I am attending Jumpmaster School. How do I prepare?

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 13:23:59 -0400

Another entry in Jeff's "succeed at schools" log

I attended the USASOC JM course, not AAS @ Benning or Bragg, so things may be different.

1) USASOC course does not have to memorize and recite prejump...however you are graded on your confidence while you read a section of it. So be familiar with prejump, don't just show up without any idea of how prejump works or sounds.

2) Refresh your math before you go. You will be doing math, simple algebra, but still, knowing how to calculate distance, rate, time can save you some trouble and keep your "reentry".

3) Buy good hand cream. During JMPI your hands are rubbing all over webbing and clothing. Your hands will dry out, hangnails will catch and tear, skin will crack, aka your fingers may actually be bleeding. Some people use super glue, I found what works if right before you begin your sequence to rub good hand cream into your cuticles and knuckles, and do it again as soon as you finish. Keep them moist and they won't tear or rip, and you will be able to continue the course pain free. Super glue can continue to tear more and just make the course that much more painful.

4) exercise your back before you go. You will be in the parachute for hours at a time, so don't be surprised when you have a sore back.

5) Don't mess up PWAC, it's the easy part of school, but you can still fail, study your hand signals and order of operations.

6) Nomenclature and prejump: you already know it. You hear it every time you are on a jump. It should not be surprising because you've heard it all at least 12 times to even be admitted to the course. Not to say you don't need to study, just that many people get intimidated by the amount of items you need to memorize for nomenclature. Much of it you know - main lift web, leg strap release assemblies, waist strap, diagonal/horizontal backstraps. You've heard it a million times if you've been to jump school.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2019 6:11 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 18:11:45 -0400

1) it's about time they changed that requirement. The reg states that SAT will be read aloud verbatim directly from the manual during SAT, we never saw the reason to memorize it when I was a student or when I was teaching. However, we did not grade on verbatim memorization, only on covering every issue and every step of every procedure.
5) JMPI gets 50% or more of every class, but PWAC always gets one student, every time.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Oct 15 at 2019 8:26 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 20:26:21 -0400

Its been 37 years since I attended the JM course at Ft Bragg, failed the 1st time and was let go on a Friday, slept that Sunday at green ramp and got a walk on slot Monday morning :). I remember my course as being one tough pain in the ass that really taught me attention to detail and not to second guess my work. I haven't been to JM refresher in about 10 years so any relevancy I had is no longer pertinent. I would defer to your recent currency, I do however miss packing the bird, hanging by my fingertips and heels, Jumpmaster passes :) and placing my boot in some slow jumpers. So many things change and so much equipment gets updated, be very happy you don't have dial death harnesses, 20ft lower lines with bungee attachment, Wiec, and assorted other goodies :)

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 16 at 2019 12:12 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 12:12:07 -0400

USASOC can do their own thing, being separate. AAS has much different requirements, memorization, nomenclature, JMPI, etc.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Oct 18 at 2019 10:29 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 22:29:06 -0400

Happiness is never hitting trees, water, or power lines.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2019 6:39 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 18:39:58 -0400

Listen to the black hats and shadow box!

Response by SSG William Bighouse made May 30 at 2023 3:12 PM

SSG William Bighouse — Tue, 30 May 2023 15:12:24 -0400

Do lots of PT