Can I get the Airborne requirements waived to attend the MFF Course?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 14:34:40 -0400

I almost have my USPA A License, and am not Airborne Qualified, can I let that waived since I already have Free Fall experience?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2020 2:42 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 14:42:37 -0400

If you are referring the MFFS at Yuma, AZ....you are going to need a waiver if you are not static line qualified. Per their website:

"Prerequisites:
Must be a qualified static line parachutist. Possess a current Flying Class III physical. Any variations from the above standards require a waiver from the Commanding General, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, NC. 28310

Waiver Authority
Any variation from the above standards requires a waiver from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) Commander, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, NC 28310. This waiver must be obtained prior to arrival and presented to the MFFJM Cadre on the report date, no exceptions.Soldiers/airmen requesting waivers for disqualifying conditions will submit their physical examinations along with memorandum requesting the waiver (no later than 30 days prior to the class start date) through the USASOC Medical Training Division for delivery to USAJFKSWCS (where waivers are considered)

a. Army Active Component or Reserve Component Special Operations Forces Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers or enlisted personnel, assigned to or on orders for assignment to a Military Free Fall coded position.
b. Other Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers, or enlisted personnel of the Active or Reserve Components, selected DoD civilian
personnel or allied personnel must be assigned to or on orders for assignment to a MFF coded position
c. Must be a qualified military static line parachutist.
d. Must have a current Class III flight physical examination as previously stated.
e. Personnel cannot exceed 240 pounds.
f. Any variations from the above standards require a waiver from the Commanding General, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, NC 28310."

https://afspecialwarfare.com/military-freefall-school/

Military Freefall School - AF Special Warfare

Military Freefall (MFF) school located at Yuma Proving Grounds, AZ. Course info, pictures, vids and reporting instructions

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Aug 25 at 2020 3:04 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 15:04:26 -0400

You know how civilians jump out of planes, but not how the Army does it. I am not currently, nor have I ever jumped out of a plane. So I cannot say for sure, and I have no direct knowledge. But I know that as a civilian I walked differently, talked differently, drove differently, stood differently, hell, I even did pushups (which one would assume is a rather universal exercise) differently. I have to believe that civilians jump from planes differently. Maybe not much, but enough. And given the scenario, I also have to believe that those differences can literally result in death.
I would HIGHLY recommend NOT trying for that waiver, even if it is theoretically possible.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Aug 25 at 2020 3:45 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 15:45:01 -0400

NO NO NO....
Free fall is NOTHING like a static line jump. You are used to having a few fellow jumpers. On a Combat Mass Tactical Jump, you may have over a thousand jumpers and as a Jumpmaster you may have less than 60 seconds of green light to exit an entire C-17 on one single pass. And that will almost ALWAYS be at night!
That means that you have less than a one second interval exiting Jumpers. A jumper in your experience flies his parachute to the landing point, if you try that on a MASS TAC you become a "Sky Shark" run into fellow jumpers and at the least draw a helmet to the side of your head on the DZ from a totally innocent jumper that you stole his air by running under him, or that you got tangled up in a set of suspension lines..Saying that you are likely to EAT a MICH Helmet because a Sky Shark is a walking talking injury machine....One cost me a Jump ending injury...

There is an old saying that I will let you know...

Response by CSM Michael Chavaree made Aug 25 at 2020 3:50 PM

CSM Michael Chavaree — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 15:50:55 -0400

Not likely, what unit would you go to that strictly does only MFF operations as a SPC communicator?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2020 4:02 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 16:02:21 -0400

No

Not just no, but no.

Army schools are not about what you want to do, they are about what the Army needs. There is no need for a MFF qualified 25U. In addition, MFF is a USASOC school meaning you cannot attend unless you are in a USASOC. USASOC owns the course which means they make the rules for it.

If you enjoy civilian skydiving you can try out for the Golden Knights once you have enough jumps. However, you still will not go to MFF unless you are in a USASOC assignment and an MFF qualified position. You will never be in an MFF position if you are not Airborne qualified

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2020 4:06 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 16:06:24 -0400

No. If you want MFF - drop a CMF 18 packet, call the Golden Knights or Black Daggers.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Aug 25 at 2020 5:37 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 17:37:35 -0400

You almost have you A? You don't have free fall experience and with an A, you are barely safe enough to get out of your own way. Golden Knights will not even look at you until you have your C.

D-26154

Response by SSG Brian G. made Aug 25 at 2020 6:41 PM

SSG Brian G. — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 18:41:21 -0400

You have civilian free fall experience. Not even close to the same thing as MFF. Not even close.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 25 at 2020 7:07 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 19:07:36 -0400

Almost like in "almost pregnant?" Not NO but Hell NO. Exiting carrying 150lb gear is NOT jumping in a wind suit.

Response by LCpl Brad Gross made Aug 25 at 2020 8:56 PM

LCpl Brad Gross — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 20:56:10 -0400

Nope never not going to happen ever

Response by CSM Michael Chavaree made Aug 26 at 2020 5:17 AM

CSM Michael Chavaree — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 05:17:32 -0400

Sometimes I wish the Army would get rid of badges to eliminate the people chasing bling without wanting to do the actual work.

Response by SFC Joseph Bosley made Aug 26 at 2020 2:36 PM

SFC Joseph Bosley — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 14:36:21 -0400

I'm not sure what the rules are now, its been quite a few years since I was on jump status. When I was at Bragg, if you had a civilian class A license AND could get into MFF, you could skip the initial training and go directly to the combat equipment portion. If you successfully made it you got your HALO wings. I had a 1SG that did it. But like I said, that was a while ago and SOCOM is SOCOM. Rules change, It's probable different now.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2020 8:07 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 08:07:48 -0400

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2020 10:22 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 10:22:53 -0400

MFF s are hard to come by. All the services send their soldiers to the one, same school in Arizona, so there has to be a need for it, and they actually have a published list of the soldiers and their respective jobs/MOS that have priority. All tabbed guys don't even have or necessarily get to go to MFF. SFC Boyd is correct, and this is not the only school with those kind of entry restrictions. SERE-C is similar. You don't get to go unless you have a need to go.