GRADUATION DAY: May 1, 2009 Final Posting

GRADUATION DAY: May 1, 2009 Weather Report: mid-80’s, humidity is 95%, wind is calm

I cannot believe this day is finally here. I have successfully completed the US Military Airborne Course. Formation is at 0600hrs this morning and graduation is at 0900hrs on Eubanks Field on the Airborne Walk.

Graduation practice: was not very formal, but it was a practice. We finished there and went over to the bleachers and had some information on the Panama Invasion (Operation Just Cause). It was informal however a lot of information was put out. Each class has an Airborne Operation to research. This is conducted by the new 2LT’s in the company. It is part of the Airborne Heritage that we are all now part of.

Graduation went off successfully! The guest speaker was a LTC that has five sons and a daughter. All of the sons are in the military service; a CPT, a 1LT, a 2LT, a SGT, and the youngest is a PVT. All of them are Airborne Qualified and were there to pin the wings on the youngest son making all of the sons AIRBORNE. The LTC said that if he could get his daughter to take time out of being a wife and mother he could have all his children parachute qualified, it was pretty funny. Open ranks, MARCH. Present the wings. 1LT Corley found me a pinned my wings. It was nice to have a South Carolina Army National Guard Soldier pin my wings. Especially one that I helped along the way to get him promoted and was able to mentor in the Fountain Inn Unit. We finished up and ran in formation back to the company area. They started giving out our finished packets. Just as it all happened during registration process, people showing up and moving out, it happened at the final formation. Grab your documents and move out. Some of us traded phone numbers and plan on staying in touch. You develop a special bond with people when you jump out of an airplane together. Some of the guys are headed back to their units and will deploy within the next few months to Iraq or Afghanistan, they as all of the other soldiers will remain in our hearts and minds until they all return home safely.

Faith has brought on a new meaning for me from this course. Just as we put our faith in Jesus, we know he is there but cannot see him. We put our faith as paratroopers in the people that pack the parachutes, instruct the classes, inspect our equipment and take a leap out of the aircraft moving at 130 knots and 1250’ above the earth. We expect all our equipment to operate and function properly. That leap of faith is the same when trusting in Jesus. He has giving us a book of instruction, he inspects our hearts and minds daily, and he keeps moving us in and out of situations to reinforce our devotion to him. I thank GOD that we have been given the opportunity to serve him in all things and praise him for keeping us all moving in the right direction. He has kept everyone in my stick safe and has returned us all home to our loved ones. AIRBORNE all the way!

I am now part of an elite group of military personal known as the Paratrooper! Their display of courage and commitment is that of legends. From the four major airborne operations that started in WWII to the hundreds of airborne operations that have followed paratroopers have a different stagger about them, a different level of courage. They have looked fear in the face and over come it, they have exited an aircraft in flight and parachuted down to earth safely and walked away. I am proud to say that I am now AIRBORNE!

This is my last post. Feel free to forward this link to any of your friends or people you know that will be attending AIRBORNE SCHOOL. This will help.

GOD BLESS!

PREP FOR AIRBORNE SCHOOL

PREP FOR AIRBORNE SCHOOL!
Throughout the fast-moving course of instruction, mental alertness and physical conditioning are emphasized. Physical conditioning is a must prior to attending this course. Airborne School is designed for those who possess the desire, motivation and courage to join the elite fraternity known as "THE AIRBORNE."

WARNING: WHEN CONDUCTING PHYSICAL TRAINING PRIOR TO THE AIRBORNE COURSE AT YOUR HOME STATION, DESIGN A PROGRAM TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING: COMPLETION OF A 5 MILE RUN WITH A TIME OF 45 MINUTES OR FASTER AFTER CONDUCTING 30 MINUTES OF STRENUOUS ACTIVITY (MUSCULAR STRENGTH EXERCISES, MUSCULAR ENDURANCE EXERCISES, CALISTHENICS, AND GRASS DRILLS).

You must be physically fit before you start. The physically weak are more likely to either not complete the course because of an injury, or fail the course due to an inability to qualify on the training apparatuses. You will have PT the first period each day, followed by seven hours of demanding, vigorous training. You must qualify during daily PT by completing the exercises and distance run. Any student who fails to complete two runs during the entire course will be eliminated from training. A typical daily PT session includes warm up exercises, calisthenics, guerilla/grass drills or a 3.2 to 4 mile formation run. Males and females run in the same formation during PT and the average pace is 9-minutes per mile.

Do yourself a favor and run three times a week in ACU’s, ACH, and boots. We run everywhere here in the duty uniform. It will beat your legs up if you are not ready for the lower body abuse. Stay mentally focused here, and remember why you are here and you will be fine!

AIRBORNE!

Day: April 30, 2009

DAY: April 30, 2009 Weather report: mid-80’s, 32% humidity wind light and variable 10 SE

Wake up and formation came way too soon. 0800hrs after one and a half hours of sleep is not good. I was tired and irritated. Formation was held and they started telling us what we needed to do to clear out of Airborne School. We started with breakfast; they brought us a hot meal to the company area. I had two sausage patties, eggs, potatoes, a waffle, milk, and a cup of coffee. Then we started to move.

Canteens and helmets were the first thing to be turned in. I was in line and they called for all Reservist and National Guard personal. We had an out processing brief. She told us that we needed to ensure that there were four documents in our folder tomorrow when we received our packet to leave; hazardous duty orders, course completion certificate, jump log, and orders awarding us the were of the US Army Parachutist Wings. We reviewed our packets today to ensure everything was correct and in our packets. Then we started the sign out process. This is done so orders can be created for people going to new units or to their first unit in the military. Dismissal was at 1100hrs today. I went straight to Chick-fil-A and got a number five, twelve count with lemonade. That is the first Chick-fil-A I have had since I have been here and it was wonderful. After that I came back to my room and began to pack up all my gear to go home tomorrow, took a nap and the phone rang, it was the 1ST Sergeant and all the guys are going to the El Zapata, a Mexican restaurant on Ft Benning. It will be the last time we are all together here just out being friends. We had a good time tonight with the dinner and just talking about the experiences and all the things that really didn’t make sense at the time but make sense now after jumping. Tomorrow is GRADUATION! Formation time will be 0600hrs and we will have our graduation practice and move over to the Airborne Walk to be pinned. 1LT Corley is coming to pin me and then he will be jumping from a CH-47 Helicopter at 1400hrs. He tried to convince me to jump with him, but I told him that I was ready to go home and see my family. Maybe next time!

Day: April 29, 2009 JUMP DAY #3

Day: April 29, 2009 JUMP DAY #3 “THE FINAL JUMP”
Weather report: mid-80’s today, humidity 42% wind 5 SSE

My day started at 0700hrs. I woke up and slept very hard last night. I was in much need of some rest and recovery time. I failed to do laundry on Sunday and decided to sit outside on the bench and wash my clothes. To my surprise a washing machine was not being used. This made my day start off really well. I started packing my clothes and my gear that I would not need for the rest of my stay here and am getting excited about going home of Friday. This school has gone by very fast, yet the days have been brutal at times and extremely long with the heat.

Formation at 1400hrs and move out to the PIT for refresher training on hazards, PLF’s and mock door exits. It is sad that this is the last time that we will perform these drills. We will have successfully completed the Airborne Course tonight after our fifth and final jump, THE NIGHT FULL COMBAT JUMP. The other jumps have been fun and interesting to this point and the stories of my fellow paratroopers and their experiences have been exaggerated at times but fun to talk about.

Tonight our jump went off without any problems. We started loading the planes at 2030hrs. The sun was beginning to set and the sky line was beautiful. Patchy cloud cover and the oranges, reds, and yellows were very impressive. As we made the turn for the plane you could tell it was going to be a very different experience. We approached the ramp to load and the aircraft had the eerie night operations lights inside had a greenish blue glow about them. This jump we has some of the Best Ranger Challenge personal on our jump. They went first and their jumpmaster handed off his static line and leapt out of the aircraft. The next pass and it was our turn. The jump commands began and we headed for the door. Green light and out we went, I was the number thirteen Jumper in the stick and was at the nose of the plane. Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle, had the static line off to the Jumpmaster Safety and turned kicked my leg up and out and felt the breeze push me past the rear of our bird. Three Thousand and a tug on my shoulders, my last jump and decent had begun. It was neat to see the parachute light up by the moonlight and the stars. I checked my canopy twice because of the low visibility and looked around for fellow jumpers. I did not want any problems during any of my jumps, especially this night one. Prepare to land, I released my combat gear and started my final approach at jump school. The landing was a little tricky because we did not have any smoke on the ground to show us wind drift nor did we have any sergeant airborne’s on the ground telling us what to do. We were completely on our own tonight. I felt my rucksack hit the ground, tensed up my neck muscles, tucked my chin on my chest, raised my arms over my face and the balls of my feet hit the ground. A perfect PLF and I was very happy, but it was not over yet. Speed was of importance to my on this jump because of all the other three hundred paratroopers coming down on top of the drop zone in the next few minutes. I popped up to one knee and began securing my combat gear, loaded up and off the drop zone I went. I was the first jumper off the drop zone tonight. AIRBORNE!

We all landed and had MRE’s; I had beef pot roast this time. Then we had to take all our combat equipment apart and set it up for the next class. Tonight was our night to shake out parachutes. They have been piling up over the past three days. Chalks one thru four shook out 1267 parachutes. The toll was taken on our mental and physical readiness. The bummer was the formation tomorrow will be at 0800hrs. Not long for us to rest or anything else. I got to my room and showered put pizza rolls in the microwave. I crashed for one hour and thirty minutes.

PULL-UPS for the day: 20

JUMPMASTER Inspection Sequence

For all of you out there that has been wondering what it takes to ensure that we have a safe jump. this is the information that the jumpmaster is tested on prior to being qualified as a jumpmaster.

