Just graduated last week. There is no PT test. But we did like a total of 4 3 mile runs at a 9 minute/mile pace throughout the cycle. Also you run everywhere in boots (like to training areas and chow), even if you are a slightly below average at PT I believe you'll be fine (if you are going to an airborne unit I strongly urge you to do PT at the gyms nearby in your own time if you struggle with those runs). The only people that quit were the ones terrified of jumping and/or somehow couldn't handle the running. One individual was dropped because of a piercing. (They were warned multiple times to remove it btw). The Cadre aren't there to smoke you. They are there to get you out of a plane and onto the ground safely. Lastly have fun. It's fine to be nervous, jumping out of planes isn't a normal for most humans lol. But just do it and you won't regret it.
@@wecanjump7512 Lol yeah it was incredibly easy. My great great uncle would not be impressed. The funniest part about it is despite there being no pt test, 40 people still managed to quit, I don't know what they were expecting. I heard people complain when we were rigging ruck sacks saying things like "I don't know if I'll be able to carry this" and then others whined about people who forgot their fleece cap. It was 40°... oh well, to each their own I guess.
@@IMN0TFUNNY Dang, 40 people? We only had one dude quit and that was on the bird. He was just too scared and he wouldn’t stand up. The black hats tried to talk to him but he was spooked. We all felt bad for him.
I signed up immediately after I passed my basic PT test . While we were taking our PT test, there were airborne soldiers with stop watches, click counters and clipboards They were hand picking the standouts. There was a table set up with all the paperwork . Then I attended AIT and regretted signing up because I wanted to go home on leave. After arriving at Benning, I was glad I signed up.
I graduated from Airborne school in ‘89, right after I attended Basic, then off to AIT. Wanting to be a Parachute Rigger meant doing things in that order. I found the PT part fairly easy, although at the time they would drop you if you fell out during a run. Knowing that much, I came close when I worked my way to the side of the formation and emptied my stomach without breaking stride. I, also, badly twisted my ankle on my first live jump, landed awkwardly on a small ridge and never said a word to anyone, just rolled up my chute and ran to the meeting area. Did my last 4 jumps and PT runs through grit and determination.
@@B_Co.407thI also went to jump school in 89. 1st of the 507th ,(Down to Earth). I was a 52D generator mechanic then went on to A Co. 50th Sig, 18th Air Corps. Ft. Bragg. Do they still call non Airborne personnel "Dirty rotten Stinken legs"? I miss all my brothers! Who-Wa, Airborne All The Way! 🪂
Went also 89 Feb or March enjoyed it saw Cpt. Quit refused to jump people couldn't pass the physical finess agenda great memories then on to 782nd ft. Bragg now ft.Liberty ?????
Yeah, I get you. I had to train with my own D.I. to tighten up my running. To qualify I had to do 7 min miles. Which Of course I got my wings. Then on to Ftt. Bragg. Was also partnered up with a Marine Captain. Side note: To me Bragg not Liberty . Thanks for the response. Get back to ya. Oh my Unit at Bragg. A. Co. 50th Signal, 18th Air Corps.
Great video and narration. I went through jump school, early1969 at 18 years old. The trainning in your video is amazingly similar to what I went through. I eventually became a Green Beret with the 10th Special Forces. I now belong to the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard for Military Honors given at funerals. Many times we perform these Honors with active duty. I am so impressed with these young active duty soldiers and it warms my heart to see such dedication and military professionalism these young vetereans display. Your video and narration touched on long past memories that many years have past, but in some ways it is still the same. Thak You!
I did jump school in August '76, so I may be a little fuzzy on the details. I don't recall a PT test, but we ran everywhere and PT was done in a white t-shirt, green fatigue pants and bloused combat boots. The PT uniform was yet to be invented. We had at least 2 4-mile runs that had to be completed in the then airborne standard of four miles in 32 minutes. I agree with the previous reviewer who stated the cadre was there to try to get you through the school. I was suffering badly from shin splints during jump school and I fell out of the final 4 mile run and a black hat fell out with me and ran with me to complete the run and prevent me from being re-cycled. I didn't see any mention of the saw dust pits, which I assume they still have. We did all of our PLFs into pits of saw dust. Since it was August in Benning it was hot, so to prevent heat injuries we had to roll through overhead showers (keeping out boots dry, of course) for the cooling effect. But, then we had to roll around in sawdust with a wet uniform, great fun! I had 2 mid-air collisions with other jumpers at Benning, but employed the methods they beat into us for 3 weeks and came through my 5 jumps okay. And in '76 there were no night jumps, just 3 Hollywood and 2 combat equipment jumps. But, I learned enough to complete 3 years in the 82nd MP CO, 82nd ABN DIV without any serious injuries.
LOL, I did my jump school in June-July of 1977. I to remember the sand/saw dust pits, the were horrible. Also remember when we were rolling through the showers in the pushup position at the end of the shower we had to jump up and sound off with a loud and thunderous Airborne!!! When I was there we did have to do one night jump. I'm almost positive there was not a single star in the sky it was complete darkness. But not to worry, you'll eventually find the ground. I also remember a run in the last week, I believe it was 5 miles. I remember we had one black hat that started the run with us, then after a mile he went and sat in a jeep while a new, refreshed black hat took over the run. It went that way for the entire run. A fresh new black hat every mile. If I had life to do over again, I'd go right back into jump school, followed by Ranger training then Special Forces. The biggest mistake I made in my entire life was not going back into the army after I graduated college.
William, our schools were less then a year apart. I just looked at my jump log (yeah, I still have it) and we made 2 jumps on Tus & Wed and 1 jump on Thurs. We had bad weather on Monday so no jumps and weather delays on Thurs We doubled up on Tues & Wed, then due to the time crunch we graduated on the "cables" on Thurs, instead of a formal ceremony. Maybe we were supposed to have a night jump but they didn't want us to have to jump 3 times in one day, I don't know for sure. Everybody PCS'd out on Friday (I headed to the Repl Depot at the 82nd).
My dad went through Airborne School back In 1954. He said back then the instructors tired to drop as many students as possible. PT was challenging. More so than it was during Basic. One example he gave, If you fell back during the morning 5 mile run, you were dropped. What I understand by those who have attended the school in recent times is, the school is more instructional and not bent on dropping students.
Under Carter in the late 1970s, they mandated that females should to go to Airborne School too so the Army could be more fair. Since that time, it became a sad joke, nothing like its historic prestige of being a brutally physical course.
@@LRRPFco52 A correction to your comment. The first females to go to Jump School was in 1973, Nixon was still President. A lot of those ladies went on to Ft. Lee, Va to become Parachute Riggers. I left the Army in Mar. 1974, I was stationed at Ft. Bragg.
@@walterkleinjr8950 Interesting. I had heard it happened in the 1970s (thought it was under Carter) and that there was an Army Research Institute study conducted on female soldiers who had been subjected to Infantry tasks, including ruck marching, patrolling, running, digging fighting positions, and other high-stress physical activities. The findings included rapid wear of their bones, early osteoporosis, fractures, connective tissue injuries, infertility, hormonal imbalances, and overall detrimental effects that transpired in a very short time period. Did you see females in Airborne School in 1973? Did they get special treatment, because the runs back then were brutal.
In 72 , a friend of mine said he lost track of push ups on wed of week one after noon chow at 1150 . Airborne school is designed to teach you how to safely jump out of a plane and land he said . Infantry school on the other hand , is one rough SOB he said . I was an MP .
I went through the Airborne School in 1980 at age 40. I worked my body up over a period of 3 months to be sure I would not fail. I was told I could run with the women because of my age, going back to my unit would never be acceptable if I did that. I thought the black hats were focused on me and after I got my wings I asked one of them whether that might have been true. He told me that yes, they did focus on me and if I could do all they asked the 19 year olds could certainly do it. I did appreciate that. In the end I did 193 exits from the big iron birds, my last jump at age 71 was with a Laotian general that awarded me Laotian paratrooper wings I could wear on my SF Association jacket.
@@pastorbill7374 Thank you for sure. My wife and I are also a servants of the Living God and I am finding more and more people who do not even want to serve in the military because of the godlessness that is being put forward in every branch now. My time when Reagan was president was the best time to have been in as far as I am concerned.
My Dad won the 1973 T.E. Anderson SF soldier of the year award. He served in the 82nd and 101st airborne. SF reserve until forced retirement at 60. He LOVED to jump and was proud when I got my pilot's license -- we always joked about "Why would you leave a perfectly good plane!?" -- "Because it's FUN!" Miss you dad.
The PT test one was one of the hardest. I remember being stuck on 10 push-ups for what seemed like 50 push ups. Barely passed. Lots of people I went to OSUT with didn't.
The black hat wouldn’t count my last push up either. I told him “no, you’re not doing this to me.” He said “alright, then just give me one last good one.” I made sure to slam my chest hard enough to hear and he let me continue. For sit ups, he let me get up after 30 or so. Sometimes you got to work a person a little.
I was a USArmy 2d lieutenant who went through airborne school in 1979. I was the stick leader for a stick that was comprised totally of marine and navy personnel. Every morning at formation the senior black hat would say, “Lieutenant Barnhill‘s stick fall out for the gig pit.“ We would then entertain the black hats while we conducted push-ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, etc.. so much for no harassment. On the positive side, we ended up in better shape than the rest of the company. Point of pride.
My dad was one of the first paratroopers. He was in the 82nd AB, 509th PIB during WWII. He made several combat jumps and an amphibious landing during the war. He said they had a lot of fun during jump training but didn't like the PT.
My son recently joined the 82nd . During training he admired the paratroopers that came before him . He was grateful for what they did and he's proud to be a part of that history.
I remember a four week school. Running 4 miles a day, 5 miles on Friday. PT first. Multiple branches in the same school. 0600 first call. That means standing in formation out front at 0600. Don’t be late. No walking allowed, if you went anywhere you better be running. Don’t step on the “Red Step” in the mock up tower. Yes, lots of PLFs. Also moving through cool off showers in the push up position. The first jump being told you better check your canopy because one of you has a defective chute. The guy behind me in the stick had it. Pulled his reserve. We landed close to each other. I’ll never forget his name. All done in combat boots. 1976.
