How do I pass Jump School with a Fear of Heights?

PV2 Reza Satari check your equipment. Get on the aircraft. Hook up. Listen to the jump master. That third step he/she tells you take will be a bit scary. Enjoy the view.

It should not be an issue. I am terrified of heights but Airborne and Air Assault Q'd. It is just different.

Tower week will handle that

I went to Airborne School with a guy who was afraid of heights, I thought he must be crazy. My advice: Don't let your "fear of heights" or "fear of falling" occupy your mind. I can tell you that no one is really all that thrilled about splattering on the ground. But, if you do exactly what they tell you to do during training, you will build up a muscle memory that will serve you well during your first exit. There is a whole routine that when performed over and over again during training will help you greatly. Biggest of all. Look at the horizon - don't take your eyes off until that canopy opens. If you are like many, you will have more trouble with the 34' tower than with the actual jump. Here is my irrational fear that I eventually over came.... I didn't want to fall out before I jumped out. LOL I avoided the door position and just put my eyes on the guy in front of me and followed him.
What aircraft are they using now at Airborne? We jumped C-130's and a C-141. I can tell you that the only thing my training did not prepare me for was the C-130 prop wash. It was like jumping into a tornado. One more thing...Maj. Wallace is right. Be in top physical condition - it is a lot easier if you are not struggling just to make the minimums. and then.... "BEAT YOUR BOOTS".

To echo what a good number of senior NCO’s and Officers haves said, I too am afraid of heights. I was both airborne and air assault and used to lead climb a lot. It is all about trusting your equipment.

Jumping never bothered me. Heights only bother me when they aren't that secure.

Stand in the door and you will lose your fear.

Fear is a natural instinct of the body. Putting that fear aside to accomplish the mission, is true courage.

Everyone is scared. I was too. I was even more scared when I went to HALO school. Man up and be special.

OK so first I never went Airborne but I did go skydiving, I know it is not exactly the same but ....., there is NO SENSATION of falling when you jump out of a plane. It's more like your floating on air and it is pretty quiet as the plane zooms away rapidly. The sensation your descending does not really kick in until the last 75-100 feet and your parachute better be open by then or else your probably a goner. Additionally they will fill your head with so much damn procedure before your first jump that your going to be going over that in your head mentally on your first jump to make sure you get everything right, your not going to even think about the splat if the parachute does not open. Your first jump is exhilerating, Jumps 2, 3 and 4 and so on not so much. Anyhow thats how it worked for me. I jumped at 3500 feet not the lower altitudes they jump at Fort Benning so that is one difference. Also, I had to climb out on the wing strut and position myself first in the strong headwind wind before letting go, very limited time to get in that position because the plane has to increase power or it will stall.....at least the single engine plane I jumped from, I think I had like 20 sec to get in position and let go. Those struts are slippery too......none of this luxurous dive out the door BS (just kidding...airborne folks). Plus no equipment on my back was in a jump suit so nothing to fall off or fall past me from other jumpers.

Its already been stated by another but I to had and still have a fear of heights. I had jump school BAS in my contract when I enlisted in 77 at 17yrs old and din't give it much though as I was following in my dads footsteps. In Infantry training at Benning we went out to Victory lake and I started climbing up the towers over nth lake to crawl out on a rope and tap the ranger tab on the rope ( I think it was there then as it was when I went to Ranger school) when I said to myself "OH SHIT" I can't do this. The DI whispers sweet nothings into my ear with a bull horn and I did it. After graduation I went over to BAS 43rd CO and believable it or not you forget about your fears until they open the doors, then you get no time to think about it as your chalk pusher helps you get out. Even with my fear of Jumping I went to Jumpmaster school and made my Senior and Master wings and many years later took myself off of Status right before I retried because I started to lose my fear and almost got hurt. Fear is a strong motivator to double check your actions and be hyper alert as well as extra safe. Embrace the fear, mock it use it to become a better jumper. After 253 static line jumps and butt load of fear of heights, I would gladly do it again today.

As for the fall, if you have ever been on a roller coaster when it crests a hill thats close to what you will feel, my first jump my ears were clogged and when I exited the bird it was like windy silent movie. You will be far to busy checking your canopy, gaining canopy control looking out for other jumpers and preparing to land to be worn ing about your dear of heights . It takes a special kind of nut job to jump, be that nut job we have cookies and milk with Motrin at our meetings :)