How do I get over my fears of jumping out of a plane?

2021-10-23T00:40:02-04:00

So I’m supposed to go to Airborne school in about a year.
I’m really afraid of adrenaline, not so much of heights.
I’ve already completed air assault school.
When I rappelled out of the Blackhawk I was afraid but I knew I had to focus on what I was doing so focusing took the fear away. I also sang a song in my mind.
My question is, how do you get over that fear of jumping out of a plane?
I’m really paranoid and anxious about it.
I really want to get my airborne wings. Specially because I went to airborne school before as an E1 and I quit right before jump week began.
I’m going back because I don’t want to live life as a quitter or a failure. I’m a sergeant now. It’s been stuck on my subconscious ever since. I have a son and I want him to know that if I’m able to face my fears he can do anything he puts his mind into.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2021 1:52 AM

2021-10-23T01:52:30-04:00

I'm honestly shocked you're getting a second chance, but that's great to hear you want to overcome your fear. I was afraid too when I went. The thing is, when you're in the plane you're not really faced with any of that. You don't even see the door until you're standing in front of it and you get about half a second to take that in before you're out the door. You just look at the pack tray of the guy in front of you and keep reciting to yourself, "Hand my static line TO the Safety", so you don't end up getting your caught up in a static line and detached. You make eye contact with the safety, you turn and face the door and take one or two steps. You don't even see the door until the static line is out your hands. If you hesitate in the door you JM will "assist" you out the door.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2021 9:10 AM

2021-10-23T09:10:00-04:00

Do you want the honest answer, or the Infantry one?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2021 10:14 AM

2021-10-23T10:14:59-04:00

Only way to get over the fear is to do it. I hate heights, but love being a Jumpmaster and hanging out the door. The more you jump the more comfortable you get with it. If you jump enough you can feel the static line pulling free of its stows on your back and it's pretty incredible.

Response by CPO Donald Crisp made Oct 23 at 2021 10:23 AM

2021-10-23T10:23:37-04:00

Sgt, I share your issues with anxiety and I've found the only way for me to overcome it was to push it, the anxiety, down deep inside, focus on the procedures and do it the first time. Now, I can't relate to jumping out of a plane (yet), but the subconscious fears EVERYBODY has, is something we can all relate. You don't have to be an adrenaline junky to get your job done. Maybe think of it as nothing more than your job. Just a thought.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2021 7:40 PM

2021-10-23T19:40:31-04:00

Fear is normal. You have to have courage in order to over come the fear. Courage is choosing to confront the fear, pain or hardship. Jumping is easy, landing is hard, lol. Just follow the trooper in front of you and next thing you know you are out the door. Worked for me, until on my 4th jump and I was first jumper, luckily the jump master helps you out. You already know you can make it through the training now choose to earn your silver wings, you will not regret it.

Response by SGT Jeff Long made Oct 23 at 2021 10:55 PM

2021-10-23T22:55:10-04:00

Just remember why you’re there. For me, it was witnessing the 2nd plane hit live and the people above the wreckage jumping for a quick death. Do what you’ve got to do and take yourself out of the equation mentally. Follow through with your decision. If you don’t like it, you’re in the wrong line of work.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 23 at 2021 11:09 PM

2021-10-23T23:09:05-04:00

35 Ft and under I get tense, in the bird or the door- no problem. and I jumped for 23 yrs, over 326 static lin.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2021 9:46 AM

2021-10-24T09:46:07-04:00

Totally normal to be scared man. Trust your equipment and remember your training. After your first jump, you’ll see that it’s not all so bad. Youll most likely go right back into an aircraft and jump the same day. By then end of the week you won’t have those nerves anymore.

Response by PO1 Mark Koenig made Oct 24 at 2021 1:28 PM

2021-10-24T13:28:57-04:00

I will say you are brave by expressing your fear. I would avoid using words like paranoid in a public forum where your name and rank appears. The last thing you need is to get grounded pending a psyc evaluation.

Fear is a mind killer. I means you have no confidence in your self, your equipment, or your training.