So I jumped out of a C-119 (Flying Boxcar) in the 1960s. It is amazing to think of the many jumps that have been taken by many thousands, (maybe millions by now) and we do not hear of any serious accidents. That's a pretty good record!
The Black Hats told me later that they gave me a hard time because I had a good attitude that it helped the morale of the company. I went on to complete SF static line jumpmaster school, earned my Sr. Parachutist Badge, jumping both in with 5th SF Group and 82nd ABN Div. A great amount of serious fun, and a great way to serve my fellow airborne soldiers!!
Went through it in 73… while all the training for Marine Reconnaissance was tough, do you have great memories and camaraderie from all branches! 👍🏽🇺🇸❤️
I graduated jump school in 1989 and went to RIP. Never had an easy landing jumping static line. Always hit the ground hard no matter how good your PLF technique was. We ran 2-5 miles everyday, and they started at a dead sprint then settled in. We had to do 6 pullups before entering the chowhall for any meal.
I went through school in 1982. Men had to qualify under one standard, women under a less vigorous one. My 1st jump landing (plf) was feet, knees, face.
I went thru jump school in 1970 after infantry AIT in Fort Polk. It looks like it hasn't changed much. One bit of advice, DONT WALK ANYWHERE. Every step is a double time. And a few points about Columbus Ga. #1. They don't like you there, #2 They don't like you there, #3 Even though the town would dry up without Benning, They don't like you there.
1/507 PIR Company D, Class 43-86 here. My favorite thing about jump school was the snack bar next to our barracks with $2 pitchers of beer. AATW - RLTW
1966 El Salvador Airborne we had a part of training I didn’t see here which is laying down with a Corsair plane in front when the parachute catch air it will drag you and you have to move to stand up two perfect times in your belly two times in your back
I went to jump school after basic and infantry training at fort Polk and then airborne training and it was tough but going through fort Polk was a grind and I was ready for jump school!! I liked the fact that there were different people from different branches of the military especially marine recon guys and they were really tough people!! We had boxing matches on the weekend that were great!! My most memorable moment beside the jumps which I loved cause we did 4 jumps from C119 planes but our last jump was from a C141 Star lifter a huge jet and it was much different and great! My most moment was being on top of the 250 tower while General Moreland was touring around the field and we had to hang there till he was done and I had a harness that felt like it was going to crush my nuts!! I was so glad when they released me and then I floated backward and had to do a rear PLF that I didn’t particularly like!! From their I went to Fort Bragg!! I was in the 12th SFG Airborne reserves in a headquarters company! They no long are an active unit today. My training took place in 1969 and today I’m 75 years of age!! Great memories and was proud to serve!! I was on active duty for 9 months training and 6 years active reserve! God Bless America!!
Very cool, but I’m now sad I didn’t do this in my youth. I did the Tough Mudder (British Sp. Ops course) at 61 years old and could run 5 miles then and do 80 pushups. I now play pickle ball 5 days a week at 72. I would have been a great soldier and officer with my education, I checked all the other boxes in life, but my biggest regret to this day is not joining the a Airborne! My hat’s off to you all!!! You would make any father proud!
Graduated 91. The Black Hats were funny when I went through. They were serious during the serious parts but they were busting chops and cracking jokes a lot as well. It felt a lot different than Basic but I had already been in for almost 2 years by then. The first jump was the easiest for me as well.
It's been a minute since I went (1993). No PT test. We did one 4-mile Battalion run at a snail's pace. The run was incredibly slow. It was a vanity run. The side effect is damage to knees and shin splints. I was shocked at the lack of discipline by the instructor cadre. The training could probably be done in 3-days, but it is stretched over 3-weeks. I thought jumping out of planes was crazy fun. At the time the Army was using Jump School as an incentive, so lots of non-essential personnel attending. Probably the easiest school I attended in the military. Do as you are told, keep your head down, and don't get hurt and it is a breeze.
Man, why am I watching these like I haven’t already been to Airborne school over 10 years ago lol. I’ve been outta the Army since 2017! But the worst part of Airborne school in my opinion is Chute detail especially chute shakeout. Man, you spend hours gathering, stringing up, shaking out, and picking out all the debris outta the chutes. I remember after one jump(when I was in my unit) we had a night jump and there were a lot and I mean a lot of jumpers and I was on Chute shakeout. We literally didn’t get done until 01 or 01:30am! And idk how it was in your Units but if you worked until or after zero hundred hours you got the next day off. So the NCO in charge of that detail gave us the day off so I told my NCOIC and this man gone tell me to come in at 12noon only to come in and not even have anything to do! He was an asshole like that. But I tell what in the old 82nd tradition as soon as I got to my room I got drunk lmao. I still had time to make it to the ole Shoppette on Butner road before it closed lol.
When I was a 91B ( combat medic) in my Army National Guard unit I volunteered to go to jump school . However my unit wouldn't pay for my flight so I didn't go. It looked interesting.
Most fails I saw were the pt test (something like 20% failed which is frightening) and second was the morning runs. Roads were shit and full of holes so just a LOT of injuries.
Before I joined the army I was running 70 miles a week. By the time I graduated from jump school I was in the worst shape I had been in over the prior year. It was not difficult.
0 week, (the time between me graduating basic and AIT, then the start of ground week) was worse than all the other 3 weeks combined lol! 5 days of hell.
I went through it at 44. Physically pretty easy. Spent weekends rucking for SFAS prep. Nigh full load jump was a gut check. Other than that not a big deal.
Philippine Marine Airborne is so hard even in qualifying u need to pass 4.8km in 21 mins if u got 21:01 mins u are FAILED / you need water threading for 30 mins while raise ur one hand after 30 mins you will raise two hands and continue water threading , 15 pull ups and 85 sit ups 75 push ups is passing
I went to jump school in the 80s. I wonder is there still boot black down the street? Do you still answer "clear" or "unclear"? You know, instead of yes Sergeant or no Sergeant... I went through in the summertime and the black hats would always form us into ranks and we would jog through the showers periodically so we could keep training. That was a long time ago and many jumps ago. Of all the badges I earned while in the Rangers and eventually special forces the only badge I ever cared about was the master blaster wings. Good luck to all of you... have fun lol
My youngest son went through airborne school. He called me very excited the day they did their first jump..."dad this is so cool, I could do this for a living ". He went on to spend the next 8+ years with the 2nd Ranger bat. You gotta love 20yr old adrenaline junkies.
I would say the toughest part comes after graduation when the realization that you're just a glorified leg finally sinks in. The only folks jumping into combat these days are the bearded ninjas.
@@nathanielnicholi2985 i think what he meant by "glorified leg" was that unless you're in certain special forces units, you probably won't be jumping into combat very often...if ever. And the bearded ninjas are probably special forces dudes.
@@nathanielnicholi2985 Bearded Ninjas are the Great Bearded One's acolytes. He carved them into his image from granite then gave them life. Their purpose is to escort heathen souls to hell. Seriously though, it's just a nickname for Chuck Norris that I apply to Spec Ops dudes. A glorified leg is a deployed paratrooper who is walking into combat just like all the rest of us light infantry guys.
Hardest thing about airborne school is overcoming the fear of jumping out of an airplane. Usually after basic and ait soldiers are very fit so the physical demands are not too difficult. The jumps are much more difficult after the school when youre carrying all your eq and food/water.
Little bit of running... to formation, for PT, to chow, from chow, to training, back from training... that's pretty much it. Just keep moving rapido and all will be fine. Then sound off with a Loud & Thunderous AIRBORNE! and you get a nice metal badge to wear on your dress uni. All good! 🤙 Edit 3 mos later: my son is always asking what’s my rush, why am I in an artificial hurry, we’re not even late, what’s all this “pick up the pace” about, anyway dad?!? To which I lovingly reply - he’s my son, after all! - “You will address me as Sergeant Airborne!” 😉😜🪂
Man I finished basic like 3 months ago already I’m in ait and both basic and ait I’ve done a max total of 10 pt sessions we haven’t done pt almost lmao idk why I thought I was gonna do pt everyday but yea a lot of people in my ait unit is not that fit like 4 or 5 people failed the acft
@josuevelasquez9186 wow. My basic was pt three times a day for the first two weeks and once a day 5 days a week after that. At my perm duty station was pt 5 days a week. I guess fit to fight was lost somewhere.
I went thru Air Assault School and then Airborne School. I caught hell, because I already had Air Assault wings first, but overall, Airborne School was not terribly hard. I actually had a great time during the school. It has been almost 40 years since I graduated and I can still do a PLF. Matter of fact, when I get to drinking, I do them from the tailgate of my pickup truck.
@@bruhroyale12123 'who just enlisted or never served' ? So who *specifically* are you referring to? (Couldn't quite be certain, just curious for some confirming specificity.)
I was a member 43rd Company /AIRBORNE Class 43B. Graduated JUMP SCHOOL July 19, 1963. Then JUMP SCHOOL was 4 weeks rather than just 3. Served with 101st after graduation, went to Vietnam in July 1965 with 1st BRIGADE 101st. Have always been proud to have served and being AIRBORNE
I went through March 1966. How do you member all that stuff? Got drafted, jumped out of a bunch of different aircraft, 18 months later I was back home.....
Question: were there any American combat jumps in Vietnam? Our SAS (Aussie) did one jump the whole war, I think just to justify their parachute training. None of our regular troops did.
Sir, can you make further leadership videos. Because in my life your videos have influenced my character and also paving way of pursuing career in the Indian military.
The three weeks of repetition is so that in moments of great stress you will do the drill correctly. Did my “ jump” course 55 years ago but the jump commands are still imprinted on my mind! Airborne
I did airborne school at 18 years old. It was crazy easy, especially coming strait from basic and AIT. it was actually really really fun other than the super boring classes
It must not have been in the 70s, Airborne school was one of the roughest toughest school's you could attend. My first hour there Sgt. Airborne told me to take off my chute. Guess I was too slow, he hit me on my chest like 7 times threw me on the ground and kick me like 6 times. Of 680 students we graduated 47, it is a shame to hear such wimpy stories. What has happened to our military?
