when the hell did we start having mats and nets in PEC's course? When we went through basic in the 80's it was just dirt under you. If you fell you got hurt......and recycled.
A guy fell from the top of it in late 1999, like October or so. He stopped breathing and was super fucked up by it. Ultimately he did survive and recovered better than anybody expected. He was functionally independent and could walk again. He spent forever in the hospital then even longer in PTRP. He came in as an E nothing and was medically retired as a PFC in 2001 after about 15-18 months of recovery. I wasn't on post to see it happen but I attended his pinning and retirement. He wasn't even old enough to by liquor when he got out. The pads weren't there for my cycle but the word was that they were gonna be there before the start of the next cycle.
I fell off a challenge in Fort Jackson in 83. About 30 feet. Landing on my back and leg landed me in the hospital and have had trouble with that leg and my back ever since. If there had been a mat there, probably would have gotten up and started the obstacle over. That's why.