If i want to volunteer for jumps during the weekends, do i just show up to the manifest ?

After going to Sinai for 6 months, I had to make 4 jumps in a 6 month period to avoid losing jump pay. I had never been on a jump that got cancelled before that. I.had to go on SEVEN jumps to get my 4 door exits then. I went to a C-47 fun jump that got cancelled because of mechanical problems and another three C-130 jumps that got cancelled due to weather before I finally got my 4 jumps in. I was sweating it. Sometimes, “fun jumps” are not so “FUN”. I just wanted to exit an aircraft but, the Airborne Gods were not smiling on those days.

SFC Michael Peterson I don't trust fun jumps either. Never works out like we expect it to

We never had to get permission when I was in 82nd. Division figured the more jumps you had the better.

SP5 Richard Welch - Those were the days long ago. They want units to jump as a team for exercises. Some still are able to chase jumps but it is usually as needed for stuff like JM.

That's really sad in many ways. A bunch of is from different companies in our battalion would get together, go to fun jumps, and then spend day together afterwards. Back then(79 to 82) we were told that we would be dropped or deployed as a stop gap force to slow enemy down, so rest of US forces could have time to he brought into the fight. We were trained to work in pairs or fours, scavage what we needed to continue the fight. Resupply was at least 30 days out. We trained as a company,and battalion together in larger force assaults, etc as well. It made it a fun day, our First Sargent would post the jump on company bulletin board and anyone could jump, unless you had duty that weekend.

SP5 Richard Welch - You should be happy. We don't train to throw away lives like that anymore. I value my Paratroopers much more than that. When we jump in to combat we start to seize terrain to expand a lodgement area. We are the initial force that will allow the expansion of our forces anywhere in the world. Our motto in the DIV is to Jump, Fight, & Win Tonight! I know we can fight in small groups (LGOP) but that isn't how we fight. I have deployed a few times and we only fight when we are 3 to 1 with the enemy. I believe our tactics have developed over time to the needs of today.