What are the best and worst parts of parachuting?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 05:02:43 -0400

For those who have jumped from a perfectly good plane in the military how do you feel about jumping? What is your favorite/least favorite parts?

My least favorite is being in a harness forever. My favorite is a tie between when my chute opens and when after I land I do not have any broken bones.

Response by SFC Marcus Belt made Apr 3 at 2017 5:20 AM

SFC Marcus Belt — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 05:20:50 -0400

Sir,
I can't argue with any of your conclusions 'cause that's about it for me as well.

Response by CSM Eric Biggs made Apr 3 at 2017 5:28 AM

CSM Eric Biggs — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 05:28:09 -0400

The best part of jumping for me was a two way tie between that time you have to float to the earth an enjoy the view and the glorious piss after reaching the ground.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2017 6:57 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 06:57:08 -0400

Night jumps are awesome, there's something about jumping into the blackness of night and hitting the dz unexpectedly. Plus you can roll over, rub one out and no one will know. ;)
The worse part is combat jumps, any junior enlisted that has ever had add extra weight added to their ruck sac (extra ammo, a tripod, etc) knows how shitty it is to wait on the tarmac with a heavy harness. You would lean on top of your ruck trying to alleviate the pain in your lower back. And why did it take so goddam long to load into the bird? You just sit there in your harness waiting and waiting... oh look its starting to rain. Jump canceled! Everyone back on the deuce. Dammit!

Overall, it became just another task to perform once a month, and the excitement wore off.

Feet and knees together!

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Apr 3 at 2017 7:34 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 07:34:37 -0400

Yes, the landing and realizing no broken bones. That's nice.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Apr 3 at 2017 7:34 AM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 07:34:40 -0400

How do I feel? Pretty nervous. There's a lot of adrenaline when I land safely.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Apr 3 at 2017 8:35 AM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 08:35:18 -0400

I started Jumping in 1978 and stopped for good in 2011, I have always had a fear of heights but I always told myself screw it and did it anyway. My favorite part of jumping was actually getting out of the aircraft and my worst part was a DZSO that was sometimes lax in ground wind estimates :). The older you get the more it hurts to hit like a sack of rocks. A special treat was doing JM duties and talking less than motivated paratroops into jumping anyway.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2017 9:41 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 09:41:33 -0400

Best part is walking away from the DZ, worst is getting tender bits caught in the harness.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Apr 3 at 2017 9:43 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 09:43:16 -0400

"What are the best and worst parts of parachuting?"
The landing....
and
The Landing

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2017 9:45 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 09:45:24 -0400

Best part of parachuting: I don't have to do that silly stuff.

Worst part of parachuting: There is no downside for me

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Apr 3 at 2017 9:47 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 09:47:14 -0400

The question takes me back to my first jump, and the low being the oppressive fear of the unknown that infected everyone, who had not already made their first jump, as well sat in the C-130. The best part was that tug at your shoulders about 3 seconds after leaving the plane when it was confirmed that all you had learned in the last two weeks was actually true and did work?

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made Apr 3 at 2017 9:52 AM

CPT Jim Schwebach — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 09:52:23 -0400

The best part is being with other troopers, the worst part is trying to climb up your harness when the jewels have gotten out of adjustment.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 3 at 2017 11:15 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 11:15:37 -0400

I take exception to the phrase "perfectly good plane"! Having jumped from C-199s and c-47s I can assure you that at no time in the recent past has the US Air Force EVER allowed the US Army to use anything that qualifies as "perfectly good"!

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Apr 3 at 2017 11:53 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 11:53:55 -0400

LTC Private RallyPoint Member, jumping was the most fun thing I did while in the service! I liked it so much I took up skydiving as well. Being under canopy was the best part of military jumps. Free fall relative work was the most fun for me when skydiving.
The least favorite thing would be sitting in a hot aircraft on a summer's day, waiting for engine start, air conditioning (on some aircraft), and take off if there was no air conditioning. I remember one jump at Fort Bragg, we sat on a C-130 for a long time waiting for the engines to start and it was July. The USAF Loadmaster saw some guys getting pale and yelled out, "If you puke on my plane, you're going to have to clean it up!" Sure enough, one of our senior NCOs threw up shortly thereafter, and there he was wearing two parachutes and cleaning up his own mess! At the time I was a SP4, and he was a jerk, so I was just delighted!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2017 1:06 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 13:06:29 -0400

I strongly suspect that "jumping out of a perfectly good airplane" is the worst part of a parachuting. I would presume that everything after that is pure gravy!!!