Just a few points here regarding the excellent video . I'm a Master Blaster and Century Club paratrooper, so I guess my opinion has some weight. As far as phases, how could you forget good ol' Zero Week? The weeding out process starts even before the first day of classes, and it happens during Zero Week. Intimidation can be a strong demotivator. And I personally find the reference of disingenuous motivation to be bullshit. I was in class 5-83 in what used to be known as 44th company, until the regimental system came into effect. Back then, each of the four barracks buildings at Jump School we're literally covered in large exterior painted Jump Wings and Airborne unit insignia! Push up squares at the entrance to each barracks. Yellow cables in the formation area to toe the line. Every student was there because they wanted to be, as were the Black Hats. No one quit easily, and no one failed happily. Motivation and enthusiasm are a food group among Paratroopers. It's not taken or given easily, but it's never disingenuous. I cherish my silver wings above any and all military awards I have. I still carry my original Blood Wings on my keychain. The sharp little pins on the back broke off years ago (NOT In my scrawny little 19-year-old chest!) And to this day, I still try to apply the effort and the motivation that was demanded of me in Jump School. Airborne! All the way!
@@LtDan82_3Inf @stevebarcanic9388 So you were there when it was 41st-44th Company, as well! All the big murals, decorating the barracks? And the line of "boot blacks" over at the Pathfinder building, shining boots for $10 a week? THAT'S old school!
@stevebarcanic9388 So you were there when it was 41st-44th Company, as well! All the big murals, decorating the barracks? And the line of "boot blacks" over at the Pathfinder building, shining boots for $10 a week? THAT'S old school!
Jump school at Fort Benning in the middle of summer1970, temperatures in excess of 100 degrees, standing under the blister bags to get cooled down with water, and living in the old WWII barracks with no AC. Wouldn't have traded it for the world. Got to my jump class a week early; those of us that arrived early did PT every day with the telephone poles. Still smile when I think of jump school.
I loved it. Every minute of it. I love how Benning schools were so true to traditions and it was like looking back in time at all the past warriors that embraced an experience that has such a great story in its founding. I miss it so much. I miss all the people. The army was my family, and I’m forever grateful to this country for letting me serve it.
I graduated 10 days before my 40th birthday. I was sore and my knees hurt like hell, but I made it through in one pass. Kept jumping with the 82nd Airborne and other selected units. I was 46 on my last jump.
@PatelTheBoss every branch goes to Airborne school for their combat units that have to be Airborne qualified, same thing with jump school. The ARMY handles Airborne, Jump school, and HALO school for all the branches.
I graduated Jump School January 27 1981, I had shin splints from Basic/AIT for Infantry from running PT in the old combat boots of that era. Jump School is about learning the safe technique's to safely exit a aircraft while in flight. I didn't find it boring or monotonous, and I find it a little offensive when you said that, but that's my opinion. I absolutely love being Airborne Infantryman, my first unit was with the first Combat Jumpers the 1st/509th ABCT in Vicenza, Italy.
I went in January 1979. Thanks to MANY weather delays the 3 weeks became 6 weeks and graduated in February. It should also be noted that I came as an E-5. Being an NCO I had a room to myself. OK, I shared a room with another E-5. No Open bays for us!
October '83. Jump school was pretty much just fun, with the exception of "rest area procedures"when the black hats smoked the s*** out of us. Sounds like things have changed.
Jump schoolks about programming you to jump out of the plane. There ain't nothing safe about it. Not dissing. I loved it. But it's all about building muscle memory reaction. So When it's your turn you go.
I went through jump school in "88". It was fairly easy. I was just kind of nervous when I made my jumps. I remember getting dogged out in the gig pit with everyone else. It was basically remedial PT. Air Assault school was also easy. The instructors there will disqualify you for anything minor. Congratulations to those of you that have graduated from Airborne school. Not too many civilians have the courage to jump out of a C-130.
I went through this during the winter of 86-87. We had a 4-mile run (27minutes) and the black hat said we were not motivated enough., so we went another 4 miles. 600+ started in the first week and only 200+ graduated. Twenty-five medics dwindled to only 6 of us. Five of us went through Basic (Fort Bliss) and AIT and jump school together. AATW!
Feb 88 for me - and yes the freedom it was a nice relief coming out of basic / AIT. On of our drill instructors from Basic came along with us. I remember getting off the bus and seeing getting smoked by a bunch of black hats! It was an intimidating experience for my 19 yr old self. The last few days I was there I caught pneumonia and had to fake it till I made it. didnt want to be recycled. Overall it wasn't a terrible experience - a little harder physically than Air Assault school but less to memorize.
I graduated 4 days ago. Personally I had a great experience. The black hats were cool and relaxed a lot of the time. Only times I got roughed up or sore was when I sat in the harness for long periods of time or jumping out of the tower. My platoon got lucky during my cycle too because we didn’t have any extra duties, details, or CQ to do. On top of that my cycle didn’t have to do any combat jumps due to the bad weather. I definitely don’t regret jumping out of the C-130 and getting my wings.
Im going in a few months. Only thing Im worried about it parachute not opening, landing in trees, or getting tangled with someone else. Would you say that is pretty rare? or did you see stuff like that happen a few times?
No trees on Friar DZ. Your third point of performance is to "keep sharp lookout during descent". If you get close to someone slip away. And yell out to them to slip away. Trust your equipment- if your chute fails to deploy, use your reserve. Pay attention in class.@@KarmaBulatovna
Airborne School was like a 3 week vacation. Especially considering most of the time your just coming out of basic. Having weekends and most nights off after coming off of having zero freedom is honestly one of the greatest joys in life. Plus outside of some boring classes and practicing PLFs for mulitple hours, there are alot of fun parts to airborne school.
Freedom seemed to cause more airborne failures than anything. Going off base getting drunk and coming back drunk and showing up late for PT... bye bye leg
Same here. Very anti climatic though. Took 3 weeks to do what could have easily been done in one week. At least half the class was there for a ticket punch and would never have to jump again.
I served in SOF for over 20 years....and Airborne was definitely the easiest school I attended...but as a PFC 11M in 1995...this school inspired me to no end, I was all in, the feeling of jumping, kinda like being born again...great video as always sir
Thank you! I graduated in October '81. We also had almost two weeks of zero week waiting for the class to fill up. P.T. was done in boots and fatigues right after chow and there was a "gig" pit where everyone visited at least once. IMHO it's best to go straight out of A.I.T....
Jump School in August 1966. Some things have changed in the 50 years since I attended but the basics are the same. Probably the same apparatuses. I did Basic and AIT at Ft Ord in Monterey, Calif. I’d never experienced Georgia heat, humidity, or thunder storms in my life. I loved it. Thanks for posting this. Great memories.
I went through jump school as an Air Force ROTC cadet. It sucked being the only Airman in my company…spent lots of time in the gig pit. Best training of my whole career. Nothing but pride when I graduated but I was envious of those going to airborne units. Took me 13 years of active duty before I eventually landed in a jump billet and started jumping again. AATW!
@@braidynandrews5634 I did so years ago. I think that AFROTC now attend the Air Force Academy’s parachute training program instead of going to Army Airborne school at Fort Benning. You’d need to discuss with your ROTC detachment for the current policy.
I also went as an AFROTC cadet in 1973 in the summer just after attending the 4 week Air Force training camp (or whatever they call it now) between soph and junior year. I did a lot of running before getting to jump school, so the running was easy for me. The PT in the morning was rigorous but not impossibly tough. I do remember being so sore during the first several days that I couldn't just get out of bed in the morning. But I would have to roll out of bed onto the floor and struggle to my feet. Fire watch or guard duty in the barracks in the middle of the night was one of the worst parts about it. "Charlie 25. Third man in the stick Sergeant!" (Reporting for critique of your jump out of the 34 foot tower during the second week). Who are you! Airborne! How far! All the way! (and then some!) Caution - Legs ahead (sign over the sidewalk heading off the base)
I remember reading an article in a local paper after the action in Grenada. A local Air Force guy was at the base that 82 Abn was activated to do a jump onto the island. The Airman was Jump and Ranger qualified, so he was included in the operation. Imagine being a young Airman walking around an airbase with combat jump wings, and likely the AF equivalent of a combat action ribbon.
I went to Airborne School in Jan of 2002, Delta Company. The hardest thing about it, is now being almost 40 years old with bad knees/back and the VA denying your claims. Stating my jumps while stationed at Fort Bragg from 2002-2005 wasn't service connected. Sick call was severely frowned upon and just about NOBODY would go as you would be labeled a shit bag and hinder your chance for a promotion board. If you new soldiers plan on going Airborne document EVERYTHING! Your body is 100% going to break down and you feel this pain later in life.
I went through in 1985; my Dad did so in 1954. They ran every day, more than three miles. The morning of th fifth jump, they had a timed 12 mile run, with gear. He said that one separated those truly wanting to be paratrooper and those that did not.
Did mine in 1977, ran a lot, numerous PT test, we had no days off because of the backlog so whole thing in 17 days. 485 applicants, 270 got wings. I loved it. I moved on to Special Forces and completed that in 1978. 10th SFGA.
@@gregoryknox4444 There was this little chic in Airborne school who was maybe 5’ tall (with boots on) 100lbs with LCE. On Monday of jump week over Fryer DZ, she was the first in her stick to exit and last to land. She caught an air current or thermal, and actually gained altitude. I was one of the latter jumpers in another bird after hers, watching this from the ground after I had already landed, recovered my chute, packed it up, and hit the road along the DZ waiting for pick-up. Airborne cadre were yelling at her with the bull horns to get down. It was freaking hilarious. Total waste of resources.
I was there in '85 also. My class straddled 4th of July holiday. A Golden Knight team was doing a demonstration jump and one of them had a malfunction and burned in (fatality).
I graduated in 1969. Great experience. Still some of the best training I ever had. The PLF is hard wired into me. Very proud of being an ex-paratrooper.