Hollywood JMPI Sequence


ADVANCED COMBAT HELMET (FRONT):
The jumpmaster will place both hands on the right side of the ACH; fingers and thumbs extended and joined pointing skyward, palms facing the jumper. The left hand is the control hand; the right hand is the working hand. With the working hand trace across the rim of the ACH feeling for any sharp or protruding edges that may cut or damage the jumper’s static line upon exiting the aircraft. Once the hands are parallel place the thumbs on the rim of the ACH, tilt the jumpers head to the rear. Conduct a visual inspection to ensure the three suspension pads are present and the oval pads are covering the bolt ends.
Place the right index finger on the left adjustable buckle to ensure it is free of all cracked components and is serviceable, and the left adjustable strap is properly routed through it and the free running end is secured in the webbing retainer. Now trace the left adjustable strap down to the chinstrap fastener, to ensure it is free of all cracked components and properly secured. Now bypass the chinstrap fastener and trace the long portion chinstrap, under the jumpers chin to where it is sewn into the right adjustable strap to ensure it is not twisted, cut or frayed. Now trace the right adjustable strap up to the right adjustable buckle to ensure it is free of all cracked components and is serviceable, and the free running end is secured in the webbing retainer. With the right index finger trace the short portion chinstrap across the front of the jumper’s chin drop both hands.

CANOPY RELEASE ASSEMBLIES:
Then next item of equipment we will discuss is the canopy release assemblies. These are like items of equipment so either one can be inspected first, however, for this talk through, we will start with the canopy release assembly opposite the Universal Static Line. Since the Universal Static Line is routed over the jumper’s right shoulder, we will begin the inspection with the jumper’s left canopy release assembly. Look at the left canopy release assembly; tap it with the knuckles of the right hand one time to insure that it sounds solid. With the right hand turn the left canopy release assembly one-quarter turn out and re-look at it. Insure that it is properly assembled, has no cracked components and that it is free of all foreign matter. Now look at the right canopy release assembly and with the left hand, conduct the same inspection. If the static line is resting against either canopy release assembly, it must be moved out of the way so that it does not obstruct the jumpmaster’s view of the canopy release assemblies.


CHEST STRAP:
Simultaneously slide both hands down the main lift web until the little fingers make contact with either the D-rings. Look at the chest strap to insure that it has not been misrouted around the main lift web. Insert the right hand, fingers and thumb extended and joined, fingers pointed skyward, palm facing the jumpmaster from bottom to top behind the chest strap next to where it is sewn into the main lift web. Trace the chest strap across until the right hand is behind the ejector snap, insuring that the chest strap is not twisted, cut, or frayed. The ejector snap pad will not come between the right hand and the ejector snap. With the thumb of the right hand, press in on the activating lever of the ejector snap to insure that it is properly seated over the ball detent and is free of all foreign matter. Leave the right hand and thumb in place, and move to the right side of the jumper.

WAIST BAND:
Insert the left hand, fingers and thumb extended and joined fingers pointed skyward, palm facing the jumpmaster, from the bottom to the top behind the waistband next to where it sewn into the packtray. Look at the waistband where it is sewn into the packtray and insure that at least 50% of one row of stitching is present. Trace the waistband forward to insure that it is not twisted, cut, frayed or been misrouted behind the horizontal back strap. Trace the waistband forward until the left hand makes contact with the right D-ring. Look at the waistband to insure that it is routed over the right main lift web and under the right D-ring. Rotate the right hand down and grasp the top-carrying handle of the reserve parachute, palm facing the reserve. Simultaneously lift up and out on the reserve parachute and place the left hand, palm facing the jumper, into the jumper’s chest. Look at the waistband where it is routed behind the reserve parachute to insure that it is routed through both waistband retainers and it is not twisted, cut, or frayed. Withdraw the left hand from the jumper’s chest, reach under the right forearm, and insert the left hand into the left carrying handle of the reserve parachute, palm facing away from the reserve with the fingers spread. With the right hand, release the top carrying handle of the reserve parachute and move to the left side of the jumper. Insert the right hand, fingers and thumb extended and joined, fingers pointed skyward, palm facing the jumpmaster, from the bottom to top behind the waistband as close as possible to the left D-ring. Look at the waistband to insure that it is routed over the left main lift web and under the left D-ring. Trace the waistband back to the metal adjuster, insuring that it is not twisted, cut or frayed. Leave the right hand in place behind the metal adjuster. Remove the left hand from the left carrying handle of the reserve parachute and insert the index finger and middle finger of the left hand from top to bottom into the quick release formed by waistband. Insure that it is no more than three fingers, no less than two, and that it is not a false quick release. Remove the index finger and middle finger from the quick release and with the index finger and thumb of the left hand pinch off the free running end of the waistband where it comes out of the metal adjuster. Trace the free running end of the waistband until the fingers fall of the end, insuring it is not cut, torn, or frayed, and is easily accessible to the jumper. Reinsert the left hand into the left carrying handle of the reserve parachute with the palm facing away from the reserve and fingers spread. Look at the right hand and trace the waistband adjuster panel back to where it is sewn into the packtray insuring that it is not twisted, cut, frayed or been misrouted behind the horizontal back strap. Look at the waistband adjuster panel where it is sewn to the packtray and insure that at least 50% of one row of stitching is present. Drop both hands and move to the front of the jumper.

RESERVE (SLCP)
With the left hand grasp the top carrying handle of the reserve parachute, palm facing the reserve and lift up and out. Look at the left connector snap and with the index finger of the right hand, finger the left connector snap one time to insure that it is properly secured to the left D-ring, has spring tension, and has not been safetied. Grasp the top carrying handle of the reserve parachute with the right hand, palm facing the reserve and lift up and out. Look at the right connector snap and with the index finger of the left hand, finger the right connector snap one time to insure that it is properly secured to the D-ring, does not have spring tension, and has been safetied. To further insure that the right connector snap has been safetied, with the left index finger pull down and out on the safety wire and lanyard to insure that the safety wire has been routed through the drilled hole in the right connector snap. Insert the left index finger from the top to the bottom on the inside of the right connector snap to insure the safety wire has been bent down toward the ground.The jumpmaster will place his right hand on the left end panel of the reserve parachute, then form a knife cutting edge with his left hand, fingers and thumb extended and joined pointed down, palm facing the jumpmaster; and sweep one time from the jumper’s left to right behind the rip cord grip. Ensuring the top left and top right pack opening spring bands have not been misrouted over the ripcord grip. Form a fist with your left hand leaving the index finger exposed and insert it behind the ripcord grip retainer, ensuring that the ripcord grip is routed between the top panel and the rip cord grip retainer and not the ripcord retainer and the pile tape. Remove the left index finger and place it on the right steel swaged ball to ensure that it is present and against the ripcord grip and it is not cracked or corroded. With the index finger and thumb of your left hand pinch off the right cable where it emerges from the ripcord grip and trace it down until you come in contact with the locking pin, ensuring the cable is not kinked or frayed and it is properly routed over the pile tape. Continue to trace down the locking pin until you come to the end, ensuring the locking pin is not bent, cracked, or corroded. Leave your left index and thumb on the end of the right locking pin, and make a visual inspection of the red soft loop, to ensure it is not cut, frayed, burned or twisted and the locking pin is routed through it completely and not puncturing it. Place your right index finger on the left steel swaged ball and conduct the same inspection. Now place either hand on an end panel, and with the index finger and thumb of the other hand, pinch off the ripcord protector flap making a visual and physical inspection of the log record book to ensure that it is present. Close the ripcord protector flap and make a visual inspection to ensure a piece of ¼ inch yellow binding tape is permanently sewn across the top of the ripcord protector flap. With either hand feel for the bulge created by the deployment assistance device to ensure it is centered behind the ripcord protector flap. The pack opening spring bands must be inspected for exposed metal, spring tension, and proper routing. Form a knife edge with the left hand, fingers and thumb extended and joined, palm facing you the jumpmaster and sweep the top carrying handle and universal static line snap hook back toward the jumper, this will be control hand. Begin the inspection of the pack opening spring bands with the top right pack opening spring band. With the index finger and thumb of the right hand pinch off the tab portion of the top right pack opening spring band and pull it down toward the ripcord protector flap. Look at the pack opening spring band to insure that it is routed through the reinforced nylon webbing on the back of the reserve, it is properly routed under the top carrying handle, and there is no exposed metal on the pack opening spring band. When the tab portion of the pack opening spring band is released the pack opening spring band should pop back into place. Repeat the same inspection for the top left pack opening spring band. With the left hand, form a knife-edge, fingers and thumb extended and joined, palm facing you the jumpmaster, fingers pointing down and sweep the left carrying handle out of the way and inspect the left pack opening spring band. Place the control hand on the bottom right corner of the reserve parachute lifting it up and out, so that the bottom left and bottom right pack opening spring bands can be inspected in the same manner. Lower the reserve parachute back to its original position, leave the control hand on the bottom right corner of the reserve, and inspect the right pack opening spring band. An overall inspection of the reserve parachute must now be conducted to insure that it is free of grease, oil, dirt, mud, tears, and exposed canopy. Place both hands on the top right corner of the reserve parachute, palms facing the reserve. The left hand is the control hand and the right hand is the working hand. With the head and eyes 6 to 8 inches from the working hand trace across the top panel and down the left end panel. Move the control hand down to the bottom right corner of the reserve and lift the reserve parachute up and out, exposing the bottom panel, trace the bottom panel across until contact is made with the control hand. Lower the reserve parachute back to its original position, return the control hand to the top right corner. Flip the right hand over and trace up the right end panel until contact is made with the control hand. Raise the control hand up out of the way and trace across the top right corner where the control hand had been. Raise the reserve parachute to the jumper and issue the commands “hold, squat.”

