Have the Jump Towers been removed from Ft Benning?

CSM Charles Hayden — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 14:15:39 -0400

Another retiree just told me that the Jump Towers have been replaced by a wind tunnel experience. A wind tunnel is going to replicate that first step off a Tower? Was the Tower injury rate excessive or were there too many refusals? SGT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Oct 14 at 2022 5:48 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 17:48:32 -0400

CSM Charles Hayden, I can’t find anything to suggest that the towers are no longer in use. There are two types of towers, of course. Students do “step off” of 34’ towers. However, students are placed in harnesses beneath parachutes and lifted to the correct height and then released on the 250’ towers. There’s literally nothing from which to step!
When I was at jump school (23MAR70-9APR70), I don’t think any student refused either tower or refused to jump for that matter.
EDIT: Based on SGT Private RallyPoint Member’ recollections and observations, I’m sure that there must have been many, many quitters and some refusals along the way, but I simply never saw them.

https://www.benning.army.mil/MCOE/Historic-Trail/23_Jump_Towers.html

Fort Benning | Fort Benning Historic Trail

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2022 12:13 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 00:13:15 -0400

In my days 1972, refusals at the tower, or even at the chow line, you were removed from jump school.
Everyday, the class was asked if they wanted to quit, maybe even 5 times a day.
And there were some, there was a guy that refused after his 2nd qualifying jump. He only had 3 more to go the next day. I asked him why, he said it was to dangerous for him, 2 days later, he got orders to Vietnam.
Our class started with 600+ students, after 5 weeks, we graduated with 268 students left. The most that either quit, or got put out, were mostly ROTC cadets.
We had 6 Marines, 4 officers and 2 NOC's, at graduation, only the marine LT, and the E-6, were there, the others couldn't make the training.

Response by SSG Dennis R. made Oct 15 at 2022 11:26 AM

SSG Dennis R. — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 11:26:20 -0400

Removed? Balderdash.
How in the hell are those dumb enuf to jump out of perfectly good aircraft gonna practice if they don't have scary towers?
I know ... maybe set up one of those carnival style parachute rides?

Response by MSG William Wold made Oct 15 at 2022 1:46 PM

MSG William Wold — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 13:46:01 -0400

My son was there 8 years ago they were in use. As of today Perhaps but not 100%, I heard they were replaced by something, but no idea.. My son wasn't there for jumps but for something else. Interestingly my daughter who has never been in the military jumps for fun and competition. Also rides motorcycles. He husband used to ride professionally for BMW.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Oct 15 at 2022 3:30 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 15:30:25 -0400

I was there in January for my birthday. The 250 foot towers are still in place but it was too early in the week for the students to use them.

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2022 12:33 AM

CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 00:33:33 -0400

No I was there just a couple weeks ago and they where still going strong.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2022 10:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 10:00:54 -0400

That sounds expensive and we all know how cheap the Army is lol

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Oct 17 at 2022 11:02 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 11:02:59 -0400

Pulled this off the Ft. Benning Basic Airborne Course web site. As of today, they are still using the towers or at least a tower for training.

The individual skills learned during Ground Week are refined during Tower Week and team effort or "mass exit" concept is added to the training. The apparati used this week are the 34-foot towers, the swing landing trainer (SLT), the mock door for mass exit training, the suspended harness, and the 250-foot (76 m) free tower. Tower Week completes your individual skill training and builds team effort skills. To go forward to Jump Training Week you must qualify on the SLT, master the mass exit procedures from the 34-foot (10 m) tower, and pass all PT requirements.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2022 1:51 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 13:51:28 -0500

As of March 2022, the 250ft towers are not being used except for dummy demonstrations, nor is there any kind of wind tunnel device. The two types of towers used during Ground and Tower week are the 25/35ft towers with the zip line. I believe a combination of injuries and the actual towers themselves being mostly deadlined is why they're no longer used for actual people.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2023 7:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 19:56:05 -0500

Say it isn't so. I’m not airborne but I served on Kelly Hill for a couple years and those towers came to mean something to me. History shouldn’t just be washed away. MHO

Response by MAJ Vance Fleming made Jan 8 at 2023 10:04 PM

MAJ Vance Fleming — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 22:04:24 -0500

I graduated from the US Army Airborne School in August 1997. The closest I got to the 250' towers was when we went running. My class never was dropped out of them. I can honestly say I am glad we did not. I went to the school to overcome my fear of heights and that may have been worse. I do recall the instructors saying we were a test phase. The only difference I heard of was we carried a rucksack with a sandbag in it.

Response by SSG James Knopp made Jan 9 at 2023 12:43 PM

SSG James Knopp — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 12:43:24 -0500

I am a graduate of Jump School 11/1971. Back about 10 years ago, my wife and I visited Ft. Benning and from what remember, the 250’ towers were back in operation then. As far as the jump platforms, I don’t want to go out on a limb and say I saw them also, but I’m sure they were there. We did simulated wind landings to practice releasing our harnesses.
As far as what was mentioned about the student quitting and being sent to Vietnam seems to be a head scratcher to me.
When I enlisted in the Army in 06/71 specifically to go and fight in Vietnam. I was one of those young men who grew up playing Army and when I saw “Elvis” in the military I knew that was my destiny. After completing AIT I was informed before graduation they weren’t sending anymore troops to Vietnam and asked if I wanted to go to jump school.

Response by LTC Edward Dillenschneider, SMP made Jan 9 at 2023 10:33 PM

LTC Edward Dillenschneider, SMP — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 22:33:14 -0500

No idea about the towers, but I will share my story. My wife died in September 1979. The Army sent me to jump school in November in their infinite wisdom. Honestly, I did not care if the chute opened. I took about 70 jumps and five years on jump status before I learned I was not checking my chute after exiting the door. But that is another tale for another day.

Response by SGT Doug Blanchard made Jan 10 at 2023 1:32 PM

SGT Doug Blanchard — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 13:32:25 -0500

Several years back I read in the Army Times paper they were talking about removing the 250' towers or at least limiting thir use. It had to do with a number of trainees were getting blown into the tower and being severely injured.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2023 4:33 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 16:33:35 -0500

When I went in 2020, they were there but we did not use them. Too many accidents with people being blown into the towers, we were told. At that time it was up in the air if they would be used again.

Response by SPC Ralph Ware made Jan 11 at 2023 10:12 PM

SPC Ralph Ware — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 22:12:39 -0500

Towers are still there and will on into probably the NEXT century! The "Wind Tunnel" is completely useless for static line training. What is there at the Army School of Gravity works, has worked and will always work, producing ass kicking Paratroopers! Just Sayin' ...........AATW!!!!

Response by SSG Joseph Messineo made Jan 12 at 2023 9:04 AM

SSG Joseph Messineo — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 09:04:15 -0500

Having completed jump training in October of 2022, the 250 foot towers were not used but a detail from my class helped to recertify them. The Black Hats said they would be used in the next cycle. Not sure if that happened as our unit hasn’t sent anyone after me. We used the 34 foot towers. Hope that helps.

Response by MSgt Earl King made Jan 14 at 2023 2:56 AM

MSgt Earl King — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 02:56:47 -0500

Climate Change!! Grow Up!!

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 2 at 2023 12:29 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 00:29:02 -0500

US Army WTF! moments photo from four days ago (1/28/2023).