I am a bit surprised that paratroopers don't have a personnel lowering device (PLD) on their parachute harnesses. As a pilot in an aircraft with parachutes, I had to train annually or bi-annually on the parachute and that included using a PLD to descend several feet from a simulated hung up parachute. The device is about the size of a pack of cigarettes (most of which is just a folded up nylon ribbon cord), costs about $10, and can allow a person to lower themselves about 50'.