LEG STRAPS:
Insert the index finger and middle finger of each hand from outside to inside under the leg straps behind the aviator’s kit bag where the natural pocket is formed. Simultaneously slide both hands rearward on the leg straps back to the saddle, insuring that the leg straps are not crossed. With the left hand trace the right leg strap up to the quick fit V-ring insuring that it is not twisted, cut, or frayed. With the thumb of the left hand press in on the activating lever of the right leg strap ejector snap to insure that it is properly seated over the ball detent and is free of all foreign matter. Leave the left hand in place and look at the left leg strap. With the right hand trace the left leg strap up to the quick fit V-ring insuring that it is not twisted, cut, or frayed and it is properly routed through the exposed carrying handle of the aviator’s kit bag, over the bottom and under the top. With the thumb or index finger of the right hand press in on the activating lever of the left leg strap ejector snap to insure that it is properly seated over the ball detent, and is free of all foreign matter. Look at the aviator’s kit bag to insure that it is present, not been reversed and the sewn re-enforced portion is facing away from the jumper. Tap the jumper on the thigh and issue the command “Recover.”

UNIVERSAL STATIC LINE:
Reach across your body with your right hand and grasp the Universal Static Line Snap Hook. Pull up on the universal static line snap hook to ensure it is that it is secured to the top carrying handle of the reserve parachute. Open the right hand and let the universal static line snap hook rest in the palm. Place the index finger of the left hand on the girth hitch of the universal static line. Insure the green marking stitching is present and the girth hitch is routed around the narrow portion of the universal static line snap hook. Place the index finger of the left hand near the rivet pin, to ensure it is secure and free of rust and corrosion. With the right hand, re-grasp the universal static line snap hook and hold it perpendicular to the reserve parachute with the opening gate facing toward the jumper. With the left hand, palm facing the jumper, thumb pointing downward, grasp the universal static line just above the universal static line snap hook. Rotate the universal static line down and to the jumper’s right and push it toward the universal static line snap hook. Inspect inside the girth hitch to insure it is free of all cuts frays and burns. With the index finger or thumb of the right hand push the girth hitch back towards the universal static line snap hook and again inspect inside the girth hitch for any cuts frays or burns. Redress the girth hitch down around the narrow portion of the universal static line snap hook and release the universal static line with the left hand. Since the static line is routed over the jumper’s right shoulder, with the index finger and thumb of the right hand, form an “O” around the universal static line just above the universal static line snap hook. Raise the right hand up simultaneously inspecting the static line as it passes through the “O” formed by the right hand to insure that it is free of all cuts, frays, and burns. When the right hand has been raised as high as it can go issue the jumper the command “turn.” Once the jumper has completed the turn, the right hand should have been raised high enough so as to pull all of the slack from the static line slack retainer. Keep the universal static line tight between the control hand and the first stow, place the index finger, or index finger and the middle finger of the working hand behind the universal static line below the control hand so there is skin to skin contact. Trace the universal static line down to the first stow insuring that it is free of all cuts, frays, and burns and it has not been misrouted under or through either riser assembly. With either hand, form a bite in the universal static line and look at the static line slack retainer. Insure the static line slack retainer it is not torn or frayed more than 50%, then insert the bight from top to bottom through the static line slack retainer and pull all excess universal static line through. Flip the bight on top of the packtray and place either hand on it. The hand that controls the bite becomes the control hand. With the index finger and thumb of working hand pinch off the first stow and pull it one or two inches toward the center of the packtray. Look behind the stow to insure that the universal static line has not been misrouted around the static line stow bar and it is free of cuts, frays, or burns. Release the first stow and let it pop back into place. Insert the index finger of the working hand from bottom to top behind the first strand of universal static line as close as possible to the first stow. Trace the first strand of universal static line over to the second stow to insure that it is free of all cuts, frays, and burns. Once contact is made with the second stow, pinch it off with the index finger and thumb of the working hand pull it one to two inches toward the center of the packtray and conduct the same inspection. Place the index finger or thumb of the working hand behind the second strand of static line and trace it away from you insuring it is not cut, frayed, or burned. Continue to inspect the universal static line in the same manner down to the pack opening loop insuring that you inspect the last strand of static line with the index finger only and the last strand of universal static line is routed from the right outer static line stow bar.

PACK OPENING LOOP, PACK CLOSING LOOPS, PACK CLOSING TIE:
Once contact is made with the pack-opening loop insure that it is situated between the pack closing loops at the 6 and 9 o’clock position. Insert the index finger of the working hand from bottom to top into the pack-opening loop. Pull down and out on the pack opening loop, look inside the pack opening loop to insure the pack closing tie has been routed through the pack opening loop and that the pack opening loop is not torn or frayed at all. Let the pack opening loop pop off your finger. Place the index finer of the working hand on the pack-closing loop at the six o’clock position. Look at the pack closing loop to insure the pack closing tie is routed through the pack closing loop and the pack closing loop is not torn or frayed more than 50%. Inspect the remaining pack closing loops in the same manner using a clockwise motion, 9 o’clock, 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock. Look at the pack closing tie and the surgeon’s knot locking knot. Insure the surgeon’s knot locking knot is properly positioned between the pack closing loops at the 3 o’clock and 6 o’clock position. Insert the index finger of working hand from bottom to top behind the surgeon’s knot locking knot and pull down and out, to ensure it is secure and that the pack closing tie has been properly constructed of one turn and one turn only of ¼ inch cotton webbing. Let the pack closing tie pop off the end of your finger, stand up directly behind the jumper and issue the command “tilt your head forward”.

ADVANCED COMBAT HELMET (REAR):
The jumpmaster places both hands on the left side of the ACH, fingers and thumbs extended and joined fingers pointing skyward, palms facing the jumper. The left hand is the control hand; the right hand is the working hand. With the working hand trace the rim of the ACH feeling for any sharp or protruding edges that may cut or damage the jumper’s static line upon exiting the aircraft. Once the hands are parallel place the thumbs on the rim of the ACH and tilt the jumper’s head forward. Conduct a visual inspection to ensure the oval pads are covering the bolt ends and the rear pad is protruding slightly past the rim of the ACH.
Place the right index finger on the right adjustable buckle to ensure the right adjustable strap is properly routed through it and free of all cracked components and is serviceable. Now trace the right adjustable strap down until contact is made with the long portion chinstrap to ensure it is not twisted cut or frayed. Leave the right index finger in place, now place the left index finger on the left adjustable buckle and conduct the same inspection. Leave the left index finger in place. Conduct a visual inspection of the nape pad to ensure it is present, secure, serviceable, and has not been reverse.

RISER ASSEMBLIES:
Reach as far forward over the jumper’s shoulders as possible and with each hand grasp a riser assembly just above the canopy release assemblies. Since these are like items of equipment, either riser assembly can be inspected first, however for this talk through we will begin the inspection with the left riser assembly. Give the left riser assembly a sharp tug to the rear. Open the left hand to form an “L”. Apply upward pressure with the left thumb and trace the riser assembly rearward to where it disappears into the main packtray, insuring it is not twisted, cut, torn, or frayed. Leave the left hand in place and with the right hand conduct the same inspection on the right riser assembly. You must insure a log record book is present in either riser assembly.


PACKTRAY:
An overall inspection of the packtray must be conducted to insure the packtray is free of grease, oil, dirt, mud, or tears. Place both hands on the top left corner of the packtray, palms facing the packtray. The left hand is the control hand and the right hand is the working hand. With the head and eyes 6 to 8 inches away from the working hand trace across the top pack closing flap, down the right pack closing flap, across the bottom pack closing flap, flip the right hand over and trace up the left pack closing flap. When the working hand makes contact with the control hand, raise the control hand out of the way and trace across the top left corner of the packtray where the control hand had been. Form knife-edges with both hands, palms facing the jumpmaster and issue the command “arch your back”.

DIAGONAL BACKSTRAPS:
Insert each hand under the X formed by the diagonal back straps. Look at the diagonal back straps to insure they have been properly routed over the appropriate shoulder, and that the top diagonal back strap has one more row of exposed stitching than the one on the bottom. Look at the diagonal back strap retainers to insure they are routed through the sizing channels on the diagonal back straps. The diagonal back strap retainers are routed around the diagonal back strap keepers and the pull the dot fasteners are secured. To further ensure the pull the dot fasteners are secure, with both thumbs, apply upward pressure on the pull the dot fasteners. Focus your attention on the left hand and the left side of your jumper. With the left hand, trace down the diagonal back strap to the back strap adjuster, insuring that it is not twisted, cut, or frayed. Grasp the back strap adjuster with the left hand and focus your attention on the right side of your jumper. With the right hand, trace down the diagonal back strap, insuring it is not twisted cut or frayed, bypass the back strap adjuster and pick up the inspection of the horizontal back strap.

HORIZONTAL BACKSTRAPS:
Trace the horizontal back strap down to where it disappears into the main lift web. Withdraw the right hand from under the horizontal back strap, and reinsert it, fingers and thumb extended and joined, fingers pointing skyward, palm facing the jumpmaster, from bottom to top behind the horizontal back strap where it reemerges from the main lift web and issue the jumper the command “bend forward at the waist”. Release the back strap adjuster with the left hand, reach across the packtray and grasp the center of the bottom pack-closing flap. With the head and eyes 6 to 8 inches from the working hand, trace the horizontal back strap across the jumper’s back insuring it is not twisted, cut, or frayed, and that the horizontal back strap is properly routed through both horizontal back strap retainers, and that the horizontal back strap retainers are routed around the horizontal back strap keeper, and the pull the dot fasteners are secured. Continue tracing the horizontal back strap to where it disappears into the main lift web on the left side of the jumper. With the left hand, palm facing skyward, re-grasp the back strap adjuster on the jumper’s left side. Withdraw the right hand from behind the horizontal back strap and reinsert it, fingers and thumb extended and joined, palm facing the jumpmaster, from top to bottom or bottom to top behind the horizontal back strap where it reemerges from the main lift web. Trace the horizontal back strap up to where contact is made with the control hand still in place on the back strap adjuster. Withdraw the right hand from behind the horizontal back strap and get left hip to left hip with the jumper.


