Anyone else here in the military?

[HeHateMe]

Your salute to fallen soldiers is actually correct. Someone mentioned to me today that it sort of is a pet peeve with all the salutes to current soldiers on this holiday. Memorial Day is set aside for remembering soldiers lost in war, while veterans day is for all past military. I hadn't really thought about the holiday distinctions for some time, but thought it was something interesting to remember.

True that.

 

[modo]

Your salute to fallen soldiers is actually correct. Someone mentioned to me today that it sort of is a pet peeve with all the salutes to current soldiers on this holiday. Memorial Day is set aside for remembering soldiers lost in war, while veterans day is for all past military. I hadn't really thought about the holiday distinctions for some time, but thought it was something interesting to remember.

Yes, memorial day is for fallen soldiers, but only one day for vets and one day for fallen soldiers is not enough

 

[Wild_x_Card]

Please don't.

There is a place to discuss politics on the forum.


Anyways, I'm of the school of thought that doesn't thank veterans on Memorial Day, but those we have lost while serving. I'm the sole living member of my first squad, and as much as I have deprogrammed myself from my Ranger Bat days, I have a hard time getting through all of the reminders that come with this day. The best friend that I ever had, and other brothers in arms. This day is to remind us all.

Which Batt/Co. Were you in? 3/75 here.

 

[Mitchapalooza]

anyone in the Airborne? if so, how fun is it to jump out of airplanes with your squad? If I ever joined the military, it's Airborne or nothing.

 

[botfly10]

Its weird to me how some people join the military or talk about it with a disconnect from what the purpose of soldiering really is. Its not the state department with skydiving.

 

[modo]

anyone in the Airborne? if so, how fun is it to jump out of airplanes with your squad? If I ever joined the military, it's Airborne or nothing.

don't discount Air Assault. I have jumped out of planes and helicopters, rappelled and fast roped from helicopters and I always got a kick out of helicopters the most.

 

[modo]

Its weird to me how some people join the military or talk about it with a disconnect from what the purpose of soldiering really is. Its not the state department with skydiving.

we are the pointy end of diplomacy

 

[Mitchapalooza]

Its weird to me how some people join the military or talk about it with a disconnect from what the purpose of soldiering really is. Its not the state department with skydiving.

if this was pointed at me, jumping out of airplanes isn't why I would join lol, just think it would be fun during training to jump out of a plane.

 

[Mitchapalooza]

don't discount Air Assault. I have jumped out of planes and helicopters, rappelled and fast roped from helicopters and I always got a kick out of helicopters the most.

about how high do you fast rope from helicopters?

 

[JesusHalasChrist]

Its weird to me how some people join the military or talk about it with a disconnect from what the purpose of soldiering really is. Its not the state department with skydiving.

...the continuation of politics by other means.

 

[modo]

about how high do you fast rope from helicopters?

it varies but fast roping typically happens at about 20 to 40 feet depending on situation. Typically they don't fast rope too high because soldiers have a tendency to let go if their hands get too hot. The higher you are the greater the risk, but it depends on the situation you are in.

 

[SERE Bear]

anyone in the Airborne? if so, how fun is it to jump out of airplanes with your squad? If I ever joined the military, it's Airborne or nothing.

Static line Mass jumps are unnerving because with so many jumpers in the air mistakes can happen. Chutes colliding, guys stealing others air, and then you add equipment hanging down and the pucker factor goes even higher. Small sticks of 4-8 guys is fine and yeah its fun once you have checked your chute and for other jumpers round you. But all my jumps were noncombat and nobody was firing up at me as I descended so you can enjoy the view and the flight. My favorite jump platform is Huey's (we call them elevator rides) because you ride up sitting in the open door and when you jump the opening shock is minimal due to the slower airspeed of the helo. C-17s are nice because they were built with jumpers in mind from the seats to the blast shield.


Military free fall is something that eluded me. I had a school slot twice in my career but something always came up to remove me.

 

[modo]

Static line Mass jumps are unnerving because with so many jumpers in the air mistakes can happen. Chutes colliding, guys stealing others air, and then you add equipment hanging down and the pucker factor goes even higher. Small sticks of 4-8 guys is fine and yeah its fun once you have checked your chute and for other jumpers round you. But all my jumps were noncombat and nobody was firing up at me as I descended so you can enjoy the view and the flight. My favorite jump platform is Huey's (we call them elevator rides) because you ride up sitting in the open door and when you jump the opening shock is minimal due to the slower airspeed of the helo. C-17s are nice because they were built with jumpers in mind from the seats to the blast shield.


Military free fall is something that eluded me. I had a school slot twice in my career but something always came up to remove me.

I have seen soldiers land on other soldiers chutes and have to run off of them so they didn't lose air....

 

[SERE Bear]

Its weird to me how some people join the military or talk about it with a disconnect from what the purpose of soldiering really is. Its not the state department with skydiving.

Of course not, but no matter what the skill is you stay proficient by practicing and jumping was one of the more enjoyable things to practice.

 

[SERE Bear]

I have seen soldiers land on other soldiers chutes and have to run off of them so they didn't lose air....

Yep or spread their arms and legs out to bounce off their lines.

 

[Mitchapalooza]

it varies but fast roping typically happens at about 20 to 40 feet depending on situation. Typically they don't fast rope too high because soldiers have a tendency to let go if their hands get too hot. The higher you are the greater the risk, but it depends on the situation you are in.

I thought they'd wear gloves while sliding to avoid burn, but that's the one thing I always think about when seeing fast roping in movies is the rope burn.

 

[Crystallas]

anyone in the Airborne? if so, how fun is it to jump out of airplanes with your squad? If I ever joined the military, it's Airborne or nothing.

If you want to jump out of birds for fun. you'll need to be on the ball. Freefall(HALO) IMHO is by far, the biggest adrenaline rush. Airborne, IDK. I don't like airborne jumps, unless you go very light, or 'hollywood'. They hurt, are counterproductive, and obsolete in comparison to repelling. Air Assault is indeed awesome, but it goes by so quick, that you don't really get a lot of fun out of it. I have my mustard stains and I'm glad I got it over with when I did, because it's wreckless in most cases IMO.

Just go and get skydive certified. IIRC, in IL, you have places like skydive Chicago that do two tandems, a high deployment jump, then you're free to jump how you like. Well, it used to be like that, they might have added more safety jumps.

 

[Crystallas]

I thought they'd wear gloves while sliding to avoid burn, but that's the one thing I always think about when seeing fast roping in movies is the rope burn.

Yes, every repel I have done is with gloves. But if you do it right, you wont get rope burn since you're basically shifting the friction from one locking point to another to move down. Gloves don't prevent burn, they only add a layer of protection. And if you melt your hands inside of a glove, it's not fun either, your skin will fuse to the material.

It's a mess, because Air Assault school is about 9-10 days. And you're expected to learn a lot in that time, not just in a classroom with loads and knots, but physical too. Some people barely make it, and when they do a repel, they are out of practice and screw themselves. Not to mention the whole factor involving nerves.

 

[botfly10]

it varies but fast roping typically happens at about 20 to 40 feet depending on situation. Typically they don't fast rope too high because soldiers have a tendency to let go if their hands get too hot. The higher you are the greater the risk, but it depends on the situation you are in.

Damn, I have melted the skin on my palms falling less than 15 feet and instinctively grabbing the rope (like an idiot).

 

[modo]

I thought they'd wear gloves while sliding to avoid burn, but that's the one thing I always think about when seeing fast roping in movies is the rope burn.

They do but you can still get burn.....the more you do it the more you learn to avoid it.