GLIDEANGLE

The military is a very good option for young adults in the situation that you describe. Yes, the military needs lots of mechanics to keep a great variety of vehicles and systems running. My only suggestion is that he NOT limit his exploration to the Air Force. All the services have a need for young people like him. The recruiting incentives may vary widely (along with the career opportunities and lifestyle). One caveat: [RED]WE ARE AT WAR. [/RED] ANYONE IN THE MILITARY (REGARDLESS OF SERVICE: AIR FORCE, NAVY, ARMY, MARINES, COAST GUARD) CAN FIND THEMSELVES DEPLOYED TO A WAR ZONE AND IN HARM'S WAY.....DO NOT LET ANY RECRUITER TELL YOU OTHERWISE!!!! The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Being married makes no difference in deployment tasking. However, being married can make a difference in pay & benefits issues while deployed. In any case they should to choose to marry for the right reasons, at a time that make sense in the develpment of their relationship... without regard to the military or deployment. Very Respectfully, CDR Jim McGraw, NC, USN The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

1. Learn how to not die. 2. Learn to fall stable, and return to stability after intentionally going back to earth (flip). 3. Elementary turns. 4. These videos should give you a good idea of what is ahead. http://www.uspa.org/USPAMembers/Downloads/tabid/84/Default.aspx#2271 The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

You don't wanna be like me.... you want to keep your hair and get laid regularly. The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Eight: You are not the first or last new jumper faced with this canopy size decision. Often the "discussion" ends up as not much more than a screaming match across a generational divide. Often this end up with both sides pissed of... one side is putting money on the bounce bingo board, and the othe side sets off to prove everyone else wrong. A while back a really smart experienced jumper decided that this discussion was far too important to let it keep going like this. So..... he decided to take a different apporach. Rather than TELLING jumpers that they aren't ready for a smaller canopy....he developed a skill checklist that allows jumpers to determine for themselves if they yet have the skills. If you can DEMONSTRATE the skills.... full speed ahead. If not, jumping a bigger canopy won't hurt you. Here is the checklist: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=47 Personally, I jump a moderately big, docile canopy. I cannot tell you how many times I have been REALLY glad that I had it overhead when things get a bit wierd. I have made lots of bad decisions that have put me in undesireable situations... but my conservative canopy has gotten me though. I am smarter now than I was two years agor, and hopefully I can AVOID most of those bad decisions in the future. Thought for the day.... Experience as a student often bears little resemblance to the experiences you will have as a licensed jumper. Students have the benefit of rules (wind limits, gear specifications) that experienced jumpers don't. They also have supervision that experienced jumpers may not get. (I'll bet that you don't have any idea how much you were being supervised and "looked after" by instructional staff and experienced jumpers between earning "self supervision" status and your license.) As a licensed jumper it is very easy to find yourself in situations that are FAR outside your experience level... and having a docile canopy overhead can truly be a lifesaver. It doesn't take much to find yourself open lower than you would like, with a bad spot and unexpectedly high winds, over a dangerous landing area, aiming for a straight-in downwind landing in a small landing area surrounded by deadly hazards. So.... what canopy do you want overhead now? I sincerely wish you nothing but the best. The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Please tell me that you DO NOT intend to get a smaller canopy to fit your container, rather than getting a bigger container to fit your canopy! A bigger container won't hurt you... a too small canopy may well hurt you. BE CAREFUL HERE. Get and heed GOOD advice, such as these: http://www.bigairsportz.com/pdf/bas-sizingchart.pdf http://www.uspa.org/SIM/Read/Section5/tabid/168/Default.aspx#53b http://www.uspa.org/SIM/Read/Section6/tabid/169/Default.aspx#1072 The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Ummm... but what if you're getting out the aft-right emergency exit door in a Twin Otter? Perhaps it is the difference between "exit" and "escape". The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Excellent!!! .... Sad that it has to be said. The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

1. Bring beer and cash to the DZ. 2. Throw yourself on the mercy of an experienced packer or rigger (with promises of copious cold beer or cold hard cash if necessary). 3. Only after they fail to get it packed should you consider it un-packable. 4. Watch and learn..... practice... practice... practice... (swearing is optional). 5. Pay your beer/cash debt. The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

There were a lot of things that I either learned, or was vigorously reminded of, during my days at Nationals during the 4-way FS competition: 1. 4-way is a misnomer. It is really 5-way. See my other posting on that topic. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3702934#3702934 2. The green light in the plane is PERMISSION to exit, not a command. I saw several teams appropriately refuse to exit over clouds. One team refused several green lights on a single load (they were absolutely right to do so). 3. You have to be able to trust the guy with his head out of the door spotting. Not everyone on a team gets to check the spot. Teams need to be sure that the guy (or gal) who is spotting is competent…and then trust him or her. I saw one team have a disagreement about the spot after three team members were floating outside!!! Not a pretty picture. 4. Bringing extra dry socks to the DZ is a good idea. I was SOOO glad that I had dry socks on Tuesday. After only two landings (good landings in the LZ) my socks were soaked and I was delighted to be able to change them. (Due to copious rain, there was standing water EVERYWHERE!) 5. Keeping hydrated and fed is important. I know that this sounds obvious, but the pace of competition and the need to prep the next jump can interfere with attending to these needs. Occasionally, I was actually happy that we had weather holds so I could get caught up. 6. Bring sun block and insect repellent. This is an outdoor sport and packing accordingly is important. My insect repellent made me a popular guy when the mosquitoes were in full “attack mode”. 7. Keeping an eye on teammates when under canopy is important. Many, many jumpers landed out. Knowing that folks were seen under a good canopy and where they were was very helpful when teammates didn’t make it back to the DZ. 8. Carrying a cell phone is a good thing when in a new place or when conditions make landing out likely. My cell phone got me a quick pick-up from the friendly staff at Skydive Spaceland. If one of my teammates had carried a phone, we would not have been so worried when he was missing for 45 minutes. 9. When you know that you aren’t going to make it to the DZ, plan both your landing and your return to the DZ. Landing safely is paramount, but taking a few seconds to plan how you are going to get to the nearest road can be a big help. Walking away from the road because of poor planning can make life miserable. 10. Even in intermediate class… the best teams are REALLY good. Train hard and bring your very best game. 11. Remember to have a good time no matter what the outcome. The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