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Apr 3 at 2017 1:17 PM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 13:17:17 -0400

I thought jumping out of planes was cool, then I started free falling.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2017 1:37 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 13:37:26 -0400

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2017 1:45 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 13:45:00 -0400

Response by SN Greg Wright made Apr 3 at 2017 2:47 PM

SN Greg Wright — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 14:47:07 -0400

The best part is watching other people do it. The worst part is watching other people do it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2017 5:29 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 17:29:46 -0400

About 5 seconds before I land, I realize how much I hate landing.
The best is definitely the absolute stillness and silence after your chute opens.

Response by SSG Matt Murphy made Apr 3 at 2017 5:58 PM

SSG Matt Murphy — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 17:58:20 -0400

Best for me was my brother Jim's cherry jump, Lakehurst NJ, 11th SF Group (ABN), night jump, C-7; I followed him off the ramp.....holly wood jump. Our older brother, Tom, was also 11th Group.

Response by SSG Matt Murphy made Apr 3 at 2017 6:03 PM

SSG Matt Murphy — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 18:03:36 -0400

Good=chute shock; bad=impact,worst=impact w/o chute shock.

Response by SFC George Smith made Apr 3 at 2017 7:37 PM

SFC George Smith — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 19:37:33 -0400

Favorite part is landing in One Piece ... worst ...was the Broken leg in a Tree 30 feet up and having to climd down to the lowest level to get out ...

Response by SFC Aaron Calmes made Apr 3 at 2017 8:46 PM

SFC Aaron Calmes — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 20:46:26 -0400

Best part is now putting the rig on right before jumping and not getting stuck wearing it for hours lol.

Worst part is hitting the ground on jump number 30 almost 11 years ago during a Texas drought and actually FEELING the vibration of the impact travel up my leg all the way then stopping at the small of my back with a VERY audible crack. Wiggled my toes to make sure they still worked but was unable to get up. I got medevac'd by vehicle to the first hospital and several hours later by helicopter to the second.

Response by LTC David Zimmerman made Apr 3 at 2017 10:08 PM

LTC David Zimmerman — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 22:08:21 -0400

I jumped from balloons to Puddle jumpers; C-5 to a C-17. The Best kind of Jump, Hands Down, Water Jump. Self Explanatory. Worst; 82nd Divisional jump on Sicily at Night. Its Suck from the start. Roll Call & Muster at 12pm, Get to Green Ramp around 3pm. Its of course hot as dog balls on the ramp. There you sit for minimum of 5 hours, then load up and Jump. After landing, you muster, find stragglers, clean up and return to company by 1am at best.
Those night jumps, which are 90% of 82nd's jumps, is one reason i went Special Forces.

Response by Cpl Zach Wellborn made Apr 4 at 2017 1:43 AM

Cpl Zach Wellborn — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 01:43:20 -0400

The upside is that you don't need a parachute to sky dive.

Unless of course you'd like to go again sometime.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2017 5:17 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 05:17:00 -0400

I like hanging out the door, or on the C17, standing outside the aircraft while in flight. I hate when other units dissappear and we get "hey you" for chute shake out.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2017 8:25 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 08:25:57 -0400

Best part - open canopy. Worst part - tumbling during a wall locker freefall jump.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2017 5:15 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 17:15:38 -0400

Well if you're in the 82nd in the 90's...it is walking, fully rigged, from the chute shed to line Romeo at Green Ramp, then asking "Why can't they bring the bird to us?" and being told "Shut up troop." Also not as bad but memorable, after being told "one person on the ramp at a time" on a Casa 212, you and another husky friend ignore the warning and you make the whole plane pop a wheelie. My favorite was pulling JM duty at JBLM in 95, they opened the ramp as the bird turned away from Mt. Ranier, it was at sunset, you can only imagine that view....the safety had to grab my shoulder to get me back online mentally.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2017 5:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 05:21:07 -0400

Worst: When you have a malfunction on a jump. We go over actions to take every single jump because the idea of muscle memory overcoming the monkey panic of falling seems to be a sound theory, but it doesn't make it any less butthole-puckering.
Best: When I have a clean opening, a beautiful view, and no morons around me. Even when jumping at night, it makes the whole thing worth it because it's just me and a perfect day.

Response by SP5 Robert Ruck made Apr 5 at 2017 2:23 PM

SP5 Robert Ruck — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 14:23:33 -0400

Personally, I can't see jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. Just a rational thought from a "sane" old soldier.

Response by SGT William Harding made Apr 5 at 2017 2:47 PM

SGT William Harding — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 14:47:48 -0400

I walked away from a malfunction during RIP. Had a soldier land on my chute. Almost dragged into water because a dumbo cord was wrapped around my release. Finally did me in was landing on my ruck due to equipment malfunction. Still loved those days in 3rd ranger battalion.had to have 2 surgeries on both ankles...

