In the army with aspirations

[liljb72 0]

Hey guys - I am in the army and have about 2.5 years left...I have been spending the past year in MMA and trying to get my fighting career going, but I find that it is way too contingent upon other people, which I dont like...

About a year ago I went through Airborne school and it peaked my already huge interest of jumping out of planes...BUT if you all know anything about this school, you know that you fly terrible old T-10D round parachutes that drop you like a ton of rocks...it is not fun and there is no freefall...

I went skydiving once before joining the army but never kept the paperwork as I thought it was a one time thing. Therefore I am left at square one in the civilian world...

My real goal is to get into BASE eventually, but I want to do it right, and get 250+ skydives under my belt before even thinking about BASE...SO this brings us to the dilemma...

I have plenty of money but the only place close to me is Skydive Orange - just south of DC and it will run me around $3,150 to complete my 25 AFF jumps to get my A license...I was just wondering if most people paid around this amount, and then bought their own gear so they could start racking up the jumps on their own? or if there is any easier/cheaper (I know that safety overrides money) way to go about this...

Any input is greatly appreciated - and anyone in the DC area that is a jumper - please PM me I would love to meet for a jump or just talk about local stuff...

Thanks for any input - Jeff

[Ron 10]

Try to get to Bragg, or the 101st. Both last time I checked had jump clubs. The 82d club cost close to nothing to learn.

Even if you can't get a transfer, you could take leave.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[DJL 235]

I'll PM you the contact info for one of our AFF-I's at Skydive Virginia. He's SF and most of the instruction he does is military. If he can't get you hooked into the Army system then he's still a great guy for instruction. We're located in Louisa, VA; 1-1/4 hr from Northern VA (the way I drive).

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[liljb72 0]

awesome man - that will help me out a lot!!! thank you so much....unfortunately I can't get to bragg or campbell with my current chain of command...

That PM will help me so much man, I look forward to it and appreciate it greatly!

[crewdog2 0]

It's my understanding that the Fort Campbell club closed sometime back. I made 753 jumps while I was there in the late '70s at a cost of $5.00 a month dues. Skydiving doesn't get any cheaper than that!

[Tink1717 2]

Come to Skydive Delmarva in Laurel DE. Were closer than Orange to DC and can get you done cheaper.

Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

[Ron 10]

Quote

It's my understanding that the Fort Campbell club closed sometime back. I made 753 jumps while I was there in the late '70s at a cost of $5.00 a month dues. Skydiving doesn't get any cheaper than that!

I thought they had reopened....But maybe not. Never served there and have been out for a while.

But thanks for the info.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[matthewcline 0]

No the club is gone.
But the Team is still here
The gentlemen who is looking for training can always take a "pass" and go for 3 to 4 days at a time on weekends, that way he can go to Bragg and take advantage of the clubs reduced costs.

Hell if he got PCS orders to Campbell we are looking for a few more folks here!

An Instructors first concern is student safety.
So, start being safe, first!!!

[GQ_jumper 4]

The Green Beret club at Bragg has some pretty good stuff but it's not free. I'm pretty sure the MWR website should have some info on it.

Also don't forget about black and gold meet every your in NC, free jumpin!

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

[SWATcop 0]

I learned to Skydive at the "Green Beret Sport Parachute Club" at Bragg. The best instructors and I think including gear instruction and the cost of jumps it was about $800.00 total to get my A license in 1994.

Kevin

Muff Brother #4041
Team Dirty Sanchez #467

[GQ_jumper 4]

maybe i just got in touch with the wrong poeple but it was far more expensive for me than just 800. Of course overall the cost has increased greatly in the last 10 years. But for what it's worth the club is great, if I remember right when I was there you could rent a rig for the entire weekend for around 40 bucks. that's an awesome deal.

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

[liljb72 0]

Quote

I'll PM you the contact info for one of our AFF-I's at Skydive Virginia. He's SF and most of the instruction he does is military. If he can't get you hooked into the Army system then he's still a great guy for instruction. We're located in Louisa, VA; 1-1/4 hr from Northern VA (the way I drive).

still waiting on the pm

[SWATcop 0]

Quote

maybe i just got in touch with the wrong poeple but it was far more expensive for me than just 800. Of course overall the cost has increased greatly in the last 10 years. But for what it's worth the club is great, if I remember right when I was there you could rent a rig for the entire weekend for around 40 bucks. that's an awesome deal.

Yeah, it was very cheap then. I think the staicline progression course was around $160.00, gear was included, jumps to 12,500 were $16.00 but the first eight jumps were from the Cessna from 3,500-8,000 AGL so they were cheaper. Free Military C-130s to skydive out of once a month was a nice plus also.

Kevin

Muff Brother #4041
Team Dirty Sanchez #467