jshatzkin

Woo Hoo! A FIRST! BEER! Jen

I went through OCS a few years ago (now out of Army completely). No lie, it was hell. Enlisted basic training is like a weekend at girl scouts compared to OCS. But, you have to enlist and do all your enlisted training before OCS. You learn a lot though. Very worth it.

Having worked in a prison as a rehabilitation therapist for sex offenders, most child sex offenders "groom" the children to sex. Even at 16, someone can be very impressionable and trusting of an adult and not fully understand what is happening to their bodies as they sexually develop. There are not laws preventing minors from having sex, as long as there is an appropriate age differential. Often 2-3 years (but not if the child is under 15 in most cases)So a 16 year old in most states could legally have sex with an 18 year old. The laws vary by state and can be very complicated. Now, (if I recall correclty) if you are in the military, the UCMJ doesn't recognize an age differential. Under 18 is statutory rape. Talking about one age of consent for everything is not feasible. If this were the case, people would have the right to drive, jump, have sex, vote, smoke, drink, and sign legal contracts all at the same age. This would be too overwhelming, and not allow for the process of development that staggering the ages allow. That's just my 2 cents, though it may only be worth 1. Jen

I couldn't have said it better myself!

This thread is SO disgusting. But yes, I pick mine too.

:3:0 Would have more humps and jumps, but hubby is deployed and it's overcast today

0:9:6 Husband's delpoyed to New Orleans, so that answers the first one. 9 jumps, including A license check dive 6 beers owed 1. Getting A license 2. First jump with license 3. First group jump with other licensed skydivers 4 First all female jump 5. First landing in the pea gravel (ACCURACY WOO HOO) 6. Landing behind the beer line

It feels great! I went out again today and jumped 5 times. Even did 2 all girl 3 ways with video! Congrads to everyone else who just became licensed too! Blue Skies!

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I finally got my A license today! It was a beautiful day with beautiful dives! Thanks to everyone at Raeford. You guys are awesome!

That's awesome! I have never a seen an armadillo that was not dead by the side of the road!

Larry Wilcox. You know, the blond guy from CHiPS! Okay. I know the question said "bands", but no bands come out of Wyoming. That's the only celebrity from my middle of nowhere home!

Actually looks very much like someone born with severe fetal alcohol syndrome. Mother must have been a skydiver!

I am a psychotherapist in the inpatient psychiatric unit of a hospital Jen

I can only think of one really freaky time. Very recently. I was looking at a house to rent during my lunch break on July 13th. It was a beautiful house, just built. I was alone and it started raining. I didn't have my umbrella and thought I would wait the storm out inside this new house while I fantasized about how I would decorate it. At exactly 2:23 pm, I said "fuck it", made a run for my car and went back to work. At 5 pm I went by the realty company to tell them I wanted the house. They told me that at 2:30 pm the house was hit by lightning and burned from the inside out in less than 10 minutes. I drove by and there was nothing left. Needless to say, I decided to stay in the house where I was living. It was also 3 days after my 13th jump. And I am not superstitious. Jen

Wow. Wonder what they would think of women skydiving! Jen

Extremists have one goal: "If it can't be my way, then it won't be ANY way!". There is no compromise, only destruction of everything that does not fit them. On a side note: Sharm el Shiekh is beautiful. I vacationed there once. Too bad I have no desire to ever return.

I always spend time, before going to the DZ, doing relaxation exercises and visualization. I imagine every piece of the jump and practice deep breathing with every piece. It really helps. I do it on the ride to altitude, then once I am out the door, I remind myself to breathe. It all comes together nicely, almost without much effort. Jen

An afterthought about this equality thing: Why isn't there a "Men Only" Forum on this site? Jen

Well said! I am a woman, a military spouse, and 7 year Army veteran, so I couldn't resist replying. Women sign the dotted line to protect their country just like every military man does. With that comes risks. Service members, regardless of sex, understand that risk. War has a new face, and is being fought in a protracted guerilla way and there is no front line. This proposal to remove women from these jobs is degrading. It does not safeguard women, though it is being propsed as such. I think the underlying implication is that women have made huge strides in the military in different jobs and rank. God forbid women threaten the male dominated force! That would only soften it right? I say we create a brigade of infantryWOMEN. I know many who would willingly do this, and probably kick ass. If women want TRUE equality, we have to be willing to have equal work, including the risks. I think many women are more than willing to do that. I am positive this is about military image. If a male soldier gets killed,..well that was his duty and it was an honor (loosely speaking from a military viewpoint). If a female soldier gets killed, then pretty pictures (not the standard military photgraph) are posted and everyone is upset by the children she left behind (or the like) and it should have never happened. What kind of message does this send our women fighters? Okay, enough of my tangeant. I made my point. If a woman signs the dotted line, she is willing to take every responsiblity and risk that comes with that. For government to try to "safeguard" her simply because she is a woman, is an insult to all women,...and all soldiers,....male or female. Jen

Nothing is better than conquering a fear (ie heights and flying) than immersion therapy. The most adrenaline, in my limited experience, comes from anticipatory anxiety. The first time I jumped, it was a tandem. I was nervous the whole week before the jump. I could not eat the morning of. I had twinges in my stomach and had to go to the bathrooom a lot. In the aircraft, I felt nauseated. But, once my tandem master and I left the plane,...it was breathtakingly beautiful and surprisingly peaceful. I returned to do my AFF and have 7 jumps now. I love it. Hope this helps! The only thing I regret is not doing this 10 years ago! Jen

If this piece of human garbage had one ounce of dignity, he would demand a firing squad. It is a nice thought, however, not going to happen. He will go to Fort Leavenworth, and sit with 5 other military inmates on death row. I was a civilian rehabilitation therapist at the Disciplinary Barracks there at Fort Leavenworth. They have very strict rules, unlike most prisons (they can't even borrow a magazine from another inmate without being charged for 'trafficking'). Anyway, the point I am making is, he has no choice in his execution. It will be lethal injection. After several years of appeals. Another inmate who was on death row: Kreitzer (for shooting several soldiers-wounding like 15 and killing an officer at Ft. Bragg in 1995) has just had his sentence reduced and is going back to trial because he is "crazy". I think anyone who lobs a grenade in fellow soldiers' tents during a time of war IS crazy AND deserves to die. Jen

Hello all! I've been reading the posts for awhile, then decided to join in the fun. I began my AFF last summer and have not jumped in 6 months due to an ankle injury. (The injury was due to running a half marathon) Anyway, the injury is healed and I am back to the DZ to start Level 4 this weekend. I am excited, but just as nervous as I was the first jump. But I have been dreaming to get back up there! I found I am less nervous if there is less time between jumps! Looking forward to the forum and the jumps again! Jen