I attended Army Airborne School in August of 1984, while serving as an Air Force ROTC cadet out of San Jose State U. I remember our first jump vividly. I was sitting next to this young black private and I remember asking him if he was nervous. He looked at me and said, "Yes, I've never flown in an airplane before." So, by the end of Jump week, he had taken off in an airplane 5 times in his life, and never landed in one. I thought that was amazing. A great, well run school, very professional 'Black Hats' and a lot of history there.
Made my first jump in February of '84....made my last in February of 2001....I went airborne because I couldn't stand to land in a plane, figured I'd get out halfway there..lol
March of 1988..........I got to know Fryer DZ pretty well over the next 21 years. Last jump June 2001 out of a ROK Army Chinook Masun Ri DZ South Korea.
I remember this feeling and these sounds. The most nerve-wrecking thing about a parachute jump is waiting to get out of the bird. Then...when you see the door or tailgate open...you know you're about to get out. And like my Sgt. Airborne told me...any jump you can get up and walk away from is a good on. AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY!!!!!
Trust me, you go through the motions so many times that when you first get ready to jump you are just so excited just to finally go. Honestly, I felt like such a bad ass when I got on that plane for the first time. Dont worry about it... when its time to jump, just jump, dont even think, just jump, you will be just fine.
My first jump was euphoric. My second jump, I got stuck in an up draft, it was better than the first. Until the ground instructor told me if I didn't "get down now" he'd kick my ass when I did. That was 1964.
My first jump was a C141. Extremely noisy bird. I jumped and all of a sudden it was quiet and I looked up and saw a big green dot, that's a good thing. I looked left no other jumpers, all I saw was white. I looked all around, nothing, i just saw white. I looked down, nothing just white. I got pissed and thought "@#$% I died on my first jump." All of a sudden I did a perfect 3 point landing.... feet, butt, head. It was snowing real hard. 82nd Airborne. 1970s.
Completed jump school at Ft Campbell,Ky in 1955.Jumpmaster School at Ft Bragg,NC in 1965.Served with 11th Airborne Division in Germany and 10th & 12th Special Forces with over 100 jumps and loved every exciting minute of it.Go Airborne-All The Way.LTC Bill Luna-Chicago
I used to mess with these guys when I was a Loadmaster: "Wow, how much do you guys get paid to jump out of airplanes?" "We get $150 a month!" "Really? I get $450 to stay in!!!"
@@kermitstewart6572 I have over 5000 hours as a C-130 loadmaster and I have lots of cool stories. Been to about 45 countries, including Afghanistan and Bosnia.
the eternity waiting as the parachute opens. the. thrill of that tug as it opens and slows your decent. the joy of a peaceful decent and concentration again as you preparing for landing. Awesome.
Whoa I am sure you will find the airborne of today to be a radical change from -1969. Best of luck with your future. The more relaxed you are the better you will function and think. and therefore the better you will be at every task. Remember the army wants to put you under stress to test your metal. Understanding that will put you ahead of most others. Thanks for your service to our great country.
I attended jump school (Airborne Training) in the late 60's. There were approximately 500 students in my class. A few dropped out, a few could not make the runs (in combat boots then), and I think we only had three students injured with broken legs. Not a bad safety record. There was no bigger thrill than to exit the plane, feel the tug on your shoulders and look up and see that beautiful deployed green canopy.
enlisting army infantry airborne..i know my hearts gonna sink to my butthole when i first see the door open but the rush of adrenaline probably overtakes that feeling immediately
Nathan Gardner You are right about that....... But if you know that’s going to happen......... you are half way there. Stay positive, and good luck 🍀👍.
TRUTH. 1st Jump is easy: You just do what the Sergeant's Airborne have taught you the last two weeks. 2nd Jump and you do a little remembering and JUST might have a bit of a problem going out the door. My 5th Jump was from a C-123. The door was removed and I was the 2nd one out. It was fun seeing the ground drop away. Two Minutes as opposed to the SIX Minutes for Hercs. Absolutely enjoyed everything.
I went through as a young Navy EOD tech in 1976. It hasn't changed. I later attended jumpmaster training taught by some awesome Army Green Berets. What an adventure.
Go to an Airborne unit, do not be a 5 jump chump. Some get their wings and just go to leg units. Some weekends at Bragg they do jumps for pay hurts (if you do not jump for a period of time you will lose your jump pay). You can go to these usually on Sicily and do Hollywood jumps from 123's, tail gates, no pack, build up your jump totals real fast. Congrats! Super duper paratrooper...
