thedrifter
11-27-03, 08:18 AM
Recon steps out at stepped-up pace
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 20031126135616
Story by Sgt. Matthew J. Epright
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Nov. 18, 2003) -- Some might say jumping out of a perfectly good airplane is crazy.
The Marines of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion disagree. For them, it's all in a day's work.
Recon Marines performed both day and night parachute drops from a KC-130 into Drop Zone Basilone, Nov. 18, as part of a training regimen that's picked up pace recently.
"We've actually jumped more (lately), here at Recon Battalion, than they've ever jumped in history," said Gunnery Sgt. Jason T. Swarr, the battalion's paraloft chief.
Swarr explained commanders want parachuting to be "a means to go to work vice just something to wear on our chest."
As if jumping from several-thousand feet were not enough, these guys did it wearing full combat gear.
"It's a minimum of 50 pounds," said Sgt. Rudy Reyes. Reyes doesn't stop there.
"I try and train as heavy as possible," said Reyes. "The important thing is for it to be as realistic as possible."
It's not as easy as tossing on a pack and parachute and jumping out the door. There were several hours worth of prep-work.
First came the pre-jump brief, where jumpers were told everything from the layout of the drop zone to expected wind speeds over the zone.
Next up - pre-jump training - a must for all jumpers, even those with dozens of jumps to their credit.
During pre-jump training, the Marines practiced contingency plans in case of a parachute malfunction.
They then lined up with the five to six-man teams or 'sticks,' the groups with which the Marines would jump.
Lt. Col. Rory E. Talkington, 1st Recon Bn.'s commanding officer, said the set-up was the same as combat operations.
"They're going to exit the airplane together and they're going to land together," Talkington said. "Then they're going to fight together."
The sticks took turns jumping out of a small, wooden shelter simulating the aircraft from which they would jump.
After practicing landings, they loaded five-ton trucks to the flight line, where they were issued their parachutes for the first jump.
Jumpmaster inspections followed, ensuring gear was properly worn and ready to put the Marines' knees to the breeze.
When the aircraft arrived - courtesy of Marine Aerial Refueler and Transport Squadron 352 - the jumpers loaded, in stick order, sat down and strapped into their seats for take-off.
The jumpmaster passed the five-minute warning as the plane approached the drop zone.
The first stick stood up and hooked their static lines to an anchor cable. This would deploy the parachute automatically when the jumper exited the aircraft.
With 30 seconds left, the jumpmaster made sure everyone was ready. Nervous smiles gave way to complete concentration.
"Initially you get nervous, when you're in jump school, just because you haven't done it before," Reyes said.
He added that after enough jumps, he ignores the nervousness, concentrating instead on emergency procedures for parachute malfunctions.
At five seconds the jumpmaster started a countdown. A firm slap on the back sent the jumpers out of the plane, one-by-one.
The lumbering plane circled the drop zone long enough to repeat the process five more times.
Jumpers hit the ground executing a parachute landing fall, a tumbling thump to the hard earth and gathered their gear, counted up the stick and moved to the vehicles.
All jumpers out, the plane returned to the airfield and the same Marines who just left the aircraft were waiting to load up and do it all again - this time in the dark.
"At night...you tend to internalize your thinking," Reyes said. "That's the most dangerous thing to do. You need to push your focus out as far as possible."
As nerve-wracking as the jumps are during the day, the intensity is higher at night. That's when the Marines rely on the simple rules to stay safe.
"Just keep your feet and knees together," said Cpl. Michael R. Stinedorf, the first jumper out of the plane. "No matter how bad you screw up, if you keep your feet and knees together, you're not going to break yourself."
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/4453A23F3BE7A28E85256DEA00680744?opendocument
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 20031126135616
Story by Sgt. Matthew J. Epright
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Nov. 18, 2003) -- Some might say jumping out of a perfectly good airplane is crazy.
The Marines of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion disagree. For them, it's all in a day's work.
Recon Marines performed both day and night parachute drops from a KC-130 into Drop Zone Basilone, Nov. 18, as part of a training regimen that's picked up pace recently.
"We've actually jumped more (lately), here at Recon Battalion, than they've ever jumped in history," said Gunnery Sgt. Jason T. Swarr, the battalion's paraloft chief.
Swarr explained commanders want parachuting to be "a means to go to work vice just something to wear on our chest."
As if jumping from several-thousand feet were not enough, these guys did it wearing full combat gear.
"It's a minimum of 50 pounds," said Sgt. Rudy Reyes. Reyes doesn't stop there.
"I try and train as heavy as possible," said Reyes. "The important thing is for it to be as realistic as possible."
It's not as easy as tossing on a pack and parachute and jumping out the door. There were several hours worth of prep-work.
First came the pre-jump brief, where jumpers were told everything from the layout of the drop zone to expected wind speeds over the zone.
Next up - pre-jump training - a must for all jumpers, even those with dozens of jumps to their credit.
During pre-jump training, the Marines practiced contingency plans in case of a parachute malfunction.
They then lined up with the five to six-man teams or 'sticks,' the groups with which the Marines would jump.
Lt. Col. Rory E. Talkington, 1st Recon Bn.'s commanding officer, said the set-up was the same as combat operations.
"They're going to exit the airplane together and they're going to land together," Talkington said. "Then they're going to fight together."
The sticks took turns jumping out of a small, wooden shelter simulating the aircraft from which they would jump.
After practicing landings, they loaded five-ton trucks to the flight line, where they were issued their parachutes for the first jump.
Jumpmaster inspections followed, ensuring gear was properly worn and ready to put the Marines' knees to the breeze.
When the aircraft arrived - courtesy of Marine Aerial Refueler and Transport Squadron 352 - the jumpers loaded, in stick order, sat down and strapped into their seats for take-off.
The jumpmaster passed the five-minute warning as the plane approached the drop zone.
The first stick stood up and hooked their static lines to an anchor cable. This would deploy the parachute automatically when the jumper exited the aircraft.
With 30 seconds left, the jumpmaster made sure everyone was ready. Nervous smiles gave way to complete concentration.
"Initially you get nervous, when you're in jump school, just because you haven't done it before," Reyes said.
He added that after enough jumps, he ignores the nervousness, concentrating instead on emergency procedures for parachute malfunctions.
At five seconds the jumpmaster started a countdown. A firm slap on the back sent the jumpers out of the plane, one-by-one.
The lumbering plane circled the drop zone long enough to repeat the process five more times.
Jumpers hit the ground executing a parachute landing fall, a tumbling thump to the hard earth and gathered their gear, counted up the stick and moved to the vehicles.
All jumpers out, the plane returned to the airfield and the same Marines who just left the aircraft were waiting to load up and do it all again - this time in the dark.
"At night...you tend to internalize your thinking," Reyes said. "That's the most dangerous thing to do. You need to push your focus out as far as possible."
As nerve-wracking as the jumps are during the day, the intensity is higher at night. That's when the Marines rely on the simple rules to stay safe.
"Just keep your feet and knees together," said Cpl. Michael R. Stinedorf, the first jumper out of the plane. "No matter how bad you screw up, if you keep your feet and knees together, you're not going to break yourself."
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/4453A23F3BE7A28E85256DEA00680744?opendocument
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: