U.S. Army Airborne School - March 2005

[nerdman]

Here are some pictures I took after my graduation from the U.S. Army Airborne School in March of this year. Sorry I didn’t get any pictures of the pea gravel pits from “Ground Week.” I was in class only a few weeks after the death of a female on the DZ. Some of you may have heard about this. Rumor was she got tangled up in her chute/suspension lines, was burning in, and couldn’t deploy her reserve.

For those of you have been or are thinking about going, not much has changed. The towers, which are the focal point of these photos, aren't really used anymore. Only two of the three are operational. They used a tower for demonstrating different chute malfunctions (with dummies) when my class went through. However, I heard a few service members from the class before actually were dropped from the towers.

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/9053/11aj1.jpg

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5427/25wu.jpg

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/9937/35jq.jpg

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7623/43yp.jpg

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/9496/51jo.jpg

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6595/63bt.jpg

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3465/72yu.jpg

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/8762/89uy.jpg

I blacked everyone’s eyes out because a couple of these guys are Medics in Ranger Bats now and one is a Medic in an RTB. Currently, they are going through "Whiskey 1" at Fort Bragg. Can you spot the Rangers?

[RGRBOX]

Good pics... I was in Bravo Co. myself...

[Aerosoul]

thanks for the pics, and congrats man.

[Midav]

Congrats!!

And thanks for sharing! :D

[Laconian]

Congrats! Ft. Benning looks the same. The shot of the 34-ft tower w/ Bldg 4 in the background almost made me homesick...

[nerdman]

Thank you for the congratulations everyone.

If there was one thing that Anthony Swofford wrote in "Jarhead" that was true, it was that Airborne School is pretty easy. I suggest everyone enlisting or going through OBC volunteer for it. I've even heard rumors they have eliminated the flexed arm hang (palms facing you pull-up above the bar) for 10 seconds.

[RGRBOX]

Thank you for the congratulations everyone.

If there was one thing that Anthony Swofford wrote in "Jarhead" that was true, it was that Airborne School is pretty easy. I suggest everyone enlisting or going through OBC volunteer for it. I've even heard rumors they have eliminated the flexed arm hang (palms facing you pull-up above the bar) for 10 seconds.

WTF.... Next you know, they'll just except CC for a pair of Jump Wings...

[Apogee]

Congrats! Ft. Benning looks the same. The shot of the 34-ft tower w/ Bldg 4 in the background almost made me homesick...

Looks exactly the same

[nerdman]

WTF.... Next you know, they'll just except CC for a pair of Jump Wings...

I'd imagine it's because of the poor female pass rate. From what I've heard, most classes only graduate 5-10 females.

I've also heard that once they fully transform the 82d into four Units of Action (eliminating and then absorbing the contents of DISCOM, 82d SIG, and DIVARTY) only Alpha Echelon personal will need to be Airborne qualified and on jump status. Meaning LEGS in 82d.

[RGRBOX]

WTF.... Next you know, they'll just except CC for a pair of Jump Wings...

I'd imagine it's because of the poor female pass rate. From what I've heard, most classes only graduate 5-10 females.

I've also heard that once they fully transform the 82d into four Units of Action (eliminating and then absorbing the contents of DISCOM, 82d SIG, and DIVARTY) only Alpha Echelon personal will need to be Airborne qualified and on jump status. Meaning LEGS in 82d.

Holy ****!

Don't tell me that... It's bad enough they let those DISCOM Fvcks wear Maroon Berets without wings as it is...

I one saw them come backk from a jump with everyone still on board the C141. As they got off, they told us that it was too dark for them to jump.. the funny thing is we got their bird and jump that same dark night...

[Erik2a4]

WTF.... Next you know, they'll just except CC for a pair of Jump Wings...

I'd imagine it's because of the poor female pass rate. From what I've heard, most classes only graduate 5-10 females.

I've also heard that once they fully transform the 82d into four Units of Action (eliminating and then absorbing the contents of DISCOM, 82d SIG, and DIVARTY) only Alpha Echelon personal will need to be Airborne qualified and on jump status. Meaning LEGS in 82d.

hahahahahaha! Hey bud, there are legs in the 82nd right now as we speak... :lol:

Seriously, though, think about it from a resourcing angle. Do we really need airborne lawyers? What about an airborne MSB? If the 82nd executes a JFEX for real, most of the assets utilized by these type of elements will come in via the airland. So...we have guys and gals who are jumping, who don't need to according the doctrine...thus, with the transition to modularity, there really isn't a need for an airborne Division HQ, at least past the alpha echelon.

That's a 96-slide powerpoint presentation in brief :lol:

They don't do pull-ups in BAC anymore? I mean, it was easy before, but don't you at least have to lift your body-weight in order to do a slip?