I spent most of last week at Nationals jumping as outside center on an intermediate 4-way FS team. As I watched all the teams work, it became VERY clear to me that this event ISN'T 4 way... It really is 5-way. The importance of the camera flyer only becomes obvious when there is a camera bust. Flying camera for FS (RW) sounds simple... but it isn't. It seemed that struggling with camera busts was a common issue in the intermediate class. I don't mean this as criticism of camera flyers. My point is that often they don't get the credit due them. Thanks to all the camera flyers who make it look easy! Thanks also, to those camera flyers working hard to learn to make it look easy... we love you too! The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Don't forget THE WIND. @ SDD, the wind will keep you down more than clouds and rain. Congrats and Good Luck! The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Hard to choose. There have been so many. However, the full altitude H&P / flag / sunrise jump on Memorial Day 2009 was pretty special. My avatar is a photo from that jump. The people were great, the view was great, the symbolism of the flag on sunrise of Memorial Day....it was a mighty cool jump. Thanks to all who helped make it great: Jim and Erika Plohenin (sp?), Becky Gruber, Cali Dave Ryder, and the jumper who shall remain nameless who helped make the jump great by NOT having a Cypres fire (like on his previous sunrise jump),et al. The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

What do you expect from a canopy named "devil" in Spanish? The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

It is truly amazing that this question even needs to be asked. I guess some folks live rather insulated/isolated lives. OF COURSE THE USPA SELLS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS... JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS THAT INFO AND CAN LEGALLY SELL IT. I have no complaints about USPA selling the list... the organization needs $$$ to run and I would rather that they take it from advertisers than me! The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Smile, Breathe, Relax. It will be great! The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

You got it exactly backwards. Two week cycle is when plasma is removed and red cells returned to the donor. The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Similar recent thread with references to military and FAA standards for flight crews. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3651915#3651915 The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Articulated Harness Bonus: If (when) leg straps need replacement... they are MUCH easier and cheaper to replace on a rig with articulated harness. The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Congrats. I hope that you are able to get licensed before lousy weather gets in the way. Nice to meet you yesterday. The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

For USPA dropzones, here is the USPA policy: http://www.uspa.org/SIM/Read/Section5/tabid/168/Default.aspx#970 The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Welcome Aboard! The most recent weather forecast (scroll down the linked screen) I have seen shows Sunday looking possible (and way better than Saturday). Rain or shine, my team will be there. Drop by and say "Hi". The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

I chose Skydive Dallas because of the quality of the coaching program between AFF and A license. It worked really well for me...see this post about my first day as a licensed skydiver. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2896015#2896015 Of course, Skydive Temple has folks almost as friendly as Skydive Dallas! The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

If you read to the bottom of that section you will note that skydivers, while aboard the aircraft, DO have to be provided oxygen above 15k in the USA: FAR Sec. 91.211 Supplemental oxygen (a) General. No person may operate a civil aircraft of U.S. registry-- (1) At cabin pressure altitudes above 12,500 feet (MSL) up to and including 14,000 feet (MSL) unless the required minimum flight crew is provided with and uses supplemental oxygen for that part of the flight at those altitudes that is of more than 30 minutes duration; (2) At cabin pressure altitudes above 14,000 feet (MSL) unless the required minimum flight crew is provided with and uses supplemental oxygen during the entire flight time at those altitudes; and (3) At cabin pressure altitudes above 15,000 feet (MSL) unless each occupant of the aircraft is provided with supplemental oxygen. The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

Congratulations. Welcome Aboard. 1. Discuss the weather issues with the local DZ...they know what you can expect. 2. Be patient. At my DZ in springtime the issue that grounds students most often is wind. However, the wind often settles down just before dusk. The patient students often are grounded all day and then are able to jump on one of the later loads in the day. That was my story. I spent many a day watching the wind blow, waiting for my moment. I often only got one jump per day done. However, I made good use of the time on the ground. I watched landings... lots and lots of landings. I learned a lot by watching. I also made friends at the DZ watched everything, asked lots of questions and generally tried to be active while not jumping. 3. If the locals tell you to expect lots of delays due to the onset of fall and that you probably won't get licensed before springtime.... consider a trip to a warmer place and knocking out you training in a week or so. Several warm places come to mind: Skydive Arizona Perris Valley Skydiving Skydive Spaceland Skydive Deland and of course my home DZ... Skydive Dallas (although we do have some chilly months of jumping). The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!