Going to the 50th Anniversary (for some of us) next week in Arizona for the 173rd Abn. Reading some of these comments makes me feel old. Nothing wrong with admitting jump school was hard. I went on to spend 2 years in Vietnam and earn a pocketful of college degrees...the only diploma on this old man's wall is my jump school diploma.
Hey troops! Goggle the Jeff Daniels famous movie scene: AMERICA IS NOT THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. Sobering, stressful, uncertain times. The esprit de corps and dicipline I took away from jump school and war gave me a very satisfying life. I now have pause to wonder: Do our fellow citizens have a clue, or even grasp the concept of DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY that motivated and sustained our military service? I proudly served with folks representing a dozen or more religions and ethnic backgrounds. The idealism that evolved has shaped the last half century of my life. What happened?
For me ground week was rough, not that it was physically demanding but my body felt like I was beaten with bats from head to toe from all the pounding it took doing hundreds of PLF's. Tower week was a BLAST, jumping out of the 34 foot tower was better than almost any amusement park ride I had ever been on. The 250 foot tower was so much fun. Jump week, the adrenalin rish I got on my first jump lasted about two hours and I was high as a kite. The veins in my forearms were bulging, it was freaking awesome.
Airborne School for me in 1981 was much, much different than described in this video. We had to run every where in combat boots and fatigues, not shorts and Nikes, for heaven's sake. We ran 7 miles every day and lost 50 USMA cadets the first day of our PT test. No joke... The Black Hats would scream and spit in your face and we had to do 10 push-ups every time we came to a change in direction in a sidewalk. Very tough 3 weeks, but very rewarding!
I went in 2000 and honestly, I found it to be much easier than my high school wrestling practice. Basically, it felt like if you could jog you could pass. It was disappointing to say the least. Still a good time.
went through as a Cadet in Aug of 82. Same always ran except after lunch and always in the FLR. 2nd jump out of a C123. Spent 3 years in the 82nd. I'll never forget SSG Ephrim from the ground committee. They went to reg PT a few classes after mine, Oh yeah I was in 42nd CO. Used to love going to the Burger place every night to get a chocolate shake
You may have already done a video on it, but I'd love a video documenting your career. You've been through so many schools and deployments, it would be cool to hear your story
Please make some videos on the qualities of an officer in the military (especially the special forces) and how to practice them in daily life. God bless you and your family.
Airborne School wasn't all that physically demanding, but mentally, it was the toughest thing I've ever done. Lack of sleep and hard training and chaos and stress was "relatively" easy compared to overcoming the fear that I was absolutely certain I was about to die and jumping anyway.
I went in August 1981. The old saying, “some things never change” is true. Your “three hours of information stretched into three weeks of monotonous training” comment was right on! Thanks for the blast from my past!
-The 3-mile runs can be a challenge for people at the back of the formations because the accordion effect is very strong, turning what should be a steady run into a nonstop sprint/stop/sprint cycle. The trick is to keep going steady and stay patient. Let the rest of the folks sprint ahead and stay ahead of the instructors; you'll see them again in about 20 seconds when they all stop to avoid crashing into each other. -The third week has some bits of fun mixed in, but if the weather isn't cooperative, it *sucks*. You'll be sitting in a hanger all day long, not allowed to touch anything, move, or go pee. The silver lining is that if this happens the first 2-3 days, it means your last day will be *awesome*, as you jump 4 times in a single day. -It takes substantial physical courage to voluntarily jump out of a plane. Just remember that tens of thousands of people do this every year, and Airborne School has a *sterling* safety record, at least in terms of its students not dying. As for injuries, yeah, they happen, but if you do what they teach you, you'll probably be just fine.
This was just the cost of admission that I went through at age 39 to fly Apaches in the best Apache unit in the Army, the 1-82 Attack. of the 82nd Airborne Division. 28 military jumps and a bad L-4/L-5 disk and the best brothers in arms in the world.
I can honestly say it was harder in Airborne jump school back in the 80s because it were Black hats Vietnam Veterans who were very strict and tough as nail. Prime example If you ask anybody about 'Delta Company' in the 80s it was the most hardest,toughest and most strict battalion. Unfortunately, They only have 3 Battalion Alpha,Bravo and Charlie.If you failed any type of training back then you were made fun of and embarrassed in front of everybody to see . Plus, the percentage of falling was way higher as well. AATW. B
I went through in 74 and it was a lot different then. We did our PT runs at a flat out run, in fact, the only time we did the Airborne Shuffle was in the airplane. That was also the first time in my life that I ran 7 miles. PT was interesting in that they could only make us do 10 pushups at a time, but I remember the first day of Tower Week, we were dropped so many times it was getting reduced to 3 or 4 because we couldn't do 5 anymore. The whole purpose of Jump School in those days was to convince you that you were so bad and tough that if you went out the door of the plane and your chute didn't open, the ground would get out of your way because you were so tough. After the first jump you realized that was a lie. But you kept going to get your wings, and that was the real achievement.
How quickly things changed. Through the Vietnam Era, the point - going back to WWII - was that if you became isolated on the ground behind enemy lines you had the mindset to keep going and win. By the 1977 peace-time Army, we did the Airborne Shuffle every second we were moving; the Black Hats said it was to build up our legs for the Parachute Landing Fall (P.L.F.). I doubt the generals ever expect to use an airborne drop in a future war; the point of the 82nd is to gather some of the most gung-ho soldiers into one unit.
End of 1974 for me. I was there when a man was dropped from the 250 foot tower and ONE hook did not release. He hung suspended as they slowly lowered him to the ground. He was told when it happened to come to the position of attention and do not breathe. lol The black hats would call to him, "what you gonna be?" A frail reply, "AIRBORNE"!
Went thru jump school in '73. Used the T-10 chute. Most memorable part was the pinning of the "Blood Wings". I doubt that they do that any more. Something I'll never forget. Good job on the video.
![Cody Johnson - I'm Gonna Love You (with Carrie Underwood) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yy9PuYMU29g/mqdefault.jpg)
Just graduated last week. There is no PT test. But we did like a total of 4 3 mile runs at a 9 minute/mile pace throughout the cycle. Also you run everywhere in boots (like to training areas and chow), even if you are a slightly below average at PT I believe you'll be fine (if you are going to an airborne unit I strongly urge you to do PT at the gyms nearby in your own time if you struggle with those runs). The only people that quit were the ones terrified of jumping and/or somehow couldn't handle the running. One individual was dropped because of a piercing. (They were warned multiple times to remove it btw). The Cadre aren't there to smoke you. They are there to get you out of a plane and onto the ground safely. Lastly have fun. It's fine to be nervous, jumping out of planes isn't a normal for most humans lol. But just do it and you won't regret it.
No PT test anymore? Dang you guys are Hollywood!
I went through Jump School in 1989. No PT test=SOFT!
@@brianbutlerbk My way of saying it was nicer😂
@@wecanjump7512 Lol yeah it was incredibly easy. My great great uncle would not be impressed. The funniest part about it is despite there being no pt test, 40 people still managed to quit, I don't know what they were expecting. I heard people complain when we were rigging ruck sacks saying things like "I don't know if I'll be able to carry this" and then others whined about people who forgot their fleece cap. It was 40°... oh well, to each their own I guess.
@@IMN0TFUNNY Dang, 40 people? We only had one dude quit and that was on the bird. He was just too scared and he wouldn’t stand up. The black hats tried to talk to him but he was spooked. We all felt bad for him.
I signed up immediately after I passed my basic PT test .
While we were taking our PT test, there were airborne soldiers with stop watches, click counters and clipboards
They were hand picking the standouts.
There was a table set up with all the paperwork .
Then I attended AIT and regretted signing up because I wanted to go home on leave.
After arriving at Benning, I was glad I signed up.
I graduated from Airborne school in ‘89, right after I attended Basic, then off to AIT. Wanting to be a Parachute Rigger meant doing things in that order. I found the PT part fairly easy, although at the time they would drop you if you fell out during a run. Knowing that much, I came close when I worked my way to the side of the formation and emptied my stomach without breaking stride. I, also, badly twisted my ankle on my first live jump, landed awkwardly on a small ridge and never said a word to anyone, just rolled up my chute and ran to the meeting area. Did my last 4 jumps and PT runs through grit and determination.
Same here. So called tough Marine recons in the class couldn't handle the runs and got dropped from the class😂
Airborne brother I was in B co 407th S+T Bn 82nd Abn Div
@@B_Co.407thI also went to jump school in 89. 1st of the 507th ,(Down to Earth). I was a 52D generator mechanic then went on
to A Co. 50th Sig, 18th Air Corps.
Ft. Bragg. Do they still call non Airborne personnel "Dirty rotten
Stinken legs"? I miss all my brothers! Who-Wa, Airborne All The
Way! 🪂
Went also 89 Feb or March enjoyed it saw Cpt. Quit refused to jump people couldn't pass the physical finess agenda great memories then on to 782nd ft. Bragg now ft.Liberty ?????
Yeah, I get you. I had to train with my own D.I. to tighten up my running. To qualify I had to do 7 min miles. Which
Of course I got my wings. Then on to
Ftt. Bragg. Was also partnered up with a
Marine Captain. Side note: To me Bragg
not Liberty . Thanks for the response.
Get back to ya. Oh my Unit at Bragg.
A. Co. 50th Signal, 18th Air Corps.
Great video and narration. I went through jump school, early1969 at 18 years old. The trainning in your video is amazingly similar to what I went through. I eventually became a Green Beret with the 10th Special Forces. I now belong to the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard for Military Honors given at funerals. Many times we perform these Honors with active duty. I am so impressed with these young active duty soldiers and it warms my heart to see such dedication and military professionalism these young vetereans display. Your video and narration touched on long past memories that many years have past, but in some ways it is still the same. Thak You!