Mario Santos Congrats! I graduated February 23rd as the youngest guy in my company and Keeper of the wings. I think the oldest guy for us was 43 and seemed to enjoy every second of the experience!
I started working in a skydiver A license in 2022. Made four solo jumps with an instructor during free fall. I can't even imagine having to PLF on purpose PLUS carrying a load, PLUS potentially getting shot at when you land. Skydiving canopy is maneuverable and can flare on landing. Airborne is the most courageous strong work around. Kudos to every one of you who made this leap. Most humans will never get this view of the earth. Revel in the fact you overcame fear to experience it. Blessings to ALL.
Brings back memories. My jumps from C-130, C-141, Crane, Huey, Chinook best jump. Even got to go to German jump school to get German jump wings made 5 jumps in one day out of an old helicopter with a jump door that was about 5 ft tall. When you got to the door you had to sit down in the door with your legs dangling out then push off. 1972
I graduated 11B from Fort Benning in 1979. Didn't give a thought to going airborne training, but about a year after my enlistment was up a co-worker and I decided to try it so we trained and jumped using the old static line airborne equipment so I got the full effect. Greatest thing I ever did, to someone that hasn't jumped, you can't describe the view, the quiet, the almost spiritual feeling, etc. even though you're only in the air descending a short time.
I don't remember a thing from jump school. I was scared shitless the whole time. November 1980. Learned to love it at fort brag. Landed in the jungle in Panama February 1981. Last jump July 1983 and I've missed it ever since
Oh those were the days - particularly remember leaving Jump school and constantly saying "Clear" to everyone for ever damn thing, took me months to shake what they drilled into me in days. One of the best experiences of my life - Airborne!
I went to Jump school at Ft Campbell and my first jump was June 4, 1958. Nothing like it,especially the first one. Back then everybody had to be Airborne in the Division.
I remember my first jump. It was a C-141. I hated that thing. It felt like someone slamming a door on you every time you step out. I was happy when they phased that thing out and we started jumping from C-17s regularly at Ft Bragg.
Im British Airborne, Para Reg, Good video! nothing is more exciting than being first out, until you hit the ground and realise youve got a right fucking tab back off the DZ.
I was fortunate enough to have served with the British Exchange Officer, Captain Joseph Vitoria, in my unit 2/325th. He told me that the British jump school was six months long. Damn fine officer. He told me that the British army had the exchange program to teach us yanks how to speak English properly. Of course we had to reply that we had the exchange program to teach you brits how to fight wars properly.
Ii remember it well, I was the senior person in our aircraft so I went first. Amazing. What the video did not show was the full Airborne Chapel that morning, including me!
The guy on the right door at 9:09 looked like he needed a little "encouragement"! Thanks for sharing this. Made my first of about 70 jumps in the Army on June 6th, 1994. This brought me back. Got chills when I heard that door open! :)
@@michaelwright3351 That's right! They made kind of a big deal of it at the school..... But not too big of a deal. You know the Army! They can't have you getting too comfortable! Lol
After watching some of these youtube videos, I recall a much more punishing type of physical training as well as the very difficult jump school component of the entire experience. I started with a class of about 750, about 350 of us got our wings. Probably one of the largest classes ever to attend jump school (??). Of course, I arrived at Ft. Benning Labor Day, 1965; assigned to the 101st on TDY to complete jump school. The 1st Calvary Air Mobile Division had just been created and officially left Ft. Benning for Vietnam the weekend I arrived (I was told). Interesting times in terms of a lot of stuff happening in the military during the build-up in Vietnam. Those days are ALL seared into my memory forever, but I'm glad that I was a part of it all. I was 20 years old at the time and I thought either the physical punishment or the training would kill me, but obviously I survived and am better for it. I recall a 35 year-old Colonel in my jump class. I thought "he will never make it, he is just too old." But, to my surprise and delight, he did...and in a style and manner better than most of us. Nothing but admiration for this colonel and all the others who earned their badge in this jump class!
I Bet Fake God dropped everything he was doing because YOU asked FAKE GOD to Bless these Guys..... IT'S SO PHONY EVERYONE SAYING..... GOD BLESS....GOD BLESS
My first jump was on June 16,1969. When the black hat opened the door all hell broke loose and I thought to myself “Oh Shit these guys are serious.” Got out the door and looked down at the ground and thought to myself “O MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE?” Going Airborne was absolutely the best thing I have ever done.
