DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000
NAVY PENTAGON
W
ASHINGTON DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 3501.225D
N95
20 Mar 2020
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 3501.225D
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: NAVY AIRBORNE OPERATIONS PROGRAM
Ref: See enclosure (1)
Encl: (1) References
(2) Training
(3) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E)
(4) Contractor Support
(5) Special Operations Parachute Rigger
(6) Non-Tactical Parachute System (NTPS)
(7) Parachute Packing, Maintenance, and Storage Requirements
1. Purpose. To establish policy and assign responsibilities for the Navy Airborne Operations
Program, inclusive of premeditated personnel parachuting and cargo airdrop operations. This
revision includes major changes to policy, assignment of responsibilities, and definitions. The
changes included in this revision and its enclosures constitute a complete rewrite of the original
directive and should be reviewed in its entirety.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 3501.225C.
3. Applicability. This instruction is applicable to all Navy type commanders (TYCOM). For
the purpose of this instruction, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command
(COMNAVSPECWARCOM) is considered a TYCOM. U.S. Marine Corps personnel and U.S.
Navy personnel assigned to U.S. Marine Corps units are guided by the policies set forth in MCO
3120.11A.
4. Definitions and Use of Terms, Acronyms, and Auxiliary Verbs
a. Definitions. The terms in subparagraphs 4a(1) through 4a(7) are defined as they relate to
the Navy Airborne Operations program.
(1) Parachuting. Any activity in which personnel intend to employ, or actually deploy, a
parachute during all or part of a descent to the surface from an aircraft in flight.