I did jump school in August '76, so I may be a little fuzzy on the details. I don't recall a PT test, but we ran everywhere and PT was done in a white t-shirt, green fatigue pants and bloused combat boots. The PT uniform was yet to be invented. We had at least 2 4-mile runs that had to be completed in the then airborne standard of four miles in 32 minutes. I agree with the previous reviewer who stated the cadre was there to try to get you through the school. I was suffering badly from shin splints during jump school and I fell out of the final 4 mile run and a black hat fell out with me and ran with me to complete the run and prevent me from being re-cycled. I didn't see any mention of the saw dust pits, which I assume they still have. We did all of our PLFs into pits of saw dust. Since it was August in Benning it was hot, so to prevent heat injuries we had to roll through overhead showers (keeping out boots dry, of course) for the cooling effect. But, then we had to roll around in sawdust with a wet uniform, great fun! I had 2 mid-air collisions with other jumpers at Benning, but employed the methods they beat into us for 3 weeks and came through my 5 jumps okay. And in '76 there were no night jumps, just 3 Hollywood and 2 combat equipment jumps. But, I learned enough to complete 3 years in the 82nd MP CO, 82nd ABN DIV without any serious injuries.
LOL, I did my jump school in June-July of 1977. I to remember the sand/saw dust pits, the were horrible. Also remember when we were rolling through the showers in the pushup position at the end of the shower we had to jump up and sound off with a loud and thunderous Airborne!!! When I was there we did have to do one night jump. I'm almost positive there was not a single star in the sky it was complete darkness. But not to worry, you'll eventually find the ground. I also remember a run in the last week, I believe it was 5 miles. I remember we had one black hat that started the run with us, then after a mile he went and sat in a jeep while a new, refreshed black hat took over the run. It went that way for the entire run. A fresh new black hat every mile. If I had life to do over again, I'd go right back into jump school, followed by Ranger training then Special Forces. The biggest mistake I made in my entire life was not going back into the army after I graduated college.
William, our schools were less then a year apart. I just looked at my jump log (yeah, I still have it) and we made 2 jumps on Tus & Wed and 1 jump on Thurs. We had bad weather on Monday so no jumps and weather delays on Thurs We doubled up on Tues & Wed, then due to the time crunch we graduated on the "cables" on Thurs, instead of a formal ceremony. Maybe we were supposed to have a night jump but they didn't want us to have to jump 3 times in one day, I don't know for sure. Everybody PCS'd out on Friday (I headed to the Repl Depot at the 82nd).
My dad went through Airborne School back In 1954. He said back then the instructors tired to drop as many students as possible. PT was challenging. More so than it was during Basic. One example he gave, If you fell back during the morning 5 mile run, you were dropped. What I understand by those who have attended the school in recent times is, the school is more instructional and not bent on dropping students.
Under Carter in the late 1970s, they mandated that females should to go to Airborne School too so the Army could be more fair. Since that time, it became a sad joke, nothing like its historic prestige of being a brutally physical course.
@@LRRPFco52 A correction to your comment. The first females to go to Jump School was in 1973, Nixon was still President. A lot of those ladies went on to Ft. Lee, Va to become Parachute Riggers. I left the Army in Mar. 1974, I was stationed at Ft. Bragg.
@@walterkleinjr8950 Interesting. I had heard it happened in the 1970s (thought it was under Carter) and that there was an Army Research Institute study conducted on female soldiers who had been subjected to Infantry tasks, including ruck marching, patrolling, running, digging fighting positions, and other high-stress physical activities. The findings included rapid wear of their bones, early osteoporosis, fractures, connective tissue injuries, infertility, hormonal imbalances, and overall detrimental effects that transpired in a very short time period.
Did you see females in Airborne School in 1973? Did they get special treatment, because the runs back then were brutal.
In 72 , a friend of mine said he lost track of push ups on wed of week one after noon chow at 1150 . Airborne school is designed to teach you how to safely jump out of a plane and land he said . Infantry school on the other hand , is one rough SOB he said . I was an MP .
Read my comment above.
I went through the Airborne School in 1980 at age 40. I worked my body up over a period of 3 months to be sure I would not fail. I was told I could run with the women because of my age, going back to my unit would never be acceptable if I did that. I thought the black hats were focused on me and after I got my wings I asked one of them whether that might have been true. He told me that yes, they did focus on me and if I could do all they asked the 19 year olds could certainly do it. I did appreciate that. In the end I did 193 exits from the big iron birds, my last jump at age 71 was with a Laotian general that awarded me Laotian paratrooper wings I could wear on my SF Association jacket.
@@sjb3460 Good on you. Some marvelous memories in all of this.
OUTSTANDING MY BROTHER KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT NEVER SURRENDER 💪
@@pastorbill7374 Thank you for sure. My wife and I are also a servants of the Living God and I am finding more and more people who do not even want to serve in the military because of the godlessness that is being put forward in every branch now. My time when Reagan was president was the best time to have been in as far as I am concerned.
Hoorah! My dad jumped in Normandy; I went Airborne, Ranger And Special Forces. Hoorah!
My Dad won the 1973 T.E. Anderson SF soldier of the year award. He served in the 82nd and 101st airborne. SF reserve until forced retirement at 60.
He LOVED to jump and was proud when I got my pilot's license -- we always joked about "Why would you leave a perfectly good plane!?" -- "Because it's FUN!"
Miss you dad.
I just completed airborne school last week honestly its easy just come in with good stamina and the right mind set and you're all gold
The PT test one was one of the hardest. I remember being stuck on 10 push-ups for what seemed like 50 push ups. Barely passed. Lots of people I went to OSUT with didn't.
The black hat wouldn’t count my last push up either. I told him “no, you’re not doing this to me.” He said “alright, then just give me one last good one.” I made sure to slam my chest hard enough to hear and he let me continue. For sit ups, he let me get up after 30 or so.
Sometimes you got to work a person a little.
Yeah they did that to a lot of us to see if you would give up.
No pt test anymore. You hold a chinup for 10 seconds and do a reach test
I was a USArmy 2d lieutenant who went through airborne school in 1979. I was the stick leader for a stick that was comprised totally of marine and navy personnel. Every morning at formation the senior black hat would say, “Lieutenant Barnhill‘s stick fall out for the gig pit.“ We would then entertain the black hats while we conducted push-ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, etc.. so much for no harassment. On the positive side, we ended up in better shape than the rest of the company. Point of pride.
Graduated in 1984, and went on to make many many many exits. Loved every damn one.
Anybody else get their blood wings from a Black Hat?
My dad was one of the first paratroopers. He was in the 82nd AB, 509th PIB during WWII. He made several combat jumps and an amphibious landing during the war. He said they had a lot of fun during jump training but didn't like the PT.
My son recently joined the 82nd . During training he admired the paratroopers that came before him . He was grateful for what they did and he's proud to be a part of that history.
I remember a four week school. Running 4 miles a day, 5 miles on Friday. PT first. Multiple branches in the same school. 0600 first call. That means standing in formation out front at 0600. Don’t be late. No walking allowed, if you went anywhere you better be running. Don’t step on the “Red Step” in the mock up tower. Yes, lots of PLFs. Also moving through cool off showers in the push up position. The first jump being told you better check your canopy because one of you has a defective chute. The guy behind me in the stick had it. Pulled his reserve. We landed close to each other. I’ll never forget his name. All done in combat boots. 1976.
So I jumped out of a C-119 (Flying Boxcar) in the 1960s. It is amazing to think of the many jumps that have been taken by many thousands, (maybe millions by now) and we do not hear of any serious accidents. That's a pretty good record!
It’s crazy how I remember watching this prior to the army, now I’m getting my wings tomorrow
The Black Hats told me later that they gave me a hard time because I had a good attitude that it helped the morale of the company. I went on to complete SF static line jumpmaster school, earned my Sr. Parachutist Badge, jumping both in with 5th SF Group and 82nd ABN Div. A great amount of serious fun, and a great way to serve my fellow airborne soldiers!!
Went through it in 73… while all the training for Marine Reconnaissance was tough, do you have great memories and camaraderie from all branches!
👍🏽🇺🇸❤️
I graduated jump school in 1989 and went to RIP. Never had an easy landing jumping static line. Always hit the ground hard no matter how good your PLF technique was. We ran 2-5 miles everyday, and they started at a dead sprint then settled in. We had to do 6 pullups before entering the chowhall for any meal.
I went through school in 1982. Men had to qualify under one standard, women under a less vigorous one. My 1st jump landing (plf) was feet, knees, face.
I went thru jump school in 1970 after infantry AIT in Fort Polk. It looks like it hasn't changed much. One bit of advice, DONT WALK ANYWHERE. Every step is a double time. And a few points about Columbus Ga. #1. They don't like you there, #2 They don't like you there, #3 Even though the town would dry up without Benning, They don't like you there.
Airborne school is easy compared to what we old timers went through.
It took me a long while to get my PLF’s good enough for the instructor. It was the worse part of Jump School for me. The best was the actual jumps.
I had the pleasure of doing it twice. Once as a Marine sergeant and once as a 1st Lieutenant. There's a difference 🙂
1/507 PIR Company D, Class 43-86 here. My favorite thing about jump school was the snack bar next to our barracks with $2 pitchers of beer. AATW - RLTW
As both airborne and air assault qualified. Airborne school was like summer camp 😅😂
1966 El Salvador Airborne we had a part of training I didn’t see here which is laying down with a Corsair plane in front when the parachute catch air it will drag you and you have to move to stand up two perfect times in your belly two times in your back
The hardest part of airborne school was sitting in the pax shed for 8 hours a day thanks to weather
My father was in 101st airborne...i grew up in fort campbell kentucky....i later became a MARINE...WITH TRAP TEAMS
First thing they told me the first day in the Air Force, Never jump out of a perfectly Good Airplane!
1983 grad.... fun school.. you learn a lot about yourself
The World with peace, unity and love,, watching from berbera somaliland rep,,
I went to jump school after basic and infantry training at fort Polk and then airborne training and it was tough but going through fort Polk was a grind and I was ready for jump school!! I liked the fact that there were different people from different branches of the military especially marine recon guys and they were really tough people!! We had boxing matches on the weekend that were great!! My most memorable moment beside the jumps which I loved cause we did 4 jumps from C119 planes but our last jump was from a C141 Star lifter a huge jet and it was much different and great! My most moment was being on top of the 250 tower while General Moreland was touring around the field and we had to hang there till he was done and I had a harness that felt like it was going to crush my nuts!! I was so glad when they released me and then I floated backward and had to do a rear PLF that I didn’t particularly like!! From their I went to Fort Bragg!! I was in the 12th SFG Airborne reserves in a headquarters company! They no long are an active unit today. My training took place in 1969 and today I’m 75 years of age!!