Response by SSgt Michael Cox made Apr 5 at 2017 6:24 PM

SSgt Michael Cox — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 18:24:30 -0400

First off I have never jumped. My father did as a 2nd ranger and 101st green beret. I saw the disabilities he had but never claimed because "he was a man" and I have seen the disabilities the veterans have coming into my office have. First thing I ask is have you filed a disability claim. They usually say I'm not disabled until I ask them if they get lower back pain and knee pain and then the usually say yes. I let them know its not I'm a man thing I tell them it's an L&I claim thing. You at some point got injured on the job and now they owe you money for you getting hurt. I also let them know that you not doing a claim does not give more money to the folks that have filed a claim so stop making excuses. I let them know that knees combined possible 20%, lower back possible 10%, and ringing in the ears or hearing loss possible 10%. As a single veteran that is $589 a month tax free.

With that said I would have probably been like my father and gotten pushed out the first time and loved it after.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Apr 5 at 2017 6:38 PM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 18:38:57 -0400

The best part is that feeling you get in your stomach when the doors open, your ass is clinched tight, and you know it is time...

The worse part is the landing.... LTC Private RallyPoint Member .... no question. None are ever good... As if running, road marching, etc does not screw you up enough... PLFs do... Not a natural thing.

Of course, the other worse part, is when someone hurls on a C130, gets all over everyone, and then causes a chain reaction....

* On one jump, a dude across from me was getting ready to hurl, so he pulled out his T-shirt collar, and hurled in his shirt... Then patted it down... That is HOOOAAAAH!!!!

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2017 7:30 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 19:30:28 -0400

C 130... I would do C 17's all day.

Response by SGT Ben Hilger made Apr 6 at 2017 12:25 AM

SGT Ben Hilger — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 00:25:05 -0400

Worst- green ramp at Pope AFB :( the waiting to jump
Best- out the door!!! And chute deployment

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2017 6:24 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 06:24:53 -0400

Worst: was primary JM on lead bird on a 2xC141 drop on Scilily DZ at Bragg and overall airborne commander for jump. As jumpers were exiting red light comes on when we were only half way down the DZ. i ask loadmaster why we stopped, he says "some guy dropped like a rock and is dead on the DZ. "

Best: when the pilots have to do two passes for training, and you get everyone out safely the first pass. So you and the assistant JM stay for the second "jumpmaster pass" and get to exit at our leisure and at the spot closest to the chute turn in point.

Response by BG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2017 1:47 PM

BG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 13:47:47 -0400

Best part - Getting another pair of foreign jump wings - got to collect them all!
Worst part - Getting up at 0400 only to wait around in a harness for hours.

Response by SGT Scott Henderson made Apr 6 at 2017 2:25 PM

SGT Scott Henderson — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 14:25:31 -0400

First off, there is no such thing as a perfectly good military aircraft. The way I looked at it I was practicing in case the Herc went completely to shit.

Response by SSG Will Phillips made Apr 6 at 2017 4:04 PM

SSG Will Phillips — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 16:04:28 -0400

Being dropped in the tree's by NG pilots.

Response by 1LT Anthony DeToto made Apr 6 at 2017 5:09 PM

1LT Anthony DeToto — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 17:09:39 -0400

Jump One
having the Jumpmaster single you out cause your the senior officer in the stick- hanging you out the plane as it turns around over Alabama

the silence once the chute deploys

Getting a hairline fracture on a left foot Falange you broke in high school landing on the side of your foot on a diving board

Jump Two

Taking 3, 800 strength Motrin and using 100 mile an hour tape on your sock, cause you aren't recycling

The pain of the airborne shuffle on a broken foot

Jump Three
Having someone land on your canopy

Realizing it is a REMF major reservist from the chemical corp with his head pinned to his chest from a twisted canopy, walking towards the opening on your chute,

Knowing that if you release your primary he will be enveloped in your parachute and certainly meet God a few minutes before you

Having the Blackhats talk him off your chute, then watching him burn in as a lawn dart and somehow sort of walk away

.....

In the time since?

Realizing I shouldn't have waited almost 30 years to shed the label, 3 jump chump

Getting "hit the hole pole man, hit the hole" chant out of my head

Response by LTC Lewis Cox made Apr 6 at 2017 5:46 PM

LTC Lewis Cox — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 17:46:50 -0400

Least favorite Jump was whenI blew a panel and everyone was yelling "Pull your Emergency! I didn't and being lightweight came down slower than the others. Landed fine! Loved it! The old T-10 from a 119..

