Hurry Up And Wait: Day: April 26, 2009

Sunday, April 26, 2009

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

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Airborne Creed

THE AIRBORNE CREED

I am an Airborne trooper! A PARATROOPER!
I jump by parachute from any plane in flight. I volunteered to do it, knowing well the hazards of my choice.
I serve in a mighty Airborne Force--famed for deeds in war--renowned for readiness in peace. It is my pledge to uphold its honor and prestige in all I am--in all I do.
I am an elite trooper--a sky trooper--a shock trooper--a spearhead trooper. I blaze the way to far-flung goals--behind, before, above the foe's front line.
I know that I may have to fight without support for days on end. Therefore, I keep mind and body always fit to do my part in any Airborne task. I am self-reliant and unafraid. I shoot true, and march fast and far. I fight hard and excel in every art and artifice of war.
I never fail a fellow trooper. I cherish as a sacred trust the lives of men with whom I serve. Leaders have my fullest loyalty, and those I lead never find me lacking. I have pride in the Airborne! I never let it down!

Airborne 1/507th PIR Crest History

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A silver color metal and enamel 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height consisting of a shield blazoned: Per bend Azure and Argent, on the First an open parachute of the Last, on the Second a lightning flash of the First; attached below the shield a blue scroll inscribed "DOWN TO EARTH" in silver letters.
Symbolism: Blue is the color associated with Infantry. The open parachute symbolizes the parachute functions of the regiment and the lightning flash indicates the speed by which the allotted duties are preformed. The motto further describes the parachute functions of the organization.
Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment on 21 Jan 1943. It was redesignated and amended to update the description and symbolism for the 507th Infantry Regiment on 22 Oct 1985.
Coat of Arms.
Blazon:
Shield: Per bend Azure and Argent, on the First an open parachute of the Last, on the Second a lightning flash of the First.
Crest: On a wreath Argent and Azure, two lightning bolts in saltire, the volt in bend Azure, the other Or, between two springs of oak fructed Proper, the acorns connected in base by a gold key fesswise with bow at dexter, and issuing palewise between the lighting bolts a black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) head to chief Proper, with hourglass marking tenné.
Motto: DOWN TO EARTH.
Symbolism:
Shield: Blue is the color of the Infantry. The open parachute symbolizes the parachute functions of the regiment and the lightning flash indicates the speed by which the allotted duties are performed.
Crest: The black widow spider was the unofficial symbol of the unit in World War II, black and orange being the colors associated with the unit. The lightning bolts represent two airborne assaults; the blue bolt recalls the Presidential Unit Citation for action on the Contentin Peninsula; the gold refers to the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 17th Airborne Division, of which the unit was a part. The bolts also represent action from the sky and the speed with which allocated duties are performed. The oak sprigs symbolize service in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge. The key refers to the Rhineland as the key to Germany's heartland.
Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment on 21 Jan 1943. It was redesignated for the 507th Infantry Regiment and amended to add a crest and update the shield symbolism on 4 Feb 1986.

Tower Week, Week Two

Tower Week
A team effort is added to the training with the "mass exit" concept. The apparati used this week are the 34-foot (10 m) towers, the swing landing trainer (SLT), the mock door for mass exit training, the suspended harness, and potentially the 250-foot (76 m) free tower. Tower Week completes student individual skill training and builds team effort skills. To go forward to Jump Training Week students must qualify on the SLT, master the mass exit procedures from the 34-foot (10 m) tower, and pass all PT requirements.

Jump Week, Week Three

Jump Week
During Jump Week students make five parachute jumps into Fryar Drop Zone (DZ) located in Alabama, which is part of the Fort Benning Military Reservation. Trainees must run to the air field, conduct pre-jump training, and then get into their harnesses and await their turn to jump. Generally, two of the jumps are "combat equipment jumps", in which the jumper carries a ruck sack and a dummy weapon. The other three jumps are "hollywood", in that the jumper only wears the parachute and reserve. At least one jump is at night, although, during training cycles where Jump Week falls on a three or four day week (due to a Federal holiday), a night jump is not mandatory to graduate.

T-10D Parachute Discription and Components

TM 10-1670-293-23&P 0002 00 T-10C/T-10D TROOP BACK PARACHUTE ASSEMBLY EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION AND DATA EQUIPMENT CHARACTERISTICS, CAPABILITIES AND FEATURES A summary of the characteristics, capabilities and features of the equipment is contained in the following subparagraphs: Characteristics. Provides a capability to deliver an airborne soldier, and individual equipment, from an aircraft in flight, for a vertical assault on the enemy. Capabilities and Features: Limited in operation to winds of 13-knots at surface. Capable of supporting 360-pounds. Highly portable. Complete assembly weight: 31-pounds. Components of the system: Canopy assembly. Deployment bag. Pack tray. Harness assembly. Risers. Universal Static Line. LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR COMPONENTS The following subparagraphs contain locations and descriptions of major components. Canopy. The T-10C/T-10D parachute canopy has a 3¾-inch mesh anti-inversion net attached to the skirt of the canopy. The net extends 18-inches below the canopy skirt. The canopy has two vent line centering loops. 0002 00-1 Change 1