Great memories and was proud to serve!! I was on active duty for 9 months training and 6 years active reserve!
God Bless America!!
Very cool, but I’m now sad I didn’t do this in my youth. I did the Tough Mudder (British Sp. Ops course) at 61 years old and could run 5 miles then and do 80 pushups. I now play pickle ball 5 days a week at 72. I would have been a great soldier and officer with my education, I checked all the other boxes in life, but my biggest regret to this day is not joining the a Airborne! My hat’s off to you all!!! You would make any father proud!
Graduated 91. The Black Hats were funny when I went through. They were serious during the serious parts but they were busting chops and cracking jokes a lot as well. It felt a lot different than Basic but I had already been in for almost 2 years by then. The first jump was the easiest for me as well.
It's been a minute since I went (1993). No PT test. We did one 4-mile Battalion run at a snail's pace. The run was incredibly slow. It was a vanity run. The side effect is damage to knees and shin splints. I was shocked at the lack of discipline by the instructor cadre. The training could probably be done in 3-days, but it is stretched over 3-weeks. I thought jumping out of planes was crazy fun. At the time the Army was using Jump School as an incentive, so lots of non-essential personnel attending. Probably the easiest school I attended in the military. Do as you are told, keep your head down, and don't get hurt and it is a breeze.
What MOS were you in & where did you get stationed?
@@christopherhazell420 2621 KBay HI
Man, why am I watching these like I haven’t already been to Airborne school over 10 years ago lol. I’ve been outta the Army since 2017! But the worst part of Airborne school in my opinion is Chute detail especially chute shakeout. Man, you spend hours gathering, stringing up, shaking out, and picking out all the debris outta the chutes. I remember after one jump(when I was in my unit) we had a night jump and there were a lot and I mean a lot of jumpers and I was on Chute shakeout. We literally didn’t get done until 01 or 01:30am! And idk how it was in your Units but if you worked until or after zero hundred hours you got the next day off. So the NCO in charge of that detail gave us the day off so I told my NCOIC and this man gone tell me to come in at 12noon only to come in and not even have anything to do! He was an asshole like that. But I tell what in the old 82nd tradition as soon as I got to my room I got drunk lmao. I still had time to make it to the ole Shoppette on Butner road before it closed lol.
Wow they gave you guys rakes to pick up the leaves lol nice. When I was in reception for the Army they didn't give us rakes to pick up leaves.
When I was a 91B ( combat medic) in my Army National Guard unit I volunteered to go to jump school . However my unit wouldn't pay for my flight so I didn't go. It looked interesting.
BOQ stands for bachelor officer's quarters not base quarters. Airborne class 67-2.
Easy school worst thing is just facing your fears of heights
You should check out the requirements for Uk paratroopers it’s on a different level
Most fails I saw were the pt test (something like 20% failed which is frightening) and second was the morning runs. Roads were shit and full of holes so just a LOT of injuries.
Went through it in 1989 pretty easy as long as you can run.
Shooting guns and jumping out of airplanes is fun, I Love It, Horah
Awesome video..thanks for sharing!
I went through in Jan 1992. It was a joke. There was no PT test at the beginning.
I remember my Airborne school in 1983.
Before I joined the army I was running 70 miles a week. By the time I graduated from jump school I was in the worst shape I had been in over the prior year. It was not difficult.
0 week, (the time between me graduating basic and AIT, then the start of ground week) was worse than all the other 3 weeks combined lol! 5 days of hell.
I went through it at 44. Physically pretty easy. Spent weekends rucking for SFAS prep. Nigh full load jump was a gut check. Other than that not a big deal.
Oh, man! Never knew that The Joker went through Airbrone school (5:09 guy behind light grey shirt). Does Batman know?☺
Philippine Marine Airborne is so hard even in qualifying u need to pass 4.8km in 21 mins if u got 21:01 mins u are FAILED / you need water threading for 30 mins while raise ur one hand after 30 mins you will raise two hands and continue water threading , 15 pull ups and 85 sit ups 75 push ups is passing
I am 79 years old and can do 50 push ups. 82nd Airborne Division 1966-1967.
I thought it was running school...with some jumping out of planes.
So is jump school the same for the regular 82 Airborne as it is for the Rangers and Green Berets?
Thought they did away with the 250' tower long time ago. I went in the 80's.
I went to jump school in the 80s. I wonder is there still boot black down the street? Do you still answer "clear" or "unclear"? You know, instead of yes Sergeant or no Sergeant... I went through in the summertime and the black hats would always form us into ranks and we would jog through the showers periodically so we could keep training. That was a long time ago and many jumps ago. Of all the badges I earned while in the Rangers and eventually special forces the only badge I ever cared about was the master blaster wings. Good luck to all of you... have fun lol
Forgot one thing if your 4 week cycle you pull KP fir a week
Back in 1976 it was harder not that many men pass
I graduated in November of 1974 and later became a Black Hat in 1978 in Ground Training Branch.
My youngest son went through airborne school. He called me very excited the day they did their first jump..."dad this is so cool, I could do this for a living ". He went on to spend the next 8+ years with the 2nd Ranger bat. You gotta love 20yr old adrenaline junkies.
👍😁👏👏👏💪💯🇺🇸🙏
Yes, they are quite fun!
Ranger battalions is dangerous work. People die in training all the time. If you ain't a Ranger, don't you dare walk across their battalion quad.
@Jack Mehoff Think you'd be great as the pivot man in a 3 some with Ricky Martin and Elton John.
@Jack Mehoff Gracias Sir😁
The toughest part was the realisation I was going to be jumping out of an aircraft after just 15 days of training.
I would say the toughest part comes after graduation when the realization that you're just a glorified leg finally sinks in. The only folks jumping into combat these days are the bearded ninjas.
@@StudleyDuderight who are the bearded ninjas
@@StudleyDuderight what do you mean by glorified leg 😭
@@nathanielnicholi2985 i think what he meant by "glorified leg" was that unless you're in certain special forces units, you probably won't be jumping into combat very often...if ever. And the bearded ninjas are probably special forces dudes.
@@nathanielnicholi2985 Bearded Ninjas are the Great Bearded One's acolytes. He carved them into his image from granite then gave them life. Their purpose is to escort heathen souls to hell. Seriously though, it's just a nickname for Chuck Norris that I apply to Spec Ops dudes.
A glorified leg is a deployed paratrooper who is walking into combat just like all the rest of us light infantry guys.
Hardest thing about airborne school is overcoming the fear of jumping out of an airplane. Usually after basic and ait soldiers are very fit so the physical demands are not too difficult. The jumps are much more difficult after the school when youre carrying all your eq and food/water.
Little bit of running... to formation, for PT, to chow, from chow, to training, back from training... that's pretty much it. Just keep moving rapido and all will be fine. Then sound off with a Loud & Thunderous AIRBORNE! and you get a nice metal badge to wear on your dress uni. All good! 🤙
Edit 3 mos later: my son is always asking what’s my rush, why am I in an artificial hurry, we’re not even late, what’s all this “pick up the pace” about, anyway dad?!? To which I lovingly reply - he’s my son, after all! -
“You will address me as Sergeant Airborne!”
😉😜🪂
The black hat at the door will cure you of any hesitation to exit. lol
Actually, the first jump is easy. It’s every other one that gets hard. Cause now you know what’s going on.
Man I finished basic like 3 months ago already I’m in ait and both basic and ait I’ve done a max total of 10 pt sessions we haven’t done pt almost lmao idk why I thought I was gonna do pt everyday but yea a lot of people in my ait unit is not that fit like 4 or 5 people failed the acft
@josuevelasquez9186 wow. My basic was pt three times a day for the first two weeks and once a day 5 days a week after that. At my perm duty station was pt 5 days a week. I guess fit to fight was lost somewhere.
I went thru Air Assault School and then Airborne School. I caught hell, because I already had Air Assault wings first, but overall, Airborne School was not terribly hard. I actually had a great time during the school. It has been almost 40 years since I graduated and I can still do a PLF. Matter of fact, when I get to drinking, I do them from the tailgate of my pickup truck.
Got a real laugh out of that last part....and all I got to say is, man you *are* hardcore, aren't you ?
@ZyklonBeezy This, likely coming from one who has never even stepped off the bus at boot camp, much less Ft. Benning.
@ZyklonBeezy Not sure just what is meant here, but anyway, so you really never *did* step off the bus at boot camp, then?
@@HRHolm-bi6zu look who either just enlisted or never served. But either way airborne isn’t that hard, it’s just if you are mentally ok to jump or not
@@bruhroyale12123 'who just enlisted or never served' ? So who *specifically* are you referring to? (Couldn't quite be certain, just curious for some confirming specificity.)
Week 1: Separating the Men from the Boys.
Week 2: Separating the Wise from the Fools.
Week 3: The fools jump.
😂😂😂😂😂
Lol - BS 😉
I guess just showing up to jump out of an airplane proves you are a fool.
Spoken like a true leg!
Call Me A Fool - All The Way !
I was a member 43rd Company /AIRBORNE Class 43B. Graduated JUMP SCHOOL July 19, 1963. Then JUMP SCHOOL was 4 weeks rather than just 3. Served with 101st after graduation, went to Vietnam in July 1965 with 1st BRIGADE 101st. Have always been proud to have served and being AIRBORNE
I went through March 1966. How do you member all that stuff? Got drafted, jumped out of a bunch of different aircraft, 18 months later I was back home.....
I went November of 1964. Was assigned to the 2nd Brigade 101st then went to Viet Nam with the 1st Brigade. AIRBORNE!
I went thru Benning same time. Wonder if we ever met? After j-school I went to Bragg and through SF and then off to . . .
RIGHT, 4 WEEKS
Question: were there any American combat jumps in Vietnam? Our SAS (Aussie) did one jump the whole war, I think just to justify their parachute training. None of our regular troops did.
