Jump Ground Training Summer Session 1, Group 2
The second group of cadets for Summer Session 1 are going through their ground training in preparation for their first aerial jump and Webguy was there to capture some of their harness training.
Today they practiced their emergency procedures under pressure. Instructors try to distract them by playing loud music, jumping on them and talking to them while they are trying to go through an emergency procedure. They get swung and spun in mulitple directions as well which is designed to help the student learn how to think clearly under stressful and distracting situations. This will help them when they are preparing to jump out of the airplane for the first time as a solo jumper.
One of the more challenging programs provided by USAFA, Airmanship 490 or AM-490 is a Basic Freefall Parachuting Program that the Academy offers, and it is the core mission of the Wings of Blue and the 98th Training Squadron, all the Cadets on the Wings of Blue team are certified AM-490 Instructors and Jumpmasters. Its purpose is to develop leadership traits through overcoming their own fears. They will be given instruction in basic free fall parachuting and familiarization with emergency parachuting. The successful completion of 5 Jumps results in award of the Air Force basic parachutist badge "Jump Wings", which they can wear on their uniform for the rest of their Air Force career and completion during summer before sophomore year fills one of the few military training requirements that Cadets at USAFA have. Several hundred Cadets over the course of this summer will have to "STAND IN THE DOOR."
AM-490 is the only program in the entire Air Force where the first jump is an unassisted freefall. Because of this unique difference all students, cadet or staff who go through this program will have roughly 40 hours of ground training before their first jump.
To view photos from this Jump Ground session, go to GALLERIES > AIRMANSHIP > JUMP. Set photo order OLDEST to NEWEST. Select your start page (55-86) or click on the link below.