SADDLE:
Place the finger tips of the right hand, fingers and thumb extended and joined, fingers pointed down, palm facing the jumper on the accessory attaching ring of the lowering line adapter web or the single “X” boxed stitch on the left main lift web. Trace the saddle across the jumpers buttocks insuring that the saddle is not twisted, cut, frayed, been inverted, or that either leg strap has been misrouted around the saddle. Trace the saddle until contact is made with the single “X” boxed stitch on the right main lift web. Reach back and get a hand full of air and issue the jumper that good seal of approval by tapping the jumper on the buttocks and issuing the command “recover”.

Day: April 28, 2009

Day: April 28, 2009 JUMP DAY #2
Weather report: mid-80’s today, humidity 44% wind 10-15 SE

The second day of jumps started this morning at 0230hrs with my alarm clock blaring. I got up shaved and drank a Gatorade and headed to formation. Formation was a 0350hrs for manifest and roll call. We then headed out to the PIT to do our pre-jump briefs and malfunction refresher, PLF’s and move out. Back down the hill to the harness shed and jumped out of the mock doors for a refresher and breakfast. MRE’s again of course, I ended up with chili mac and down it pretty quickly. We only had a few minutes to eat and go back into the harness shed. We headed out to get our reserves and parachutes to return and set them up for buddy rigging. A quick ten minute break and back into the harness shed for JMPI and sitting on our fourth point of contact.

The difference with our first jump of the day was were jumped full combat equipment and had to put an extra 45lbs on our bodies. It was a lot of weight on our shoulder and pretty difficult to walk. We made it though! Out the door and waddled to the aircraft, through the jet blast, propeller wash, and up the ramp at 1045hrs. Slowly this time! They stacked us in the C-130 like sardines. It was nuts. I was happy to see the first thirty jumpers leave the aircraft so we could spread out and move around a little. The next pass and we were out the door. At the three-thousand count; my chute was above me and I was headed for the leading edge of the drop zone, this was prefect. I began to observe my area and get ready to lower my combat equipment. At about two hundred feet I release my ruck sack down the 15’ lowering line. I untied my M-1950 weapons case and hit the quick release on it, it slid down to my chute and I was preparing to land. At 100’ I pulled a rear slip and contact, I performed a front right PLF, released my canopy, slid out of my harness and started through my tactical process of recovering my gear. First pull your equipment to you, next take the adjusting straps off the harness and the quick release off the harness. Attach them to your belt loops and pull your canopy to you and stuff them into the aviator’s kit bag. The next step is to put on your ruck sack, place the reserve over your head with the aviator’s kit bag facing to the rear and your parachute on the front side. Place the weapons carrying case on top of the kit bag, conduct a 360 degree view of your area to ensure that you have not left anything and head to the assembly area. Everyone in my chalk made it just fine. There were a few jumpers that had some problems. One female broke her forearm, another soldier broke a leg, and several had rolled or twisted ankles. I found out this morning that a soldier broke his leg and ankle on a jump yesterday and had to have surgery on it this morning. I don’t have any additional information on that at this time.

Lunch time! Guess what MRE’s and we did not have time to eat them. Get your gear and get on the buses we have to get this jump in before the winds pick-up. Someone picked up my reserve will I was in the latrine and I had to wait for everyone to pick up one. The guy from the other chalk had two. Of course one of them was mine. My jump team had already got on a bus and headed back. I caught a ride back with the first chalk and had to hurry to catch up with my chalk. They were on a break when I arrived. I had to put my combat equipment back together, get a new chute, and have my reserve chute inspected. Finally, I got to take a break with the first chalk and then got back in rhythm with my chalk. We put on our new chutes and here comes the Jumpmasters. The JMPI and sit down, watch the move again, and load the planes again at 1445hrs. This time we had an objective when we landing. We had a role play today similar to the invasion of Normandy; this was one of the greatest airborne operations in history. Chalks one thru four had to secure the south most end of the drop zone and set-up blocking points on three intersections. We preformed with precision. The senior NCOs’ took charge and made it happen. It was an amazing operation! We cleared the objectives and headed back to the assembly area. Dinner, MRE’s I had the roast beef this time and was starving. It was great! We had time to sit down and drink water, a lot of water and I needed it. It was hot and muggy and we had walked over two miles in a tactical formation. Secured our area and walked another two miles to the assembly area. This was real world training and I loved every minute of it. We waited on the buses to come get us and take us back to the harness shed. My platoon was scheduled to shack out chutes today but got changed to tomorrow. We were surprised and happy. They released us at 1845hrs. Formation tomorrow will be at 1400hrs in our normal training uniform.

Tomorrow will be a night full combat jump and our final jump here. All we need to do it exit the aircraft and we graduate on Friday and will be AIRBORNE qualified. No more running all over Ft. Benning, GA. We can walk with pride because we will not be dirty nasty legs (no airborne qualified personal). What a wonderful day Friday is going to be. Silver Wings on my chest and on the way home to see my wonderful family and hug my children.

The C-130 is the most amazing place I have ever been with Airborne personal. It is a flying Chapel. There is more praying and asking GOD for help, forgiveness, and peace. I do it too! I thank GOD everyday for all the things I am so blessed to have and for walking with me and stepping off the C-130 and being there on the drop zone when I land. He is my rock and my strength, this is all for his glory and honor! May I be able to be a witness and a leader for HIM.

PULL-UPS for the day: 20

Day: April 27, 2009

Day: April 27, 2009 JUMP DAY
Weather report: mid-80’s today, humidity 40% wind 10 SSE

This morning was an early one. I started at 0245hrs with my alarm clock blaring and my day began. I had two Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts with a canteen of water and headed out for formation. Formation and manifest call for the jumps. We were counted and recounted several times. It was crazy but called for. We then headed for the PIT. At the PIT everyone in the Company had to perform a proper front, left, right, and rear PLF to move to the harness shed. After everyone had successfully completed the exercise we ran one mile to the harness. I thought it was crazy to make us run that far before a jump but found out that it helps loosen you up and gives the instructors of personal that may have injuries.

In formation at the harness shed and MRE’s for breakfast. I had the beef stew one for breakfast. Now on your feet and inside the harness shed. We finally got in the harness shed at 0700hrs and the HURRY-UP and WAIT began. We had another accountability check and then moved out by our new chalks to acquire our parachute harness and reserve chute. We placed our arm thru the harness straps with our right arms and placed our right hand on our helmet. We carried our reserve in our left hand by the reserve carrying handle located on the top. When we returned to the harness shed we were back in roster order number and standing by our bench. The orders were to disconnect all the attachments and fully extend them, fold the aviator kit bag, and place the reserve on the top of the bench with the rip cord grip facing away from you. Once that is completed you are on a ten minute break. After the break we were instructed to size our parachute to fit our body. This is done by unsnapping the buttons on the back of the parachute tray and moving it into another hole. You do this one strap at a time to avoid twisted our rerouting the back straps. There are five slots available for adjustment. The very bottom one is the largest adjustment; then you move up to size four, size three, size two, and small. My chute harness fits me best in size three. I think that the majority of the Company is a size three. We did the buddy rigging again, but this time it was for real. We were very careful with ensuring everything was properly hooked-up and routed to ensure we were safe. Then the fun started. JMPI!

Jumpmaster Pre-jump Inspection! We had jumpmasters all over the place. The demonstration was dead on the money, just like everything else here at the school. The jumpmasters went through each and every member of the Company and initialed our helmets after they had completed the task. We were instructed to sit down and place our right hand on the rip cord grip and not to touch anything. After about an hour of sitting there we were allowed to stand up and adjust our leg straps and anything else that needed to be adjusted. At this time the jumpmasters conducted a front and rear inspection. This is the final check before loading the aircraft. Then the waiting continued.

After some shouting over the intercom a movie started to play on the TV’s in the harness shed. The movie was the MACON brief. This explains the demotions of the drop zone, any possible hazards, or hazard areas. Soon after the planes fired up and started rolling toward the harness shed. They started loading the aircraft at 1000hrs and started with chalk 12 and 11. I am in chalk three so I waited a long time. Each time one of the two C-130’s from the Air National Guard would roll-up two chalks would get up and leave. The two planes were from Alaska and West Virginia. Pretty soon it was my time. My chalk stood up and headed by two’s to the aircraft. My first jump was going to be out of the left door. That means we exit the left rear door facing the back of the aircraft.

The doors rolled up and the plane turned to approach the loading area. We started towards the rear of the aircraft to load up the ramp at 1230hrs. When we started to approach the heat from the engines and the JP 8 aircraft fuel, along with the jet was propelled us backward and made us dig down and lean into the draft to load. We moved toward the nose of the aircraft and set in the cargo seats. Not in the netting they actually had the seats in the aircraft. This was a first for me, every C-130 I have ever been on one had the cargo netting for seats. Lift off, we were airborne and the only way off the plane was through a door on the side. The sounds rand out, TEN MINUTES! It was almost time to go. The jumpmasters continued, GET READY. I was in the second pass so I watched as all my new friends performed the drill and prepared to exit the aircraft. OUT BOARD PERSONAL, STAND-UP! INBOARD PERSONAL, STAND-UP! It was getting close. HOOK-UP! This means go time, no turning back now. CHECK STATIC LINE! Trace down from the point of attachment, four in the hand, two below, and trace it to your shoulder, then trace it from the jumper in front of you down their shoulder into the first loop, and hit them on the helmet and sound off with, SAFE. CHECK EQUIPMENT! Our little jingle, Helmet, Chin Strap, Chest Strap, Left and Right Leg Strap, at each point of the jingle you touch the piece of equipment and ensure that you have everything completely closed and that nothing has come loose during movement to and on the aircraft. SOUND OFF FOR EQUIPMENT CHECK! A slap will start at the back of the jump stick and each jumper will slap the person in front of him on the fourth of contact (buttock) and send it up the line until it reaches the jumpmaster. The jumper in the door position will sound off with, ALL O.K. JUMPMASTER! Then the nerves started kicking in for some of the jumpers. ONE MINUTE! THIRTY-SECONDS! STANDY-BY! The jumpmasters are waiting on the green light. It flashes and with a smack on the number one jumpers’ buttock he disappeared out the door. A flash of daylight and then another one left the aircraft, then another, until they were all gone. All that was left swinging in the air was the static line that pulled their chutes open. The plane turned and headed back around for the next pass. It was my turn to exit now. The process started over. At first, this morning I thought about things and wondered what would happen if my chute didn’t open and my reserve failed. The things that come to mind before you exit an aircraft. I prayed about it last night and this morning and had peace like I have never felt before. I was not nervous at all and was a comfort to some of my fellow jumpers. It was amazing to follow the commands and get ready to exit the C-130 in fight for the first time. THIRTY-SECONDS! The time was here. My chalk began to move out the door, I was number seven. I handed off my static line and pushed hard and out the door I went. WOOSH! I forgot to start counting. So did everyone else I talked to on the ground. At first I felt the heat of the jet blast and then the wind, I saw my feet, the rear of the plane go by and then a sharp smooth tug above me. A beautiful silk green mushroom was above me. My parachute opened and I had no twists or any malfunctions. The wind picked-up and I started drifting to the edge of the drop-zone. While I was floating at 1200’ it was so peaceful, no sound at all, until I heard the jumpmasters on the ground yelling at us to pull the correct slip. I was drifting towards the trees. They were only six to ten feet high, but they were still trees. I pulled as much rear left diagonal slip as I could and my feet hit the ground. I did my PLF on the dirt road next to the tree line. My parachute covered four small long needle white pine trees on the west side of the DZ. I had made it, now it was time for me to recover my parachute. I was pulling on static lines, bending the small trees over and finally secured my canopy from the tree line. My buddy drifted way off into the trees and I didn’t see him until we got back to the assembly area. I reported it to the Blackhat’s as soon as one came by to check on me. They went and picked him up.

At the assembly area we had an MRE for lunch, this time it was Cheese Manicotti. Not bad at all. I was starving, anything would have been good. We put our chutes into the back of a tractor trailer and got on a bus back to the harness shed.

At the harness shed we had our reserves checked and got a new parachute. Back to the benches to gear up for the next jump. The other chalks that left the assembly area before us were already JMPI’d and ready for the bird. We started the buddy rigging again. JMPI, sit watch the video again, front and rear check, and get ready to go again. It was 1550hrs when my bird came to throw me out again. On the aircraft much of the same but this time we switched doors. I was to exit out of the right door and was the number three man. The guy in front of me had been real nervous and acting funny, he said that he was fine. All the commands went off without a problem. We started to the door and he stopped after the first person jumped and stutter stepped and caused me to get out of rhythm. I jumped and began to twist in air. This is not a problem, but it kind of a wild ride. I counted this time and got to three thousand and that wonderful tug on the shoulders, my parachute blossomed open nice and round. I had about eight twists and was wound up like a kid on a swing in the yard. I checked my canopy and it was good, and then began the process to correct my risers. I reached back behind my head pulled down and out on the risers and began bicycling my feet. This motion made me start to spin and the twists came right out. Now it was time to prepare to land again. I found myself drifting and was able to correct my drift and land almost center of the drop zone. It was a prefect PLF and I quickly gathered my gear and started to move out when Petty Officer First Class Pierce started down. I went to a knee and waited for him to land. A PLF and he was on the ground, the wind gusted and began to drag him down the drop zone. I yelled at him to activate a canopy release and he did. It continued to drag him. I ran a jumped on the partially deflated the chute and it died down. I then checked on the Petty Officer. We was grateful, it had pulled him over twelve feet and would have continued to drag him unless someone helped him out. He had dirt all over him and this fine powdery dust here made him look like a cinnamon coated sailor. We gathered hi gear a headed for the assembly area. On the way two soldiers collided in air and their parachutes collapsed. They followed all the proper steps, activated their reserves and made a successful landing. We all made it through jumps one and two. A few rolled or twisted ankles from improper landing procedures, but nothing else at this time. GOD was with each of us today and I thank him for all that HE does for us and will continue to do!

It is time for me to get to bed and try and get some rest. Formation will be at 0350hrs in the morning and we will conduct a combat jump in the morning starting at 1000hrs followed by another jump starting at 1500hrs. It will be an extremely long day tomorrow. We must get all the parachutes that the company has jumped out and shake the chutes out. This is done to help the riggers fold and put the chutes back in the harness pack trays. We will be out in the harness area until at least 2200hrs tomorrow night. The good thing we will be able to sleep the following the morning and formation will be at 1300hrs on Wednesday.

Enough for now, more adventure tomorrow.

PULL-UPS for the day: 20

Day: April 26, 2009

Day: April 26, 2009
Weather report: mid-90’s today, humidity 24% wind calm today, that’s a first

Today is laundry and haircut day. The 1SG and I are going to Ranger Joe’s to get haircuts and he needs a new set of dog tags. We conducted a dog tag inspection on Friday and he had on the wrong set. He left his personal ones in Okinawa, Japan. The ones he has been wearing are from a Marine he lost in Iraq. He wears them in his honor and memory. He said, “He was the only Marine he lost on their deployment”. I admire him for keeping the dog tags with him and remembering the Marine that he lost serving our country.

We went and had lunch at Chili’s and it was ok. Not the best thing I have had since I’ve been here nut good. We the headed back to the barracks and for the get together. It was hot. Everyone was miserable so no one hung out very long and retreated to the comfort of their rooms.

Formation was at 1800hrs today. The recall formation was a joke. We had an accountability check and then they made us all drink a drink mix to keep us from getting dehydrated tomorrow. Our formation in the morning is at 0400hrs. We are scheduled to jump TWO times tomorrow; one normal (Hollywood) jump and the other one with full combat equipment. Wish us luck and may GOD keep us all safe!

PULL-UPS for the day: 0

Day: April 25, 2009

Day: April 25, 2009
Weather report: low-90’s today, humidity 48% wind is about 15 SW

It is Saturday and I tried to sleep in but it did not happen. I was awake at 0430hrs as usual. I attempted to go back to sleep but had a few problems sleeping. I tossed and turned so I just lay around and watched T.V. I went out with Kirvin and was going to meet LT Corley and his wife but they were not able to make it. We went to Outback and ran into several people from our platoon and pretty much took over the patio and just talked about the course and instructors and hung out. It was nice to get to know our people better. We finally broke the hang out up around 2200hrs. I haven’t been up that late since I have been here. I was turning into a pumpkin and needed to go to sleep. Tomorrow we have the grill reserved in our common area and are going to grill out and have some social time. Off to bed.

PULL-UPS for the day: 0

Day: April 24, 2009

Day: April 24, 2009
Weather report: low-90’s today, humidity 44% wind is about 5 SW

We started the day with a 4.2 mile run after our normal 0530hrs formation and finished with our normal 100 four count flutter kicks, push-ups and side straddle hops. It was nice and cool when we started PT. The air reminded me of the marsh on the way to Edisto Island and the honeysuckle was in full bloom this morning on the run. It was a great day for PT and our LAST ONE! We finished the training portion of the Airborne School today and next week will begin practical exercise, exiting an aircraft while in flight. For breakfast I had the normal raisin bran, gogurt, and milk. Not to heavy but just enough to hold me over until lunch, I knew it was going to be a hot one today.

0830hrs and we were back in formation waiting to start our last training day. What a relief to be finished with all the trainers and finally start putting together our equipment today. That’s what we thought anyway. It turns out we had two more classes and we had to clean and turn in the tower range before we could go pack our rucksacks. Our first class was a refresher from what we have learned from day one with demonstrations by the Blackhat’s. It was an awesome demonstration! We then began our clean up and prepared to move out to the harness shed. The harness shed is the location we will get into our parachutes and combat gear. It was time to pack and secure our rucksacks for a combat jump on Monday. NOT YET! We had another class. This class was a demonstration on the Jumpmaster inspection prior to boarding the aircraft. It was very interesting to see them conduct their ritual. I would try to explain how this is conduct but would not be able to do it justice. It is a well oiled process that checks every buckle, fastener, harness strap, static line, helmet, chin strap, and anything else you can think of on the jumper. The fail rate for the jumpmaster course is over 50% per class. It is a brutal course and should be. We trust their expertise with our lives. They are a vital and essential part to any successful Airborne Operation. Now, time to harness the rucksacks.

My chalk (our jump order) finished the exercise first with out any failures on the pack. This was good and bad. It was good because all of us were proficient in the procedures of setting up the equipment for the jump. The bad part was waiting the other 12 chalks to finish so we could return to the company area and be released. After and hour they were all finished. My butt was sore from sitting on the wooden benches in the harness shed. Hopefully next week (jump week) will run a little more efficiently. Lunch was MRE’s again and I had chicken breast this time. Not to bad!

We have a recall formation on Sunday at 1800hrs for manifest. The manifest roster is the roster we are assigned on the aircraft. I am in: Chalk 3, Second Stick, 7th Jumper. So what does that mean? That means as the aircraft passes over the drop zone on the third pass I will be the seventh paratrooper out the door, AIRBORNE!

Tonight I will be going to dinner with Alan the Marine 1SG again, and tomorrow I will be having dinner with 1LT Nick Corley and his wife. On Sunday my original group is going to grill out at the company area and just hang-out. We have become a pretty close knit group due to the nature of the training. It is like no military training I have ever been to. We must trust our stick to do all the right things every time in order keep all the service members safe. I cannot wait to get home and will keep in touch with a few of the fellows I have met during my training here. AIRBORNE!

PULL-UPS for the day: 30

Day: April 23, 2009

Day: April 23, 2009
Weather report: mid-80’s today, humidity 30% wind is about 10 SSW

Formation for PT was at 0530hrs as normal. We started out with a one mile boots and uniform run followed by circuit training for an additional mile. During the second mile we had several events; flutter kick 100 (four count), push-up 25 (4 sets), leg throws (two sets five minutes each), side straddle hops 100 (four count), fireman carry 100 yards, sprints (two sets fifty yards), overhead arm claps 100 (four count), and military presses 50 (four count). We then set-up the mass exit 34’ tower and went to breakfast. I ate two eggs over easy, four slices of bacon, a bowl of oatmeal, milk, potatoes, and two pancakes. After breakfast we went to the training area to conduct mass exit procedures and steps to correct malfunctions.

