Hurry Up And Wait: GRADUATION DAY: May 1, 2009 Final Posting

Sunday, May 3, 2009

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!

2 comments:

El Señor Manchego y los InvenciblesMay 5, 2009 at 3:29 AM
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El Señor Manchego y los InvenciblesMay 5, 2009 at 3:36 AM
From Mexico I can just say...you Rock! thanks for all the posts, even though I'm on another country I think they will be really helpful to me when I start, thank you very much and good luck!
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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