Ah, whatever, somebody else can figure that one out... :lol:

-edit- As mike pointed out, every non-forcible entry dude who is jumping is taking assets away from those who are...there's a limited amount of slots.

[-stk-]

thanks for the pics, and congrats man.

x2

[buckeyedoc]

Congrats, man. Did you get your blood wings?

Doc

[nerdman]

I should have said more LEGS in the 82d. I'm a "DISCOM f*ck" myself and have a NAP in my medical CO.

And I have no problem with LEGS in 82d. The way I see it, is saves money, not only on training, but also medical bills. I think we all know what the long term affects of jumping are. Airborne pride constrains the 82d.

[nerdman]

Congrats, man. Did you get your blood wings?

Doc

Yes... kind of, they announced during the ceremony that blood wings were "not allowed," (thank you new PC army) and my Sergeant Airborne didn't "offer." So... my friends and I punched each other a few times. It would have been better if I had someone there who was already qualified to pin on the wings.

[HarleyDoc]

Good job Airborne! Those pics did bring back some memories. Glad to read that you could improvise, adapt and overcome to get yourself some bloodwings. Have you managed to pop that cherry yet?

[nerdman]

Good job Airborne! Those pics did bring back some memories. Glad to read that you could improvise, adapt and overcome to get yourself some bloodwings. Have you managed to pop that cherry yet?

Yeah I did it a week after I got to Bragg. They don't use the red helmet anymore. Actually, Division wants everyone’s first jump to be Hollywood so... more PC Army stuff. I got a pretty good smack on the ass though. A buddy of mine was given a smashed Hostess Cherry pie to jump with, but he just ate it.

[usarfang]

HOOAH

[disabled1]

i had to be driven off the drop my cherry blast, the wind caught my hand threw it up against the side of the bird on the way out, i bruised the bones in three fungers and in my palm so i couldnt move it for 3 weeks. good job on being airborne i juust left bragg in january after 6 years there in 3/504 pir S&T platoon

[Charlie 356]

Congrats man, there's a real satisfaction in earning those wings. I was Delta Co., 34-04. When I was there, they still had the flex arm hang in effect, but we didn't always have to do pull ups when we entered the chow hall. Just when we left and then pushups going back into the assembly area outside the barracks. Again, good job.
Me and my friends had to bloodwing each other, except for one pussy who wouldn't do it because it was "against regulations." I never spoke to him again.

[Apogee]

I'll be down there for Airborne after IOBC and either before or after Ranger School.

Speaking of blood wings, we do blood branching here. Its not officially sanctioned, but it def happens. Esp. with the guys who branch Infantry. Not to many MI chicks running around getting blood pinned.

[AFG]

quick question: why are there houses underneath the tower? always puzzled me...

[Apogee]

quick question: why are there houses underneath the tower? always puzzled me...

Duh!! Its where SGT Airborne lives.....

[RGRBOX]

WTF.... Next you know, they'll just except CC for a pair of Jump Wings...

I'd imagine it's because of the poor female pass rate. From what I've heard, most classes only graduate 5-10 females.

I've also heard that once they fully transform the 82d into four Units of Action (eliminating and then absorbing the contents of DISCOM, 82d SIG, and DIVARTY) only Alpha Echelon personal will need to be Airborne qualified and on jump status. Meaning LEGS in 82d.

hahahahahaha! Hey bud, there are legs in the 82nd right now as we speak... :lol:

Seriously, though, think about it from a resourcing angle. Do we really need airborne lawyers? What about an airborne MSB? If the 82nd executes a JFEX for real, most of the assets utilized by these type of elements will come in via the airland. So...we have guys and gals who are jumping, who don't need to according the doctrine...thus, with the transition to modularity, there really isn't a need for an airborne Division HQ, at least past the alpha echelon.

That's a 96-slide powerpoint presentation in brief :lol:

They don't do pull-ups in BAC anymore? I mean, it was easy before, but don't you at least have to lift your body-weight in order to do a slip?

Ah, whatever, somebody else can figure that one out... :lol:

-edit- As mike pointed out, every non-forcible entry dude who is jumping is taking assets away from those who are...there's a limited amount of slots.

I couldn't tell you if there were any legs in Division when I was there, but I never saw one. I know that 3rd Bde didn't have any. I know there were a lot in 18th AB Corps, DISCOM, and inside of Group (Support) but not in the Division. I can remember when we were doing manafest for the Operation for the Invasion of Haiti, we (JM) were kicking support MOS Officers off of the Aircraft. Had a JAC female ready to scream ****** harassment about it on my bird. but the Div Cdr, got involved and let us do our jobs. (Gen. Shelton) I beleive he was at the time. anyway, Legs didn't even come around out companies, for fear of getting asked questions... I wasn't one of the harassers but it was funny to see them sweat...