My number was number six....... I was either in the front near the exit door...... or deep inside the belly of the aircraft. On my first jump...... all I could think, once my chute opened, was.........” if my father could see me now “ , as I was starting to hear one of the instructors with a megaphone 📢 giving me heads up to land. My second jump......... was really, the hardest thing I have ever made myself do. I was full of apprehension ........ I wanted to scream “jorraaannaammo”, and all I got out was “Jooo”, before getting hit in the face with the wind blast. Ahh......the things you do for God and Country . 82nd Airborne Div. 1973 - 1976 All the way.....Sir.
On my first jump, I remember being on the plane and then being on the ground. I have no recollection of what transpired in between. 05/67 until 02/74. E/2/503 173rd ABN, and Troop A and later Troop B 1/17th Cavalry 82nd ABN. 124 jumps total.
@@Wildcat5181 Thanks for your service, sounds like you liked it! All the replies so far have been enthusiastic, but... some time ago on my tablet was a group of probably WWII paratroopers singing, and laughing enthusiasticly "It's a hellofa way to die" They probably saw a lot of both! Is it sung now, or reserved for those special men that have seen both sides? ( I think perhaps they were a .ittle tipsy, which may have helped! It really DIDN'T sound funny to me!)
I will always remember that wonderful feeling of being part of a huge, elite, deadly military machine - the U.S. Army AIRBORNE, at Ft. Bragg. No feeling as good as that, before or since.
When you make your sixth jump, the first after jump school with your unit, you really feel you are airborne. Back in the day, having six jumps immediately set you apart from the hundreds of guys who went to jump school and never served on jump status after that!
I don’t know if you’ll see this, but I just graduated from jump school last week and just arrived in fort Bragg, now renamed to fort liberty. I’m scared as hell, but excited to join something bigger. Airborne!!
I went through jump school in January 1971 at Ft Benning. On the first jump I was the 2nd man out the door. After 2 weeks of hell I was happy to finally jump. All 5 jumps in school were out of C141’s - jet cargo planes. The slowest they could fly was 180 mph. It was like being shot out of a cannon. What a rush! Two weeks after I got back to my Special Forces reserve unit we went to summer camp at Camp Edwards/Otis AFB in Cape Cod. We did a night jump in bad weather at 1,000 ft in a C141. Nobody hit the DZ! I landed 5 ft from the guardrail of a highway. Every one else landed in deep woods.
They had this new Adverse Weather Delivery System test back in '73, it was a new sytem them and I volunteer to be one of the first. Man that was not good at all. That C-130 shook like a washing machine. I did not volunteer anymore after that flight.
My 1st jump was the week after Thanksgiving 1971 from a C-130. My 5th jump that last week was from a C-123. I wasn't too scared first couple of jumps but that fifth one scared the crap out of me, Iguess because of the Piston engines the c-123 used. I also jumped from a C-7a caribou which also use piston engines which I don't remember much except that we jumped off the ramp
Maybe a year after jump school, I made a jump, I can't remember how high it was, but it was the first time I could see the blackness on space and the curvature of the earth. It was that day I truly became AIRBORNE. I will take that image with me to the grave. ALL THE WAY AND THEN SOME!
I remember when I was in I had a saying that pissed off the higher ups. Everybody wants to wear the boots but no one wants to go through the training. Did 295 of these most as a jump master.
Love being Airborne my first jump I was the first out on the left side scared as hell but thank god got over that real quick thank you Fort Benning Georgia. Late 1968 my number was 88
I loved night jumps in the middle of winter. As a C-130 loadmaster I would watch guys jump out of my airplane and I'm thinking my flight pay is more than their jump pay and I'll be in my nice warm bed in a few hours while they're out there playing army all night in the snow.
@@richardmcgee8315 I've told that to a lot of army guys, but you're the only one who got butthurt over it. Want to talk about REMFs? 14,000 out of 15,000 army types never went outside the wire at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Ever been in a firefight and needed more ammo? That was me above you, watching the A-10s roll in on the enemy, while we're orbiting and trying to drop that load. Which we finally did. If you ever flew on a C-130 in Afghanistan, that was us. Including taking the wounded back to Bagram so they could so they could get medevacked out on the C-17. And we didn't just land at fortified compounds. We landed all over Afghanistan and brought our own security team with us. And sometimes our planes would come back with bullet holes in them. So if you think C-130 aircrew are REMFs, dream on. I've got almost 100 combat missions in Bosnia and Afghanistan under my belt.