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Apr 6 at 2017 11:20 PM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 23:20:16 -0400

Best part is stepping out. Not so good is pendulum swinging wile trying to land. Feet, But, Head, White Flash.

Response by SPC Ann T. made Apr 10 at 2017 12:46 AM

SPC Ann T. — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 00:46:58 -0400

Loved the hang time. 10 seconds, 30, whatever. Loved it. Loved getting out the door. Best adrenaline rush I ever had. Old and broke down and wishing I could do it again.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2017 10:18 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 10:18:08 -0400

Best part: the 8 seconds in the sky before hitting the ground.
Worst part: Hauling the dog gone suits back for 2 miles across the landing zone!

Response by SGT Michael Sholtis made Apr 10 at 2017 3:17 PM

SGT Michael Sholtis — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 15:17:16 -0400

My favorite part of jumping was night jumps right at dusk when you're still light up by the setting sun and the DZ was in darkness. Also when you gwt to the ground and get out of the harness and take a piss!
Least favorite was jumping in the rain.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2017 3:09 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 15:09:25 -0400

I hate jumping haha. I'm perfectly okay with jumping the required 4 jumps per year. But when you're doing that in a week, you start to have doubts about if the odds are in your favor the more and more you jump haha. I'm not afraid of heights, not worried about army equipment, etc. What I am worried about is my luck. I've got the worst luck that I would be that guy. Lol. In all seriousness though, it's not really THAT bad.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jun 28 at 2017 10:24 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 22:24:31 -0400

Exactly!

Response by MAJ Hugh Blanchard made Mar 24 at 2018 10:03 PM

MAJ Hugh Blanchard — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 22:03:47 -0400

Opening shock can be bad, especially if "something" is not in the right place in your harness. Once landed on a baseball field backstop, and then really crashed and burned falling off it. Owie!
First jump at Ranger School into "Stiletto" DZ at Fort Benning, many of my fellow jumpers got an 'interesting' spot and landed in tall pine trees on the edge of the DZ. I was very fortunate to land in the middle of this very small DZ. Had to make another jump with the patrol's radio which was VERY heavy..ouch again.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made May 3 at 2020 6:15 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Sun, 03 May 2020 18:15:22 -0400

The best part was the jump pay, when other guys were broke and standing in line at chow time I had money to eat out and had extra beer money.

No worst part I suppose, but I didn’t like rear 47 jumps when it was hovering on a small LZ, it was like jumping off a building. I liked C130s the best when you exited you got a bit of a lift so it really reduced the feeling of just falling. I only made 1 C141 jump, my first, and it was all falling. Interesting there, I was last man in the last stick, and I was watching the faces as they exited ; Pure terror. I think I screamed like oh fuck or something like that.

Response by SGM Robert King made May 3 at 2020 6:17 PM

SGM Robert King — Sun, 03 May 2020 18:17:16 -0400

The worst part for me was not getting to jump and being a safety. After we land at the airfield a vehicle comes out and picks up the pilots and aircrew leaving us with what seemed like a ton of d-bags to hand carry across the tarmac. They wouldn’t even let us put them in the damn follow me truck. Dirty SOB’s

Response by SGM Robert King made May 3 at 2020 6:27 PM

SGM Robert King — Sun, 03 May 2020 18:27:02 -0400

One of the best times for me was while I was going through JM school my younger brother was in Basic Airborne and I would go over and see how was doing the first couple of weeks.

Response by SGM Robert King made May 1 at 2021 4:57 PM

SGM Robert King — Sat, 01 May 2021 16:57:20 -0400

Worst part was when I got my wings clipped after 20 years in the harness. Doc gave me a choice continue jumping and you will have a chair with wheels. He wasn’t too far from being wrong I collapsed and had to have emergency surgery on my spine. I enjoyed jumping even when when some of them really sucked. It was all part of the experience few would ever get.

Response by 1SG Ed Bernas made May 1 at 2021 7:16 PM

1SG Ed Bernas — Sat, 01 May 2021 19:16:22 -0400

Having to breathe in all that dirty nasty air LEGS breathed out.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made May 1 at 2021 8:01 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Sat, 01 May 2021 20:01:35 -0400

It’s insane to jump out of perfectly good airplanes or helicopters, but when everyone was out of beer money I still had money left.

Worst, if the jump master mis reads the wind and you miss the LZ, that kinda sucks when you get put into the trees. Choppers are a bit easier, but it’s like falling out a window.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2021 9:49 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 May 2021 21:49:53 -0400

I think one of the main reasons of going to JM school is one, you usually rig up last, two being safety meant you wouldn’t have back spasms for awhile waiting to load the plane... “oh wait we gotta racetrack.”, was the worst words while standing fully rigged on the aircraft.