Interrogate your fear like the insurgent that it is. Make it explain to you what the real risk is and make sure you know your skill sets to mitigate those fears.

People have been jumping out of aircraft for a long time without incident. You will be ok.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 24 at 2021 3:33 PM

2021-10-24T15:33:40-04:00

It is entirely normal to fear jumping out of a good aircraft in flight! I flew for 16 years and never left an aircraft until it was safely parked on the ground. The airborne mission requires you overcome that fear. I flew hundreds of personnel drops and never lost a trooper or dropped one in the trees or water, off the drop zone. The work in the back of the aircraft is very disciplined. The jump masters always appeared to know what they were doing and truly looked out for the safety of the troops. I had very high confidence that the jump masters would get the troops out the doors safely. You will need to have more confidence in the jump masters and your training than you do fear of the unknown.
Everybody I have known who parachuted told me about the great silence and peacefulness after you get out of the aircraft and the chute opens. Perhaps something to look forward to.

Response by LTC Martin Glynn made Oct 25 at 2021 2:56 PM

2021-10-25T14:56:29-04:00

SGT Espana, you'll be OK. If you can rappel out of a Blackhawk and jump from the 34-foot and 250-foot towers at Fort Benning, then you can do your first jump. After you've done that first one, the rest are far easier.

And you want to know what got you the first time you went to Airborne School ? It was that damn weekend between Tower Week and Jump Week, and you're not the only Airborne student that happened to. That dead time over the weekend gives you too much time to think about it and start to worry, when there's no need to worry because our parachutes and Airborne training are second to none. I've always thought that Airborne School should be a non-stop 15 day course, because a lot of folks get psyched out over that second weekend. Anyway, this time around you'll know that weekend is coming, and you can always find things to do so it doesn't get to you. You could even spend the whole weekend helping out the Chaplain, because no doubt he's a Paratrooper too!

You can do it! ALL THE WAY!

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Oct 25 at 2021 9:53 PM

2021-10-25T21:53:23-04:00

Afraid of adrenaline? Son, adrenaline is your friend. What you are really afraid of is that spike you get at the moment of perceived danger. Accept it. Love it. It's what keeps you alive.

Response by SSgt Randall Morrow made Oct 26 at 2021 9:00 PM

2021-10-26T21:00:47-04:00

FEAR is a good thing and at times fear keeps you alive when dealing with the enemy! You are afraid but you have to protect your fellow combat members. The only FEAR does is make sure you know your double checking that the shoot is going to open.
I was scared out of my mind the first day I did K9 school and was bit by a re-trained sentry dog. He bit through the wrap like it was paper and once called off I was asked if I wanted to go to the hospital? My response .... "HELL NO! THIS IS A WAR STORY" and I was right, it was a great story to tell and I had the scar to prove it. I did SRT training and repelled out of a 7 story building. SCARED OUT OF MY MIND, BUT AGAIN I DID IT AND KEPT DOING IT TILL THE END OF THE DAY OF TRAINING.

My point is, you can have fear and still do the best job!

Response by SSG Ken Steinhoff made Oct 27 at 2021 4:27 PM

2021-10-27T16:27:37-04:00

A lot of people are afraid when they go to Airborne school. I was with the 82nd for 8 years (About). I key is don't let your fears take control of you or your life. It is ok to be afraid, just don't let it run your life.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Oct 28 at 2021 9:08 AM

2021-10-28T09:08:47-04:00

Don't let it hold you back. I had an oppertunity that required going to airborne school and I didn't do it because at the time I had a horrible fear of heights. It would have been a big turning point in my military career and my life. And now that I am much older it is one of the things i regret the most.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Oct 29 at 2021 7:12 PM

2021-10-29T19:12:43-04:00

I’m terrified of heights. The most interesting thing on my first jump was I was the last man on the last stick. The look on their faces is completely engrained, just pure fear, I saw that in everyone’s face. I think I cussed and yelled oh shit on my way out of a C 141. By the last jump I was first man out the door and it was text book until I landed, I ran running with the wind and that hurt a bit. Never liked rear exits on 47s, like jumping out of a hotel window.