[nerdman]

quick question: why are there houses underneath the tower? always puzzled me...

I think they use the house under the non-operational tower for storage, maintenance, and office stuff. The others, I'm not so sure about.

[Erik2a4]

WTF.... Next you know, they'll just except CC for a pair of Jump Wings...

I'd imagine it's because of the poor female pass rate. From what I've heard, most classes only graduate 5-10 females.

I've also heard that once they fully transform the 82d into four Units of Action (eliminating and then absorbing the contents of DISCOM, 82d SIG, and DIVARTY) only Alpha Echelon personal will need to be Airborne qualified and on jump status. Meaning LEGS in 82d.

hahahahahaha! Hey bud, there are legs in the 82nd right now as we speak... :lol:

Seriously, though, think about it from a resourcing angle. Do we really need airborne lawyers? What about an airborne MSB? If the 82nd executes a JFEX for real, most of the assets utilized by these type of elements will come in via the airland. So...we have guys and gals who are jumping, who don't need to according the doctrine...thus, with the transition to modularity, there really isn't a need for an airborne Division HQ, at least past the alpha echelon.

That's a 96-slide powerpoint presentation in brief :lol:

They don't do pull-ups in BAC anymore? I mean, it was easy before, but don't you at least have to lift your body-weight in order to do a slip?

Ah, whatever, somebody else can figure that one out... :lol:

-edit- As mike pointed out, every non-forcible entry dude who is jumping is taking assets away from those who are...there's a limited amount of slots.

I couldn't tell you if there were any legs in Division when I was there, but I never saw one. I know that 3rd Bde didn't have any. I know there were a lot in 18th AB Corps, DISCOM, and inside of Group (Support) but not in the Division. I can remember when we were doing manafest for the Operation for the Invasion of Haiti, we (JM) were kicking support MOS Officers off of the Aircraft. Had a JAC female ready to scream ****** harassment about it on my bird. but the Div Cdr, got involved and let us do our jobs. (Gen. Shelton) I beleive he was at the time. anyway, Legs didn't even come around out companies, for fear of getting asked questions... I wasn't one of the harassers but it was funny to see them sweat...

Mike, I've heard stories about the manifest for Haiti...everyone wants to get that Mustard Stain, even if all they carry is a 9 mil :lol:

82nd is short people, so, there are legs in Div.

[RGRBOX]

WTF.... Next you know, they'll just except CC for a pair of Jump Wings...

I'd imagine it's because of the poor female pass rate. From what I've heard, most classes only graduate 5-10 females.

I've also heard that once they fully transform the 82d into four Units of Action (eliminating and then absorbing the contents of DISCOM, 82d SIG, and DIVARTY) only Alpha Echelon personal will need to be Airborne qualified and on jump status. Meaning LEGS in 82d.

hahahahahaha! Hey bud, there are legs in the 82nd right now as we speak... :lol:

Seriously, though, think about it from a resourcing angle. Do we really need airborne lawyers? What about an airborne MSB? If the 82nd executes a JFEX for real, most of the assets utilized by these type of elements will come in via the airland. So...we have guys and gals who are jumping, who don't need to according the doctrine...thus, with the transition to modularity, there really isn't a need for an airborne Division HQ, at least past the alpha echelon.

That's a 96-slide powerpoint presentation in brief :lol:

They don't do pull-ups in BAC anymore? I mean, it was easy before, but don't you at least have to lift your body-weight in order to do a slip?

Ah, whatever, somebody else can figure that one out... :lol:

-edit- As mike pointed out, every non-forcible entry dude who is jumping is taking assets away from those who are...there's a limited amount of slots.

I couldn't tell you if there were any legs in Division when I was there, but I never saw one. I know that 3rd Bde didn't have any. I know there were a lot in 18th AB Corps, DISCOM, and inside of Group (Support) but not in the Division. I can remember when we were doing manafest for the Operation for the Invasion of Haiti, we (JM) were kicking support MOS Officers off of the Aircraft. Had a JAC female ready to scream ****** harassment about it on my bird. but the Div Cdr, got involved and let us do our jobs. (Gen. Shelton) I beleive he was at the time. anyway, Legs didn't even come around out companies, for fear of getting asked questions... I wasn't one of the harassers but it was funny to see them sweat...

Mike, I've heard stories about the manifest for Haiti...everyone wants to get that Mustard Stain, even if all they carry is a 9 mil :lol:

82nd is short people, so, there are legs in Div.

Bad enough Division has always been on Hollywood Status, but Leg status... sounds like Division is heading to become another 101st Legborne Division...