Sir, can you make further leadership videos. Because in my life your videos have influenced my character and also paving way of pursuing career in the Indian military.
ruclips.net/video/ECDJDc39iuk/видео.html
Qq
Me too! watching his vids made me a much better manager at work.
Underrated military India is no country to mess with
I make better panakes because of your vidoes
The three weeks of repetition is so that in moments of great stress you will do the drill correctly. Did my “ jump” course 55 years ago but the jump commands are still imprinted on my mind! Airborne
Hit It!
@@davidkahler1311 Take two salt tablets and drive on .
Mark Fisher, Did 'jump school' 34 years ago and those jump commands are STILL imprinted in my brain! Airborne!
Check can of peas. 🤣
@@hotspur4237 HILL FUCKING LARIUS! I have never heard that one before!!!
I did airborne school at 18 years old. It was crazy easy, especially coming strait from basic and AIT. it was actually really really fun other than the super boring classes
Was 18 also back in 1977.
Jumped out of 1st aircraft I ever flew in.
Jumped a:
C123
C7A
C130
C141
CH47
Uh1h
Hot air baloon.
8yr in 82ND.
JM qualified.
@@hughwright1860 Hot air baloon? wow
mama never said all of us soldiers were smart or could draw a STRIGHT line!
💩💩💩💩💩
It must not have been in the 70s, Airborne school was one of the roughest toughest school's you could attend. My first hour there Sgt. Airborne told me to take off my chute. Guess I was too slow, he hit me on my chest like 7 times threw me on the ground and kick me like 6 times. Of 680 students we graduated 47, it is a shame to hear such wimpy stories. What has happened to our military?
Just a few points here regarding the excellent video . I'm a Master Blaster and Century Club paratrooper, so I guess my opinion has some weight. As far as phases, how could you forget good ol' Zero Week? The weeding out process starts even before the first day of classes, and it happens during Zero Week. Intimidation can be a strong demotivator. And I personally find the reference of disingenuous motivation to be bullshit. I was in class 5-83 in what used to be known as 44th company, until the regimental system came into effect. Back then, each of the four barracks buildings at Jump School we're literally covered in large exterior painted Jump Wings and Airborne unit insignia! Push up squares at the entrance to each barracks. Yellow cables in the formation area to toe the line. Every student was there because they wanted to be, as were the Black Hats. No one quit easily, and no one failed happily. Motivation and enthusiasm are a food group among Paratroopers. It's not taken or given easily, but it's never disingenuous. I cherish my silver wings above any and all military awards I have. I still carry my original Blood Wings on my keychain. The sharp little pins on the back broke off years ago (NOT In my scrawny little 19-year-old chest!) And to this day, I still try to apply the effort and the motivation that was demanded of me in Jump School.
Airborne! All the way!
Well said, also earned my wings in 1983 and then off to the 82nd!
@@LtDan82_3Inf
@stevebarcanic9388
So you were there when it was 41st-44th Company, as well! All the big murals, decorating the barracks? And the line of "boot blacks" over at the Pathfinder building, shining boots for $10 a week?
THAT'S old school!
@stevebarcanic9388
So you were there when it was 41st-44th Company, as well! All the big murals, decorating the barracks? And the line of "boot blacks" over at the Pathfinder building, shining boots for $10 a week?
THAT'S old school!
Jump school at Fort Benning in the middle of summer1970, temperatures in excess of 100 degrees, standing under the blister bags to get cooled down with water, and living in the old WWII barracks with no AC. Wouldn't have traded it for the world. Got to my jump class a week early; those of us that arrived early did PT every day with the telephone poles. Still smile when I think of jump school.
i was in jump school in Oct 71 , i was 17 yoa , loved it cause i had never done anything that crazy ,loll
Put me down for August 1980. I think it was called San Hill. Echo 1-1.
I loved it. Every minute of it. I love how Benning schools were so true to traditions and it was like looking back in time at all the past warriors that embraced an experience that has such a great story in its founding. I miss it so much. I miss all the people. The army was my family, and I’m forever grateful to this country for letting me serve it.
Me too. Got my Blood Wings at The Pillow Talk Lounge in Phoenix city. I'll
Get back to ya. 👍
Been there done that fucked em all
I graduated 10 days before my 40th birthday. I was sore and my knees hurt like hell, but I made it through in one pass. Kept jumping with the 82nd Airborne and other selected units. I was 46 on my last jump.
@PatelTheBoss every branch goes to Airborne school for their combat units that have to be Airborne qualified, same thing with jump school. The ARMY handles Airborne, Jump school, and HALO school for all the branches.
You are my motivation! I’m leaving soon for ABN school
Goddamn old man , AIRBORNE!!! All the way..... and best luck to you !
Best of luck @@TheRealDevin81
I graduated at the age of 38. Airborne All The Way
I graduated Jump School January 27 1981, I had shin splints from Basic/AIT for Infantry from running PT in the old combat boots of that era. Jump School is about learning the safe technique's to safely exit a aircraft while in flight. I didn't find it boring or monotonous, and I find it a little offensive when you said that, but that's my opinion. I absolutely love being Airborne Infantryman, my first unit was with the first Combat Jumpers the 1st/509th ABCT in Vicenza, Italy.
I went in January 1979. Thanks to MANY weather delays the 3 weeks became 6 weeks and graduated in February.
It should also be noted that I came as an E-5. Being an NCO I had a room to myself. OK, I shared a room with another E-5. No Open bays for us!
October '83. Jump school was pretty much just fun, with the exception of "rest area procedures"when the black hats smoked the s*** out of us. Sounds like things have changed.
There’s nothing complicated about it lol now being a jump master, that’s something else
Jump schoolks about programming you to jump out of the plane. There ain't nothing safe about it. Not dissing. I loved it. But it's all about building muscle memory reaction. So When it's your turn you go.
How's your legs old man
I went through jump school in "88". It was fairly easy. I was just kind of nervous when I made my jumps. I remember getting dogged out in the gig pit with everyone else. It was basically remedial PT. Air Assault school was also easy. The instructors there will disqualify you for anything minor. Congratulations to those of you that have graduated from Airborne school. Not too many civilians have the courage to jump out of a C-130.
Actually there are other aircraft to fall out of...lol
about 350,000 every year
I went through this during the winter of 86-87. We had a 4-mile run (27minutes) and the black hat said we were not motivated enough., so we went another 4 miles. 600+ started in the first week and only 200+ graduated. Twenty-five medics dwindled to only 6 of us. Five of us went through Basic (Fort Bliss) and AIT and jump school together. AATW!
jumped 1955 17 years old c 119 123 c130 us navy sea plane now 85
Feb 88 for me - and yes the freedom it was a nice relief coming out of basic / AIT. On of our drill instructors from Basic came along with us. I remember getting off the bus and seeing getting smoked by a bunch of black hats! It was an intimidating experience for my 19 yr old self. The last few days I was there I caught pneumonia and had to fake it till I made it. didnt want to be recycled. Overall it wasn't a terrible experience - a little harder physically than Air Assault school but less to memorize.
It is been 35 years, but when I saw the parachute tower, I heard, "Hit the hole pole man, hit the hole!" as if it was yesterday. So many memories.
I graduated 4 days ago. Personally I had a great experience. The black hats were cool and relaxed a lot of the time. Only times I got roughed up or sore was when I sat in the harness for long periods of time or jumping out of the tower. My platoon got lucky during my cycle too because we didn’t have any extra duties, details, or CQ to do. On top of that my cycle didn’t have to do any combat jumps due to the bad weather. I definitely don’t regret jumping out of the C-130 and getting my wings.
Im going in a few months. Only thing Im worried about it parachute not opening, landing in trees, or getting tangled with someone else. Would you say that is pretty rare? or did you see stuff like that happen a few times?
Just means you'll have to do your first combat equipment jumps at your unit.
You didn't dodge that bullet, you just pushed in into the future. 🤣
No trees on Friar DZ. Your third point of performance is to "keep sharp lookout during descent". If you get close to someone slip away. And yell out to them to slip away. Trust your equipment- if your chute fails to deploy, use your reserve. Pay attention in class.@@KarmaBulatovna
Airborne School was like a 3 week vacation. Especially considering most of the time your just coming out of basic. Having weekends and most nights off after coming off of having zero freedom is honestly one of the greatest joys in life. Plus outside of some boring classes and practicing PLFs for mulitple hours, there are alot of fun parts to airborne school.
Freedom seemed to cause more airborne failures than anything. Going off base getting drunk and coming back drunk and showing up late for PT... bye bye leg
@@jamesramsey2419 Lol, you ain't kidding.
Lies again? App Store
Same here. Very anti climatic though. Took 3 weeks to do what could have easily been done in one week. At least half the class was there for a ticket punch and would never have to jump again.
It's especially gonna feel like vacation for me since I'll have just passed ranger selection, SUA SPONTE!
I served in SOF for over 20 years....and Airborne was definitely the easiest school I attended...but as a PFC 11M in 1995...this school inspired me to no end, I was all in, the feeling of jumping, kinda like being born again...great video as always sir
You served SOF for 20 years? Can you give me any tips on how to stay alive for when I join AFSR?
Your got me respect
Ha! Cherry.
🍻😉👍🏼
Wait a sec! I graduated 1995. Jan 25th, A company
I know I'm dating myself here, but I went to Airborne school three years before you. 😳
Thank you! I graduated in October '81. We also had almost two weeks of zero week waiting for the class to fill up. P.T. was done in boots and fatigues right after chow and there was a "gig" pit where everyone visited at least once. IMHO it's best to go straight out of A.I.T....
Jump School in August 1966. Some things have changed in the 50 years since I attended but the basics are the same. Probably the same apparatuses. I did Basic and AIT at Ft Ord in Monterey, Calif. I’d never experienced Georgia heat, humidity, or thunder storms in my life. I loved it. Thanks for posting this. Great memories.
1965
I went through jump school as an Air Force ROTC cadet. It sucked being the only Airman in my company…spent lots of time in the gig pit. Best training of my whole career. Nothing but pride when I graduated but I was envious of those going to airborne units. Took me 13 years of active duty before I eventually landed in a jump billet and started jumping again. AATW!