I remember my first jump, May of 1986. We had one guy, he threw up every jump. Once that last jump was made, he declined jump status. I still ran across at Bragg. He was in a leg company.
Graduated from Ft Campbell jump school January 1961. Used C-130. First jump was the biggest rush I have experienced. Now I'm 76 and still remember like it was yesterday.
sy nielson .Sy...I too am 76 and had the opportunity to attend Jump School at Fort Benning, Georgia immediately following OCS, but did not. Have regretted it many, many times since. I envy your experience.
July 67 Made my first jump out of a C-141 jet. I just remember how noisy it was as I got near the door. Stuck my foot out and I was gone. Really peaceful after exit. Sure glad the parachute rigger did his job!! Four more from a C-119 Flying Boxcar. Then on to the 82nd Airborne.The extra $55/mo was nice.
In the 70’s with T-10’s from C130’s and C123’s, we had to hold the edges of the door then jump 3’ out and 1’ up. Into the prop blast. These guys just step out. I guess it is the airfoil ahead of the door creating a vacuum. I never felt like I was facing death in jump school, just nerves. A hundred or so hours of having every move pounded into your brain and body by Black Hats made the jump “automatic”. Didn’t even have to think. No question of backing out...you WERE going out. One of the first women to go through jump school was in my stick. I was a Lt. and stick leader, but she was to go out 1st ahead of me. On our first jump the command “GO” was given and she hesitated. The jumpmaster through her out. I was highly incentivized to move smartly to the door and out!
you are right sir about standing in the door. Hands on the outside of plane, foot 6" out of the door, green light, jump up 6" and out 36" into prop blast. Except on C-141 Star-lifter Jet. you just grabbed your reserve on the ends by both hands and walked out.
First time I was nervous as hell. I was like please just let my chute open ok. Once I hit the ground I was hooked, couldn’t wait to go back up and do it again. A feeling like no other
I can't imagine all the emotions there, from sheer terror, to 'what am I doing here' to absolute elation, ' I'm really going to jump!! To- "Wow, it looks different from this angle! Here I go! Am I right?
@Chin Brumback you make it almost sound like fun! Wow,! I suppose each one has different reasons and feelings, but for whatever reason you all were "airborne" you have my great admiration, thanks, and I stii wonder why, but I am VERY thankful l for all you have given, so I can learn from great patriots like you all! " Go AIRBORNE"!, and my thanks and gratitude to you all! ( even if I sometimes wonder at your 'themesong! )
monday, wednesday, and friday are 3.2 mile run days at a 8:30 mile pace. tuesday and thursday are upper body strengthening workouts such as push ups, pull ups and sit-ups. You need to be in pretty decent shape to come to the school and not have any problems with the physical side of it. At least be able to do 10-15 pulls ups without struggling and 50-60 push ups and sit ups with out trouble.
Airborne school 1969. The first jump was a piece of cake, I was 19 years old, fearless, and clueless as to what was about to happen. I was jumping a C-119, a real adventure. Now the second jump, that is something else, because I now knew the earth had something for my A$$!
My only regret during my 20 years career is, I didn’t earn jump wings. Father was a paratrooper 12 of his 20 year career. Hell, I was born in Womack Army Hospital and spent some of my youth on Ft.Benning.
Made my first jump in 1978 (obviously, I'm seriously old) but not sure dread was the right word. I was nervous, but I really wanted to do it. And yes, we were jumping old WW II era T-10s and DU-5s.
Anyone in the military is a friend to me... no matter the branch. We had some Navy guy at jump school also, dont know what they did, they were not in my platoon.
Of all my days in the Army I think I remember jump day more than just about anything. The first one wasn't so bad but I was scared as hell on the second jump.
Once had my foot stuck in the anti-inversion net of another jumper under the old T-10B's. Was a night jump so of course you could not see the ground. Ended up hitting the ground when I was approximately horizontal. Luckily did not get hurt as I was more worried about the current issue than getting hurt by hitting the ground. Funny thing is both the hand guards on the barrel of my M-16 broke. Fun, fun times.