[Erik2a4]

WTF.... Next you know, they'll just except CC for a pair of Jump Wings...

I'd imagine it's because of the poor female pass rate. From what I've heard, most classes only graduate 5-10 females.

I've also heard that once they fully transform the 82d into four Units of Action (eliminating and then absorbing the contents of DISCOM, 82d SIG, and DIVARTY) only Alpha Echelon personal will need to be Airborne qualified and on jump status. Meaning LEGS in 82d.

hahahahahaha! Hey bud, there are legs in the 82nd right now as we speak... :lol:

Seriously, though, think about it from a resourcing angle. Do we really need airborne lawyers? What about an airborne MSB? If the 82nd executes a JFEX for real, most of the assets utilized by these type of elements will come in via the airland. So...we have guys and gals who are jumping, who don't need to according the doctrine...thus, with the transition to modularity, there really isn't a need for an airborne Division HQ, at least past the alpha echelon.

That's a 96-slide powerpoint presentation in brief :lol:

They don't do pull-ups in BAC anymore? I mean, it was easy before, but don't you at least have to lift your body-weight in order to do a slip?

Ah, whatever, somebody else can figure that one out... :lol:

-edit- As mike pointed out, every non-forcible entry dude who is jumping is taking assets away from those who are...there's a limited amount of slots.

I couldn't tell you if there were any legs in Division when I was there, but I never saw one. I know that 3rd Bde didn't have any. I know there were a lot in 18th AB Corps, DISCOM, and inside of Group (Support) but not in the Division. I can remember when we were doing manafest for the Operation for the Invasion of Haiti, we (JM) were kicking support MOS Officers off of the Aircraft. Had a JAC female ready to scream ****** harassment about it on my bird. but the Div Cdr, got involved and let us do our jobs. (Gen. Shelton) I beleive he was at the time. anyway, Legs didn't even come around out companies, for fear of getting asked questions... I wasn't one of the harassers but it was funny to see them sweat...

Mike, I've heard stories about the manifest for Haiti...everyone wants to get that Mustard Stain, even if all they carry is a 9 mil :lol:

82nd is short people, so, there are legs in Div.

Bad enough Division has always been on Hollywood Status, but Leg status... sounds like Division is heading to become another 101st Legborne Division...

Pehaps so, but honestly, I think that's for the best. I've said it before, but I don't see any more Market Gardens in the future...the resources need to be pushed down to the warfighters...and there are few of those above BCT level.

[abncougar]

congrats dude,


<-----------fvcking jealous

[5jumpchump]

Brings back memories .....sniff .....sniff :(

[NcDeuce]

Good stuff man. I graduated from Delta in July. Wasn't very hard at all, just typical Army BS. I'd say the heat and wearing the damn harness in the shed for 6-7 hours are the only real sucky parts. I heard about that death on the LZ you mentioned. Most of our injuries in the company were heat related, they even began making us chug these electrolyte drinks once a day because of a recent heat related death in Airborne and another in AIT.

As far as injuries on the LZ, I know of a woman who broke her ankle on the 4th jump and was literally tossed out of the aircraft for the 5th one by Sgt. Airborne! :lol: I was standing there, 4th in line to jump, and I get told to scoot back...I look to the front to see what's going on and they're hooking up the chick with the bum ankle to jump first. Another guy, a cadet, broke his knee clean on the third jump. Oh and a West Pointer, roster number C130 (Ironic, huh?) slammed into the ground face-first about 4 feet away from me while I packed my chute...it had to be the funniest thing I saw down at Benning. He's okay though. ;)

I can't believe people don't get to do the night jump. The night jump is freakin awesome. 2 in the morning, full moon, combat load and beautiful Fryar DZ. We had to slip away from the green chemlights (an alligator rofl ).

Here are some photos from my class:

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/5490/34ft9gh.th.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=34ft9gh.jpg)
Those fun 34 ft. towers

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/1429/34ft23sl.th.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=34ft23sl.jpg)
Oh yeah

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/1052/250ft5gg.th.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=250ft5gg.jpg)
250 ft. towers (we didn't get to use them but whichever company was in Tower Week when we were in Jump Week used them...lucky bastards)

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/6307/abwalk1ks.th.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=abwalk1ks.jpg)
Airborne Walk

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/5470/abwalk29dk.th.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=abwalk29dk.jpg)
This pic is probably my favorite. You can see those crazy Rangers hanging from the Black Hawk.

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/1330/delta2ra.th.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=delta2ra.jpg)
Delta Rock!

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/6271/grad1ih.th.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=grad1ih.jpg)
Myself and father. Got his old jump wings!

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/2578/grad24hz.th.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=grad24hz.jpg)
Delta 34-05: Brand new paratroopers