Checking in from Airborne School.

[bayonet_53]

About a week into training. Being back at Fort Benning reminds me of why I got out of the Army.

 

[Crazydoc68]

I hear you on that one! How's sand hill doing?

 

[FrankT]

Jumping out of perfectly good aircraft!

 

[bayonet_53]

From what the Joe's who just graduated basic are telling me the Drill Sergeants have to wear "kiddy gloves." The military in general is getting very soft. Hell, the Black Hats cannot make us do more than ten repetitions when getting "smoked." Anything more is considered hazing. It was much different than when I went through here in 99.

 

[FrankT]

Are you teaching now? sorry I must have missed something.

 

[bayonet_53]

I'm going through as a student as part of my AF job.

 

[Snow Bird]

Told you it would bring back old times!!

 

[FrankT]

OK, well be careful, those knees are not as young as they used to be...LOL

 

[TraderDan]

Sand Hill? At what point do you realize that you can not defeat sand and embrace it as a friend? Certainally not when it is working the crack of your ass, so when?
I had more sand in my britches than any man should be entitled to, what a ride!
Good Luck and enjoy the time as it will soon be a fond memory, you never will forget.

 

[bayonet_53]

Jumped the 34 foot towers for the past two days. PLF's tomorrow.

Thanks Frank.

 

[Ardiemus]

I remember going to Airborne before I went to the 17th ASOS, it about kicked my butt. Being B-52 Aircrew I had it easy! First person out the door jump #1 was a 5'-1" 90lb gal. Black Hat told us we were all pussies if we chickend out after her.....what a rush. Hang in there, Tower week is fun, I don't miss the running in boots though. Good luck and don't let anyone tell you there is such think as a perfectly good airplane, Just ask the Crew Chief, he knows there is something wrong with it somewhere. RLTW!

 

[bayonet_53]

I remember going to Airborne before I went to the 17th ASOS, it about kicked my butt. Being B-52 Aircrew I had it easy! First person out the door jump #1 was a 5'-1" 90lb gal. Black Hat told us we were all pussies if we chickend out after her.....what a rush. Hang in there, Tower week is fun, I don't miss the running in boots though. Good luck and don't let anyone tell you there is such think as a perfectly good airplane, Just ask the Crew Chief, he knows there is something wrong with it somewhere. RLTW!

"Perfectly good airplane." I told the Black Hat the same thing; that there is no such thing. Start tower week on Monday. The cadre are extremely lenient towards us sister services (USAF, USMC, NAVY). I really feel bad for the Joe's. How long were you at the 17th? I ruck a lot and never get blisters, but this running in boots is destroying my feet.

 

[Staz]

I arrive on Friday may have to meet up with you over the weekend pass any pointers on

 

[bayonet_53]

I arrive on Friday may have to meet up with you over the weekend pass any pointers on

Sounds good brother, hit up by pm and I can give you my number.

 

[Snow Bird]

ARDIEMUS, Good luck jumping out of a B52,I thought it was pull that handle and hang on for dear life. Oh I guess if that fails go out the Nav hole...Be about as much fun as jumping a KC135. Really just wish I could have taken a ride in a Buff. One of the guys in engine con had a chance to take a ride when the water pumps wouldn't prime on the end of the runway on Guam when they were launching for a mission over VietNam and said no. I would have went in a heart beat. Bayonet.Practice for those PLF are MUCH worse than the real thing . Just don't look down on your first landing a DON'T and I mean DON'T put one leg out when you land. Broken leg for sure. Is is a rush that you can't get any where else. Good luck and enjoy.:roll:

 

[bobinbusan]

Did jump school in Oct.1962, then 101st ABN till 1965 busting out of a C130 back in the day

 

[Snow Bird]

I never understood why they didn't go off the ramp out of a C130 like sky divers do. It's got to be easyer than the door.

 

[bayonet_53]

View attachment 12669 View attachment 12670 Did jump school in Oct.1962, then 101st ABN till 1965 busting out of a C130 back in the day

Those are awesome shots. I can only imagine what Airborne training was like back then. The heraldry remains, but we definitely have it easier. We lost 95% of the females today and half of the fat bodies due to a new requirement instituted due to a death that happened at the beginning of the month.

 

[Ardiemus]

What was the requirement? We had a death a few months prior when I was there in '05. Weight of a paratrooper has to be 90lbs minimum due to wind blast and aircraft slipstream seperation. I was at Hunter AAF from 05-07 and loved it. The best was jumping Ft Polk with the whole battalion. 850 men in 14 minutes. We had a 9 plane train. It was Awesome. I was behind the BC and his radio operator on the first troop bird. Throwing yourself against the pit sure hurts but 29 jumps and I never even twisted an ankle. Keep your feet and knees together and watch the horizon. Point your toes just like they say. It works. At least you won't be a dirty nasty leg for long!

 

[bayonet_53]

The weight requirement effective today is 110 lbs; also you must be able to dead hang from a pull up bar and then raise your chin above the bar and hold for 30 seconds.