You hold on to your risers... they are the things that connect your chute to your harness, and you can control yourself just a little bit with those, but no, there are no cords to direct yourself. However, on the new delta T-11 there are more distinct handles to direct yourself but still no real guiding capability, plus they have been having trouble with the T-11 so I dont even think they are letting people jump it right now.
Well, since I didn't get to be a part of the generation that watches RU-vid videos on Jump school before going to Jump school, I'll have to take your word on it.
@ Sivadmg........ In 1973 I watched a movie in the Recruiting office of Airborne School........ I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting into......... but I must tell you.......no amount of movies or videos can compare with the experience of being there in person and being part of a selected group of people who are willing to do this for God and country. Good luck 👍🍀.
Im nearly 60 now but would love to jump from a plane... but mentally, the idea of clinging to the door frame of a tiny Cessner with white knuckles would freak me out - but running out of the back of a C130 with 40 other guy's shouting "Geronimo" would feel great.
Chris Brown I think chopper blasts are hardest as you can see the ground leave you under your feet but in an airplane you don’t see much till you “Stand in the door”.
Same here. I remember my first PLF was pure shit and I landed like a bag of dirt thrown off a two story building! lol. My next 60 or so jumps were never as bad as that first one.
Me too! LOL! There were 7 of us Marines in a class of ALL ROTC..and one AF Weather guy. This was 1988. That was when there was still Blood Wings (and Gold of course). Got my Gold Jump out of a CH-53 at Pendleton. Little did I know then that my son would graduate from the same school in 2010!! Semper Fi!
It was more than 35 years ago, but damn, I can still smell the fuel fumes and hear the loud engines noises and the screams of the Jump master. I was just a kid then, but once I exited that door, did my things RIGHT and landed..I felt I grown in to a man. 1st jump...I'l never forget it. ps: as many already stated...the 2nd one is a bit more spooky...but at that point you worked so hard to get there that you just want to get out from that metal box.
Fun fact, you take off from Georgia but Fryar DZ is in Alabama. You knew you were close when you flew over the Chattahoochee river. I went in ‘92. I remember the flight was short and they didn’t give us any hearing protection. Before the first jump , the jump master said if you pause in the door you will get a kiwi injection, meaning a boot to the ass. It was so loud inside the plane and then complete silence. After checking my canopy you could look up and see the plane flying away and people exiting. It’s the most adrenaline I have ever had. After the 5th jump we also got blood wings on the DZ. They pinned the wings on with no backs then pounded them in your chest. I had a scar for a few years. Ah…the good ol’days when the Army made real warriors.
Imagine doing this shit at night, getting shot at with AA fire and its exploding all around you and taking down planes than landing amongst the enemy behind enemy lines with most of your fellow soldiers scattered miles apart.
Yep , like those brave souls that jumped at Arnhem & Nijmegen , to take the Rhine bridges for a clear road into Germany in WW2. Sadly failed , as Arnhem truly was a " bridge too far " .
4 года назад
I think the scariest part is actually jumping out at night & risk getting caught in a tree. That alone can possibly kill someone, IMO.
If you don't jump, someone behind you will push you out. Sometimes, you have a jumper that refuses to let go of the door frame out of fear even though they were told that if they lost their nerve, to just move to the rear of the aircraft. I had a guy in front of me do that once. I grabbed his left hand and broke his grip on the door frame while the guy behind me took control of his right hand and we pushed him out ahead of us. Ah, for the good old days,
My "Airborne Prayer" when my stick was over Fryar DZ, ; Please Airborne Jump God, I've wanted to do this ever since I can remember, having been training for it the last two weeks, am now in the plane with my stick, please don't let me nut up in the door, piss my pants, or die! Amen!
Does anyone remember the chat, "Put the pole in the hole pole man," when using the parachute practice tower that would lift and drop you during training? That use to be the last warm up before jump week.
That by far........was the softest landing I ever had.......deep sand all around the towers. Great stuff. Hit the hole 🕳 pole man 👨; hit the hole 🕳......... Hit the hole 🕳 pole man 👨. HHC 2/504th Ft. Bragg 1973-1976 Medic WWG1WGA 🇺🇸👍💪✊☝️💕
Nowadays you go to RASP and Ranger before going to airborne. Too many people were taking option 40 and then backing out of ranger after airborne, so they switched the order of it up to save money.