I’m going into the Air Force rotc this upcoming fall and I want to do airborne school, was it hard? When did you do it?
@@braidynandrews5634 I did so years ago. I think that AFROTC now attend the Air Force Academy’s parachute training program instead of going to Army Airborne school at Fort Benning. You’d need to discuss with your ROTC detachment for the current policy.
I also went as an AFROTC cadet in 1973 in the summer just after attending the 4 week Air Force training camp (or whatever they call it now) between soph and junior year. I did a lot of running before getting to jump school, so the running was easy for me. The PT in the morning was rigorous but not impossibly tough. I do remember being so sore during the first several days that I couldn't just get out of bed in the morning. But I would have to roll out of bed onto the floor and struggle to my feet. Fire watch or guard duty in the barracks in the middle of the night was one of the worst parts about it. "Charlie 25. Third man in the stick Sergeant!" (Reporting for critique of your jump out of the 34 foot tower during the second week).
Who are you!
Airborne!
How far!
All the way! (and then some!)
Caution - Legs ahead (sign over the sidewalk heading off the base)
im going into army ROTC but im national guard which means its damn near impossible to get in to airborne, will ROTC help me get in?
I remember reading an article in a local paper after the action in Grenada. A local Air Force guy was at the base that 82 Abn was activated to do a jump onto the island. The Airman was Jump and Ranger qualified, so he was included in the operation.
Imagine being a young Airman walking around an airbase with combat jump wings, and likely the AF equivalent of a combat action ribbon.
I went to Airborne School in Jan of 2002, Delta Company. The hardest thing about it, is now being almost 40 years old with bad knees/back and the VA denying your claims. Stating my jumps while stationed at Fort Bragg from 2002-2005 wasn't service connected. Sick call was severely frowned upon and just about NOBODY would go as you would be labeled a shit bag and hinder your chance for a promotion board. If you new soldiers plan on going Airborne document EVERYTHING! Your body is 100% going to break down and you feel this pain later in life.
I went through in 1985; my Dad did so in 1954. They ran every day, more than three miles. The morning of th fifth jump, they had a timed 12 mile run, with gear. He said that one separated those truly wanting to be paratrooper and those that did not.
Did mine in 1977, ran a lot, numerous PT test, we had no days off because of the backlog so whole thing in 17 days. 485 applicants, 270 got wings. I loved it. I moved on to Special Forces and completed that in 1978. 10th SFGA.
@@gregoryknox4444 Were there any females in your class? Carter WH mandated females and then Airborne School became a joke after that. I went in 1998.
@@LRRPFco52 none that I saw but we had 485 in Jump Training 50% failure), none in SF Phase 1, 2, and 3 none ........... this was 1977-1978
@@gregoryknox4444 There was this little chic in Airborne school who was maybe 5’ tall (with boots on) 100lbs with LCE. On Monday of jump week over Fryer DZ, she was the first in her stick to exit and last to land. She caught an air current or thermal, and actually gained altitude.
I was one of the latter jumpers in another bird after hers, watching this from the ground after I had already landed, recovered my chute, packed it up, and hit the road along the DZ waiting for pick-up. Airborne cadre were yelling at her with the bull horns to get down. It was freaking hilarious. Total waste of resources.
I was there in '85 also. My class straddled 4th of July holiday. A Golden Knight team was doing a demonstration jump and one of them had a malfunction and burned in (fatality).
I graduated in 1969. Great experience. Still some of the best training I ever had. The PLF is hard wired into me. Very proud of being an ex-paratrooper.
Going to the 50th Anniversary (for some of us) next week in Arizona for the 173rd Abn. Reading some of these comments makes me feel old. Nothing wrong with admitting jump school was hard. I went on to spend 2 years in Vietnam and earn a pocketful of college degrees...the only diploma on this old man's wall is my jump school diploma.
airborne !!!
Brother, it may have been in your day but it's not so much now.
Hey troops! Goggle the Jeff Daniels famous movie scene: AMERICA IS NOT THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. Sobering, stressful, uncertain times. The esprit de corps and dicipline I took away from jump school and war gave me a very satisfying life. I now have pause to wonder: Do our fellow citizens have a clue, or even grasp the concept of DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY that motivated and sustained our military service? I proudly served with folks representing a dozen or more religions and ethnic backgrounds. The idealism that evolved has shaped the last half century of my life. What happened?
173rd 70 -71.Jump school was a lot tougher in the 60s.
After jump schl. was sent to Panama (jungle warfare) then on to Okinawa to S.E. Asia
For me ground week was rough, not that it was physically demanding but my body felt like I was beaten with bats from head to toe from all the pounding it took doing hundreds of PLF's. Tower week was a BLAST, jumping out of the 34 foot tower was better than almost any amusement park ride I had ever been on. The 250 foot tower was so much fun. Jump week, the adrenalin rish I got on my first jump lasted about two hours and I was high as a kite. The veins in my forearms were bulging, it was freaking awesome.
Airborne School for me in 1981 was much, much different than described in this video. We had to run every where in combat boots and fatigues, not shorts and Nikes, for heaven's sake. We ran 7 miles every day and lost 50 USMA cadets the first day of our PT test. No joke... The Black Hats would scream and spit in your face and we had to do 10 push-ups every time we came to a change in direction in a sidewalk. Very tough 3 weeks, but very rewarding!
I went in 2000 and honestly, I found it to be much easier than my high school wrestling practice. Basically, it felt like if you could jog you could pass. It was disappointing to say the least. Still a good time.
Same for me in 1986. I guess they got rid of the gig pit?
@@bsigmund0359 Too "soft" today... for sure
went through as a Cadet in Aug of 82. Same always ran except after lunch and always in the FLR. 2nd jump out of a C123. Spent 3 years in the 82nd. I'll never forget SSG Ephrim from the ground committee. They went to reg PT a few classes after mine, Oh yeah I was in 42nd CO. Used to love going to the Burger place every night to get a chocolate shake
You may have already done a video on it, but I'd love a video documenting your career. You've been through so many schools and deployments, it would be cool to hear your story
Please make some videos on the qualities of an officer in the military (especially the special forces) and how to practice them in daily life. God bless you and your family.
Are you an officer or planning to be one? Lead from the front.
Airborne School wasn't all that physically demanding, but mentally, it was the toughest thing I've ever done.
Lack of sleep and hard training and chaos and stress was "relatively" easy compared to overcoming the fear that I was absolutely certain I was about to die and jumping anyway.
Nice video. I did airborne school in 97' straight out of AIT and got sent straight to the 82nd.
I went in August 1981. The old saying, “some things never change” is true. Your “three hours of information stretched into three weeks of monotonous training” comment was right on! Thanks for the blast from my past!
-The 3-mile runs can be a challenge for people at the back of the formations because the accordion effect is very strong, turning what should be a steady run into a nonstop sprint/stop/sprint cycle. The trick is to keep going steady and stay patient. Let the rest of the folks sprint ahead and stay ahead of the instructors; you'll see them again in about 20 seconds when they all stop to avoid crashing into each other.
-The third week has some bits of fun mixed in, but if the weather isn't cooperative, it *sucks*. You'll be sitting in a hanger all day long, not allowed to touch anything, move, or go pee. The silver lining is that if this happens the first 2-3 days, it means your last day will be *awesome*, as you jump 4 times in a single day.
-It takes substantial physical courage to voluntarily jump out of a plane. Just remember that tens of thousands of people do this every year, and Airborne School has a *sterling* safety record, at least in terms of its students not dying. As for injuries, yeah, they happen, but if you do what they teach you, you'll probably be just fine.
This was just the cost of admission that I went through at age 39 to fly Apaches in the best Apache unit in the Army, the 1-82 Attack. of the 82nd Airborne Division. 28 military jumps and a bad L-4/L-5 disk and the best brothers in arms in the world.
3-82 flipper here brother!
I can honestly say it was harder in Airborne jump school back in the 80s because it were Black hats Vietnam Veterans who were very strict and tough as nail. Prime example If you ask anybody about 'Delta Company' in the 80s it was the most hardest,toughest and most strict battalion. Unfortunately, They only have 3 Battalion
Alpha,Bravo and Charlie.If you failed any type of training back then you were made fun of and embarrassed in front of everybody to see
. Plus, the percentage of falling was way higher as well. AATW. B
Better yet going to Airborne school as a cadet, and being sick as a dog, having 103 fever in January back in 1972.
I went through in 74 and it was a lot different then. We did our PT runs at a flat out run, in fact, the only time we did the Airborne Shuffle was in the airplane. That was also the first time in my life that I ran 7 miles. PT was interesting in that they could only make us do 10 pushups at a time, but I remember the first day of Tower Week, we were dropped so many times it was getting reduced to 3 or 4 because we couldn't do 5 anymore. The whole purpose of Jump School in those days was to convince you that you were so bad and tough that if you went out the door of the plane and your chute didn't open, the ground would get out of your way because you were so tough. After the first jump you realized that was a lie. But you kept going to get your wings, and that was the real achievement.
How quickly things changed. Through the Vietnam Era, the point - going back to WWII - was that if you became isolated on the ground behind enemy lines you had the mindset to keep going and win. By the 1977 peace-time Army, we did the Airborne Shuffle every second we were moving; the Black Hats said it was to build up our legs for the Parachute Landing Fall (P.L.F.). I doubt the generals ever expect to use an airborne drop in a future war; the point of the 82nd is to gather some of the most gung-ho soldiers into one unit.
End of 1974 for me. I was there when a man was dropped from the 250 foot tower and ONE hook did not release. He hung suspended as they slowly lowered him to the ground. He was told when it happened to come to the position of attention and do not breathe. lol The black hats would call to him, "what you gonna be?" A frail reply, "AIRBORNE"!
I went through in May 71 after Polk 11B and it wasn't as easy as you hear now! AATW
April 74, 3 miles every day, airborne shuffle...
Went thru jump school in '73. Used the T-10 chute. Most memorable part was the pinning of the "Blood Wings". I doubt that they do that any more. Something I'll never forget. Good job on the video.
I was six years behind you. At that time, you had to request blood wings, so I agree they're probably not done anymore.