My four man group started with a full combat jump and total malfunction drill. The kicker to this exercise is for all members to complete a perfect exit, malfunction correction, and prepare to land. My group went thru the drills on the first time. Our next two jumps were Hollywood style jumps, one with a partial malfunction and the last with a total malfunction. It was a great experience to prepare us for the real thing next week. We then went to lunch. Boy was I hungry! I had two slices of roasted pork, mashed potatoes with gravy, creamed corn, cornbread, a brownie with pecans, and PowerAde. We then returned to the training area for the remainder of my platoon to finish the exercise. I was put in charge of the ropes crew. They are responsible for getting the harnesses from the end of the mound back to the tower for the next group of jumpers. The heat index was kicking today and we drank a ton of water. It was hot! After the platoon had completed the tower we had to survey all the equipment and conduct an equipment accountability show down. This took a while. We made it through it and moved on to suspended harness training two.

During this training we went through diagonal slips, how to avoid fellow paratroopers, and hazards. The diagonal slip is used to increase the speed of your drift. This will allow you to move your parachute away from other paratroopers. It an in air collision is inevitable there is a set of procedures you need to perform; one, pull a slip away from the approaching parachute/paratrooper; two, if it does not work, spread your arms and legs out and start pushing away; three, if that fells you way go into or thru the static lines of the other paratrooper, you must cover your reserve grip with your right hand to prevent a premature release of your reserve parachute and start weaving your way back out of the static line; four, if you are entangled in the static lines you will work your way down the static lines in a hand under hand motion until you reach the other paratrooper, you will then grab each others left harness strap and observe the canopy’s, if one falls it is not an issue, if both fail you will release each other with the left hand and pull the reserve grip and push away. This all takes place in a matter of second. You must react in a calm and reserved manner to ensure the safety of both paratroopers. The next type of obstacle and most frequently encountered is trees. If you are not able to pull a slip away and a tree landing is inevitable you must pull a slip and pull your arms in front of your face and prepare to land if you make it thru the trees. If you find yourself with your combat equipment not lowered, do not lower it as it will provide added protection. If it has been lowered, release the emergency release and let it fall. When you come to a complete stop in a tree there are a few steps needed to get down; one, pull and shake to ensure you are completely stuck; two, rock back and forth and try to reach a limb or branch to climb down; three, activate your reserve with your right arm covering it so the spring does not shoot your reserve chute through the trees; four, slowly lower your reserve to the ground and ensure that it is touching the ground; five, wrap your feet in a braking manner onto the static lines and release yourself from the harness; finally climb down to safety. Here at the airborne school you will not carry out any of these steps unless a Sergeant Airborne is present. They will come and get you down. The next type of hazard is high tension cables. You will try to slip away, if that does not work you must try to go through them and make a PLF. You will do this by placing your hands on the inside of your front risers with your hands open and fingers extended, and you will begin a rocking motion to help you bounce off or go through the wire and prepare to land. The final landing is a water landing. If you cannot avoid landing in the water, you must prepare to swim. Start by looking below you to ensure no one is there. Take off your helmet and release it to the ground. Release your equipment from your harness and leave it attached on the lowering line, this will keep everything together and keep it off of you in the water. Try to slide the seat portion of your harness as far down under your butt as possible. Release the chest strap and place your right hand on the right leg strap release and the left hand on the left leg strap. As soon as your feet hit the water release the leg straps and swim away and upstream from your equipment. Recover your equipment and continue your mission. Hopefully you have an idea of where your helmet is you may need it later. If not your alive and can replace the helmet. The training day ended at 1842hrs today. It was a long tiring day. We reached a heat CAT V and had to unloosen our boots and take a break.

For dinner I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, milk, chips, and fruit. I am really tired and need some rest. Today, Amanda sent me pictures of the boys playing and it was nice to see them happy and smiling. The boys talked to me for a good while tonight and always ask did I jump out of an airplane. Next week I can tell them yes. I can’t wait to hug the little monsters. I told them I would take a nap with them on the Sunday after I get back and they seemed to be pretty excited about it.

PULL-UPS for the day: 60

Day: April 22, 2009

Day: April 22, 2009
Weather report: high-70’s today, humidity 100% wind is about 5 E

Today was a very exciting day! Baby Rebecca is finally here and doing well. She was not supposed to live after birth. To read more and find out the story view their Blog: www.budzoo.blogspot.com. She is the miracle of a great deal of answered prayers.

Training today started with a 1 mile run in boots, helmet, and ACU’s. We then started PIT PT at 0600hrs. Front, back, goes; flutter kicks, eight count push-ups; overhead arm claps; mountain climbers; and side straddle hops for thirty minutes. We then went to breakfast at the training site, MRE’s. I had the beef stew with vegetables, we don’t have a choice of which MRE we get, and they just throw them at us. Directly after breakfast we started on the 250’ Tower.

The 250’ Tower takes a lot of soldiers to run and all the Black Hat’s. It is a pain in the butt, but well worth the effort. It is the most realistic trainer on site. When you get hooked in the harness your heart rate increases, and you start to second guess yourself. Then with a sharp tug you begin to leave the ground in the five point parachute harness. It is like an extreme ride at an amusement park. On the way up there is an instructor shouting out commands while you continue to climb. When you reach the 240’ mark the announcer will state you are reaching the 6’ automatic stop. This is the point where you are almost ready to parachute to a landing. The next command will be release your left safety hook and pull the slack hand over hand until it clears the harness ring, let the excess hang below you, now release the right safety line and drop it. Soldier on arm (#) you will take all commands from the instructor on the ground, if you understand click your feet together two times. The next command is buttons (this is the tower operations) drop arm (#). The arm will then lift you 6’ disengage the action pin in the apex of the canopy and will release the parachute. The pull up is not an issue. The click at the top and the sudden release of the parachute with your body momentum going up and the drop makes you feel like you are out of the harness. When the parachute catches it is an amazing view of Ft Benning. You continue to pull slips in order to slow down or drift away from the tower. You land with the PLF that you feel is warranted at the time and hope you chose wisely. It was a great experience! For lunch we had MRE’s again. I had the vegetarian Cheese Tortellini this time. It was not too bad. After lunch, we trained again on the mass exit procedures of the aircraft. Upon successful completion of the mock doors trainer we had a block of instruction on tomorrows training, the mass exit of the 34’ tower.

With this training we will conduct a four man jump out of the tower and perform a total malfunction drill, a partial malfunction drill, and a full combat load total malfunction drill. We must complete all three drills at 100%. The four man group must all receive a 100% or the entire four man stick will have to redo it until they are proficient. This will help us overcome the mass exit procedures and all us to get more proficient with deployment of our reserve. This should be fun!

Tomorrow 0530hrs PT and training. We will not come back to the rooms again tomorrow. It is scheduled to rain some tomorrow. We will train as long as it is not lighting within five miles of the training area. If it is raining we will still be training. For thunderstorms with lighting we will train on the mock door mass exits again. Friday we are packing and setting up or rucksacks for our two combat jumps next week.

Dinner is two beef and bean burritos, chips, milk, carrots with ranch dressing and cheese and crackers snack. The sunscreen did not help much today, I still got sunburn on my neck and face and of all places my eyelids are sun burnt a little, I have no idea how that happened.

Let us all be truly thankful for what we have and take nothing for granted. The baby born today is a true miracle and we should give GOD all the glory and praise.

PULL-UPS for the day: 60

Day: April 21, 2009

Day: April 21, 2009
Weather report: low-70’s today, humidity 100% wind is about 5 SE, partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms and wind gusts 10-20 W

CHANGE! PT formation was at 0530hrs. It was cold this morning before we got started at 42 degrees with only shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt on. We ran an on track run for 4 miles. Then we headed for the grassy area in front of the 250’ towers. It is like they are the guardians of the Airborne Trainee’s. The grass was extremely cold after we had been sweating from the run and the morning dew drenched us rolling around doing the following exercises; 100 four count flutter kicks, crunches, left/right crunches, 100 side-straddle hops (jumping jacks), side planks for 1 minute each side, and push-ups. Yesterday off-post personal were told to report with a clean uniform and hygiene gear to formation; that no one would be allowed to return to their room. That changed after PT we were allowed to go back and get cleaned-up and to report back at 0830hrs for training. For breakfast I had the usual; raisin bran, gogurt, Motrin, and water. Believe it or not I am not too sore after yesterday’s training, it may set in later. I have no clue about what we are doing today. They do not communicate very well around here, and leave us with the deer in the headlight look all the time.

Formation went off at 0830hrs with out a hitch. We moved out to the training area after a half mile run in boots and helmet. Our first block of instruction for the day was on the proper way to rig our rucksack or Alice pack for a combat jump. To start on the combat assembly of your rucksack you need to ensure you have all the components to complete the task. A rucksack, lowering line, single attachment harness, weapons carrying case, two adjuster straps, and a quick release. I will start with the lowering line assembly; you will need to fully extend the lowering line. Once it is laid out and free of twists you can begin “S-rolling” it until it is nicely rolled and able to fit in the Velcro strap with no more than 1/4” exposed out either side, any additional strap that will not even-up should be placed in the Velcro and securely shut. Grab your ruck and put it face down. Secure the left shoulder strap completely down tight. Now that you have completed that task you move on to the harness assembly. With the harness spread out completely, face-up, you will need to gather your adjuster straps and female ends of your leg straps. The leg straps are used to keep the rucksack attached to your body as you exit the aircraft, without them attached properly the pack would fly up and hit you in the face, would not be a good day. Place the hooks on the adjuster straps face down at the harness end. Located at the end of the adjuster strap is a metal attachment ring, you will place it over the white loop. There are three loops that must be threaded thru each other to make the release assembly work. Place it over the white loop, thread the green or gray loop and then thru the red loop. At this point you will thread the red loop thru the grommet hole on the female leg strap with the stow pocket facing upward. This completes one side. Finish the other side and move onto the release strap. Make sure that the strap is not crossed over, twisted, or routed around itself. It must be attach with the Velcro strap cover and then route thru the red loops on the leg straps and placed into the stow pockets. Now that the release is complete, flip the harness completely over. Grab your rucksack and turn it upside down with the kidney band facing your pelvic bone. Find the end of the harness and place the center front pocket on the center of the harness. Next you will find the tie down straps, leg straps and strap fasteners with static buckles. Route the tie down strap between the rucksack frame and the rucksack. You will cross the strap over the top of the rucksack cross bar. Thread the static fasteners between the fame and rucksack from the bottom this time. Ensure that none of the straps are crossed and cinch them down, but not all the way. When you feel it is snug flip the pack over. The center pocket should be sticking out of the harness, if not adjust it so it does so. This will increase the stability of the harness and ensure your ruck does not fall out onto other jumps or away from you. This is your means of survival in a combat environment. Now that the harness is correctly positioned flip the ruck back over and get all the slack out as possible. Finish the static fastener by inserting a quick release into the strap. This is done by overlapping the strap on top of itself and leaving a three to four inch loop. When the loose end is pulled the strap will release and allow you to get your ruck on. S-roll the excess and place a retainer band on over the excess. A check to see if your straps are tight enough is to try and put your fist under the straps, if you can tighten them more. You do not want anything flapping in the wind that could cause a chute malfunction or fly up and hit you in the face. Cinch up and complete the s-roll on the other side. Once completed you will need to get your lowering line again, with your pack facing down take the loop end of the lowering line and thread it underneath the ruck harness, DO NOT put it under the frame it will not work and you will ride your combat into the drop zone. This is not a bad thing but it will make your landing much harder. Once the lowering line has been routed run the loose end thru the loop and attach it to the left side of your pack, as if you were wearing it, with retaining bands, and attach the clip end to the bottom of your ruck. Connect your leg straps male end to the female end on the bottom of your ruck. Snug them up and roll the straps. These are the only straps on your entire harness that can be rolled, but for good measure and to keep everything simple I s-rolled these as well. Your rucksack is now ready for the jump. Now to attach it! With your five point parachute harness and reserve on, hook the adjuster straps underneath the reserve to the outside of the reserve clips on the five point harness, you will then attach the lowering line thru the weapons carrying case and to the outside for the adjuster strap on your left side harness ring. The force of the pack being released with break the retainer bands allowing your rucksack to be lowered twelve feet below. With a slap down and away you will activate your quick release on your weapon carrying case; a tug on the rucksack harness release will drop all of your equipment away from you and allow you to make a safe PLF. Formation and a half mile run back!

Lunch time! I had Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, steamed carrots, bread, two glasses of PowerAde, and a piece of pound cake with chocolate icing. It was delicious. I was starving so anything would have been good. We had a few minutes to digest and off again! One half mile run and back in the training area.

The next class was on the two hundred and fifty foot tower. They went over the tower command and the actions needed to safe negotiate the tower. They were not able to give us the full class today because of the winds gusting from 17 to 35 mph. We are scheduled to parachute from the tower in the morning after PT. If the winds continue to blow we will not conduct training off the tower. It is a safety issue.

We then conducted training on the mass exit of the aircraft and the proper commands while in the aircraft for a safe and successful exit. On the first jump, each pass over the drop zone we will drop ten people out one door and alternate doors. The next four jumps will be exiting the aircraft on each side with fifteen jumpers per stick, for a total of thirty jumpers in the air on each pass. The commands are as follows. I will give the command and the response followed by the hand signal. The command ten minutes will be give the jumper reach with turning to the forward of the plane stating ten minutes, face the rear of the plane stating ten minutes, and facing the center of the plane while placing their head down and stating ten minutes, the jumpmaster will hold out all ten fingers. The next command is Get Ready, all commands from the jumpers will be to the front of the aircraft, followed by airborne and a foot stomp. Out board personal stand up, this is when all the personal on the outside of the aircraft stand up, two fingers pointed to the outside with a down and up action. In board personal stand up, this is when the personal seated in the center stand up, two fingers toward the inside of the jumpmaster with a down and up motion. Hook-up, during hook up you will place the hook over the cable in the aircraft with the open edge of the hook facing the side of the aircraft, ensure that the double latch is fully seated, grab the top of the static line come down until your hand is eye level, grab the static line make a two inch loop out the bottom of your hand and feed it excess over your shoulder, this motion is your pointer fingers hooked with and up and down motion. Check the jumper to your front and ensure that there are no twists into the first loop of the static line retainer, tap them on the back of the helmet and say safe. Check equipment, this is done by running your hand over the front edge of your helmet to ensure there are no sharp spots, continue to run your hand down your chin strap from ear to ear to ensure it is fastened and tight, check the chest strap buckle, left and right leg strap buckles. Sound off for equipment check, the assistant jumpmaster/safety will start at the rear of the jump line and work his/her way forward. He will slap the last jumper on the buttock and then the jumpers will continue to slap each other until it reaches the first jumper. The first jumper will sound off with a loud; “ALL OK Jumpmaster” and stick his hand in his face until the jumpmaster hits hit hand. The jumpmaster will say, stand-by. The first jumper will hand off his static line and stand in the door with a good jump posture. GO! The jumpers in the stick will begin shuffling forward, hand off the static line to the safety, make the turn and exit the aircraft.

I ate two chicken burritos, two quarts of water, grapes, pineapple, cheese and crackers, and some trail mix. My shoulders are sore from all of the pull-ups and lifting my body weight on the suspended harness trainer yesterday.

Formation in the morning will be at 0530hrs in ACU’s, boots, and helmet. We will head for PIT PT and then straight to the training area; the two hundred fifty-feet tower. Breakfast and lunch will be MRE’s tomorrow. We are going to smell bad tomorrow. The weather is calling for high 70’s and high humidity.

We found out today that during jump week if the weather cooperates we will jump twice on Monday; one Hollywood (no combat equipment) and one combat jump; Tuesday two jumps, Hollywood; and Wednesday one night combat jump. We will be able to sleep in, if you want to call it that on Thursday and start out processing. Friday is graduation and the pinning of the wings. I am having dinner with 1LT Nick Corley and his wife on Friday and am going to ask if he will pin my wings. In order to pin someone with Airborne Wings you MUST be AIRBORNE QUALIFIED. It would be nice to have someone that you know pin you then someone you have only spent three weeks being trained by. I appreciate all the Sergeant Airborne’s have done for us and all of the intense training they have put us through, but it is different. Graduation will be on Friday and last about 30-45 minutes.

PULL-UPS for the day: 60

Day: April 20, 2009

Day: April 20, 2009
Weather report: low-70’s today, humidity 94% wind is about 5 ESE

PT formation was at 0530hrs this morning. After a fairly slow pace 5 mile run, flutter kicks, push-ups, over-head arm claps, leg spreaders, military presses, and leg raises, we stretched and were released until next formation at 0830hrs. They have backed it up 15 minutes today for some reason. We still do not have any idea of what we will be doing or how far we will be running to our new training area. We will find out soon enough I guess. Raisin Bran and Gogurt, a couple of Advil to get it in my system to help with the sore legs and buttock, and keep some of the pain down, that they will inflict on us shortly, and I am on my way out the door.

Training resumed as usual toady. We started with the suspended harness trainer. With this trainer it helps us with getting use to pulling slips. When pulling slips properly it will allow you to soften your landing. Sergeant Airborne would give the command slip left; we would reach high into our risers and pull them down US Army name tape level. IF performed properly it was slipping the risers will keep you from oscillating during decent. After we completed that task we went to the Swing Land Trainer (SLT), better known as the “Slam Dunk”. This is a suspended harness trainer. The platform is 12’ off the ground. The object is to slowly lean off the 12’ platform and begin swinging with you feet and knees together. The Sergeant Airborne will then give you the wind direction or your drift; you will react by pulling down on your risers and performing a PLF when he lets the rope go that is attached to the harness. To successfully complete the SLT you must complete the following landing satisfactorily: two left PLF’s, two right PLF’s, three forward PLF’s, and three reverse PLF’s. It is pretty difficult to complete this. When you exit the platform you are holding the risers deep into your chest with you chin on chest and your neck muscles tight. As you exit the platform the risers pull your arms straight into the air and you began swing back and forth. Sergeant Airborne will say, “SLIP”, at this point you perform the proper slip according to the drift he gave you prior to exiting the platform. You will then perform a PLF as soon as the balls of your feet hit the ground, kick it up and over, release the canopy and await the critic from the Sergeant Airborne. This took all day! The landing on the SLT was not nearly as bad as the LDT for last week. We finally started back to the company area at 1825hrs. We were released for PT formation at 0530hrs. We will not be able to return to our rooms tomorrow for some reason and must shower and get ready at the barracks.

My upper body hurts today and my legs are a little stiff. Pt in the morning will be a 4 mile run. I had a corndog and fries with beans and apple pie for lunch; peanut butter and jelly sandwich with some cheese and crackers with a gogurt. I bought a Gatorade Tiger to help replenish the electrolytes in the system. I am adding new pictures of the SLT and suspended harness trainer, check them out.

