Airborne!
This past June I attended Airborne School, a three week course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Over the first two weeks of the course, I and close to 400 other people from different service branches learned basic parachuting principles. This included: how to exit an aircraft properly, how to control one’s parachute during descent, how to land properly, emergency procedures on and off the aircraft, and how to use a parachute harness.
During week three, the final phase of Airborne school, we conducted five qualifying jumps. This included one combat jump, three “Hollywood” jumps, and one night jump. By Friday, we had completed our qualifications and graduated as Paratroopers.
For myself, Airborne school was a fantastic time as well as a challenge. I am incredibly grateful for the chance to attend, and I encourage my fellow cadets to compete for a chance at earning those jump wings. Airborne!
Cadet MSIV Bryan Crane