Max !

For those unfamiliar with military acronyms HALO is a term used by Paratroopers : High Altitude Low Opening ... the parachutists jump from altitudes so high they have to have oxygen masks and the "low opening" means a very small area they have to land in and which cannot be seen when they step off (usually) into the night.
Difficult. And as far as I know all US personnel in Airborne units have to qualify in HALO jumps.

As for the greeting ... it's very common among the Irish of certain generations but is often Haloooo the house. In Native American cultures it is polite stay in your vehicle awhile before alighting and approaching the house to allow the resident time to notice you (and perhaps tidy up a bit?)

Among Westerners who rode horses, it was not polite to dismount until asked to "step down."

Anyone else?

P>S> Interesting post Tsyganka, Welcome aBoard.