PULL-UPS for the day: 70

Day: April 19, 2009

Day: April 19, 2009
Weather report: low-70’s today, humidity 94% wind is about 10-15 SE today, cloudy with rain and possible thunderstorms 80%

Laundry day! I guess like anywhere you go your laundry follows you. We dirty up a lot of clothes around here with physical training in first thing in the morning, falling all over the place during the day and getting our uniforms really nasty, and of course something to relax in when you are finished with having you tail handed to you all day. I went down stairs earlier to put my clothes in and there was a line of people waiting to do laundry. If it is still there later I will go to the post laundry and read my book while I get my clothes clean. I have started John Grisham’s book, “The Innocent Man”. I really haven’t gotten into it yet. It is slow going to start; hopefully it will take off soon and keep me wanting more. I am going to Krispy Kreme for a couple of original glazed and my first cup of coffee, for $2, since I have been here. I normally drink coffee on a daily basis at work. I have had zero sodas or coffee, the only thing I have been drinking is water, tea on the weekend, milk, and sports drinks. It is real easy to go into hypovilimac shock in a training environment. I do not want to be the one that gets dehydrated and needs an IV to get me going again. At this point I really haven’t given lunch much of a thought, maybe some type of pasta to carb-up for tomorrow and our 4.2 mile formation run. I definitely am going to mail stuff home today for my children. A shower and I’m off to get donuts. I CANNOT WAIT! I nearly forgot; I have to get a HAIR CUT today. Can you believe I have hair? I have not had this much hair on my head in over a year and had been shaving my on head about two or three times a week. I look pretty funny with hair; guess I am not use to seeing myself like this. I shaved my hair off to honor a very crazy and wonderful woman that has loved and supported me since I became part of her family, my mother-in-law, GIGI! She is remarkable and was victorious over cancer and it was a privilege to shave my head to support her. Now everyone just expects me to shave my head. I grew some hair for this course because of the helmet we wear in the training environment. It is a little heavy and gets filled with dirt and grim. If I didn’t have hair it would be like someone sticking a piece of 60 grit sandpaper on top of my head and putting the helmet on it. My head would be so raw, man that would be painful. I have started working on my Blog and making it more military like with crests, coat of arms, creeds, and photos. Amanda was so proud of my efforts to get with the 21 Century and come on board with the times. I am not a Blogger or Facebook, Tweeter, or any of the other internet places you can talk and catch-up with people. This is a new experience for me and is kind of fun to play around with. I have attempted to find pictures of the training environment and of the tasks we must complete during each of the three phases of this course. Some of the photos are old and the soldiers pictured are in the old Woodland Camouflage Uniform, but it is still the same training. It has been raining off and on since about 1000hrs. I wish it would either rain and continue to rain or stop and move on. It is crazy, the weather around here. Can you believe that I started calling Spa’s on Thursday and attempted to set-up an appointment for a massage and they we all booked. I guess I was a little behind everyone else on the pain issue and they set theirs up or had inside information on what to expect. That really sinks. Maybe next weekend?
Enough of that time to eat.

I bought a new pair of boots (Blackhawk) they have extra ankle support and have additional cushion in the sole. Most of the Sergeant Airborne’s are wearing them so they must be pretty good. They make every jump with every class they instruct.

I went out today and started by going by the post laundry and it was packed full of people trying to clean their clothes. I left there and went to get my hair cut at Ranger Joe’s Barber Shop. It cost me $9.00 to get a hair cut. I can by razors that last longer than this one cut that I paid for today. My adventure continued with trying to find a coin laundry to wash clothes. I would rather pay five dollars and be finished with laundry than sit around all day waiting in line to attempt to get a machine on post. I found one of Victory Drive and it was very shady. Moving on to find another one, so I headed off to exit 10. The HOT light was on and after $2.12 I had two hot donuts and a cup of Joe. Man was it good! Hot and melt in your mouth, slap your mama good. I left there and went to find a FedEx Kinko’s. I found it near a Target off Bradshaw Road. I mailed out a package today and it should be there on Tuesday. The boy’s are going to have fun with the army parachutist. After talking with on of the employees he suggested a place I could get my clothes clean. I headed down two exits and started to Warm Springs Road, made a left and there it was, U.S. Washboard Coin Laundry. It was in a nice neighborhood and was very clean to my surprise. I only had to pay $3.75 to wash and dry all my laundry. I finished my laundry and headed for my room. I need a nap for some odd reason; my mind must have finally caught up with my body. Change that, I saw a nail spa and stopped in and hand my feet taken care off. It was great! I couldn’t get a massage so this was the next best thing. They were packed! The man running the place got me in a chair and put my feet in some hot water to soak. The massage chair felt really good too. An hour and a half later my feet were finished and my back relaxed from the kneading motion in the chair. Thought about pasta but changed my mind. I found a McAlister’s Deli and ordered a Spud Max with a large sweet tea to go. Back at my room and downed the spud and half of the tea, it is really sweet. I had to add water to it to even the sugar out. Put my clothes away, took another shower to get the hair off my neck, and lying back in a chair with my feet elevated on the bed. Formation tomorrow morning at 0530hrs and another 4.2 mile run. They did not tell us what we were going to train on, it’s a surprise for some reason.

PULL-UPS for the day: 0

Day: April 18, 2009

Day: April 18, 2009
Weather report: mid-70’s today, humidity 33% wind is about 7 SE today

I woke up today at 0430hrs. My natural alarm clock went off and told me get up you need to go to PT. Well it is not a PT day and I can sleep in. I rolled around for a while trying to go back to sleep and had no luck with that. Finally back to sleep around 0630 and up again at 0800hrs. I emailed Amanda my Airborne Journal and she is going to start a Blog for me and all my training that I record. She is wonderful! Now all of our family and friends can follow along in the journey thru Airborne Training. Fought myself to sleep and it did not happen. So I lay around nursing my heavy, tired, sore legs. They have punished our bodies the last two days. Up again, a shower and off to lunch. I had a fellow classmate tell me that there was a Mellow Mushroom here off exit 10. Off to the Mellow Mushroom. I arrived and ordered the Bruschetta to start with and then ordered the Kosmic Karma 10” pizza with pesto chicken and sweet tea. It really hit the spot. I watched the GA Bulldogs beat the AR Razorbacks in baseball and a little of the Crimson and White game of the Tide. Back to the room to check out the new Blog and email it out to friends and family, hope everyone likes it. Amanda did an incredible job setting it up.

While I was out today I found two Army Parachute Soldiers and put them together for the Aden and Jax. I put them together and will mail them and their shirts tomorrow. I had trouble shipping stuff the other day. All of the UPS and FedEx are close early around here. I found a Kinko’s that I can ship out of tomorrow. I went and bought to plant pans. The kind you put under plants to catch run-off water. They worked really good to open the parachute open and the little man looks like he is falling. I am sure the boys will love them. They are so adventurous and play army, cowboys, and tractors all the time. The adventurous spirit of the boy, what an amazing, wonderful thing to have! We never out grow it! It follows us all of our lives. It just depends on how we us it to better ourselves or to help better someone else. Some of us loose focus all together and go off on our on and never truly find our calling. I am happy to say that I know my calling and look forward to raising my children, supporting my wife, and helping young people find a career to better themselves and their families, and to help the less fortunate. I have been so blessed and thank GOD for the opportunity to and desire to help others.

I am so full I am just going to snack on some stuff in my room and lie down and try to go to sleep early tonight. Amanda and Aden are on a date at California Dreaming and going to Frankie’s Fun Park to play putt-putt and ride go-carts. I know they will have a wonderful time, wish I was there. Jax has decided that he is going to stay with his baby sister with Thomas and Tonya. He loves to play with Ryan and Jesse. I sure do miss playing and watching my boys play everyday. I know I have only been gone a week. But it is a routine. Go to work, come home, boys run up and hug me and tell me about their adventures, hold Mary-Cohen, hug Amanda, give her a break and watch T.V. (Scooby-Do or Mighty Machines) and eat together as a family. It is kind of lonely without all of the normal, wonderful ciaos that children create.

I talked with my grandparents and they were happy to hear from me. Everyone seems to be doing fine. My grandfather talked for a long time about this and that, nothing in particular. He sounds so bad since my sister came and picked-up Emma. They have had her for over a year and now she isn’t there. I feel bad for them; she was keeping them young and entertained. Enough for today, we will see what new adventures await tomorrow.

PULL-UPS for the day: 0

Day: April 17, 2009

Day: April 17, 2009
Weather report: low-70’s today, humidity 40% wind is about 10 ESE today

PT formation 0530hrs and a 4.2 mile run, over a hundred flutter kicks and the overhead arm clap. We had several people fall out of the run this morning and will more than likely go home. PT was a pain in the butt this morning. 0845hrs next formation.

Today at training we worked off the LDA again and did rear PLF’s. The training was the same as yesterday. With the class starting with baby steps on how to fall to falling off a suspended cable system the LDA. Then we went to lunch at the dinning facility, run there and run back. I ate two slices of turkey, brown rice, peas, corn, cornbread, and a piece of peach cobbler. I ate it all and it was good.

After our stick successfully completed that we moved to recovering our parachute at the DZ. The steps we just as described yesterday. Land, secure your equipment, figure eight roll the canopy to the bag, insert the bag leaving the canopy apex exposed, slide belt fastener strap thru apex loop and tie off to handle, snap all snaps closed, secure reserve to aviator bag, place bag over your head with reserve in front and ensure you keep your hand over the reserve pull handle. Next was the combat jump and recover equipment drill. Same as above land, prepare to engage the enemy, remove two adjuster straps and attach them to belt loops, remove quick release and attach to the other front belt loop, place harness in bag with smooth side of pack tray up, pull the parachute to you and stuff in aviator bag, snap all snaps and attach the reserve, throw the reserve chute up over your head and the parachute will be in the front, place your 1950 rifle carrying bag on top and continue your mission.

After the training was completed we cleaned the area, ensured all the equipment was accounted for and came back for evening formation. Dismissal was at 1630. Formation on Monday will be at 0530hrs with another four mile run.

Tonight I am going out to eat at 1900 with the 1SG Alan Castallenoes from the Marine Corps. I think we are going to Logan’s Steakhouse. Going to shower and relax for a few minutes. I was wrong it was Longhorn Steakhouse and my fault about the name. We left at 1800hrs because we were starving and were released so early. I ate a salad with Thousand Island dressing, bread, loaded back potato, lump crab, and key lime pie, with two glasses of sweet tea. I am really full and am going to lay on the bed take two Motrin’s and go to sleep. Amanda is going to dinner with Jim and Susan at Shane’s she had a pretty bad experience at the Zoo with the boy’s, mainly Aden because they were tired from school and didn’t have a nap.

PULL-UPS for the day: 50