,200 feet, the emergency rescue craft and back-up inflatable boats, already in the water to assist the jumpers, appear as tiny dots on the ocean's surface, far below.

What does stand out is the yellow smoke that rises from a flare, giving important wind direction information.

On board the emergency rescue craft, an instructor checks the wind speed and then radios the inbound aircraft to relay the information to the SEALs. The first thing out of the plane is the pallet, heavily loaded with the inflatable rubber raft that contains the majority of the team's gear. Next will go the jumpers.

The SEALs walk heel-to-toe, lifting their fin-clad feet high as they make their way toward the tail of the aircraft. This is an especially tricky balancing act, as the aircraft bounces around in air turbulence. Inspecting all their gear, jumpers go over their mental check list one last time.

At the doorway the jump master gives the order, "GO!" Then the SEAL is falling, floating free in the air, but not for long; in a few seconds, he is clear of the aircraft and the static line triggers the deployment of the primary chute. Then comes the powerful jerk, one the jumper feels from the tips of his toes through the top of his skull.

Recovering from the opening shock, the jumper immediately checks to ensure he has a full canopy, for canopy malfunctions must be detected and dealt with in seconds. What's true in the sea and on land is especially true in the air: quick reaction time and proper execution of techniques learned in training can mean the difference between life and death.

Now, under a full canopy, the jumper busies himself with locating the inflatable raft, called a "rubber duck," and finding the rest of his jump team. Using the T-10 or 7-TU parachute, the SEAL can carefully control his descent to land as close as possible to the target.

But even with these tactical considerations uppermost in his mind as he floats to earth, the sensation of the incredible "high" he has just experienced reminds him why he chose to be a SEAL in the first place.

Ever mindful of the wind direction, the jumper begins to loosen himself from his parachute by disconnecting all but the most important straps as he floats down to the water. A sinking parachute will drown the jumper in seconds.

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