scholarkyle

Thanks for all your insight fellas. Already in touch with I3uller, Popsjumper. Will continue to communicate with him as well as a fella or two who've pm'd me. This was certainly a bit enlightening and I'm looking forward to making some new friends in the sport. I really could care less whether my static-line jumps count--I mean, at a cost level, certainly getting my cert sooner is appealing, but I also don't want to rush things. Some of the guys on here seem really into a rush to get into BASE or freeflying asap and while I wouldn't rule that kind of thing out down the road, I'm kind of a perfectionist and expect I'll be taking my time progressing anyway--you know, try to master things the best I can before moving on. If that's an unhealthy perspective, then someone please let me know! But given the differences between s/l and freefall, I doubt my profession-related jumps will offer a ton of transferable skills--short of ofcourse, as mentioned, balking at the door...probably not too likely in my situation haha! Thanks again, folks. See you on the dropzone. Blue Skies.

Yup, I'm at Bragg--I work in USASOC. I'm in school now and finish in April--then planning on knocking this skydiving thing out before I go on to my unit sometime in May or June. (I'll basically be in a holdover status until then). But yeah--would love to get linked up with some people over there. I don't have aim, but I'll PM you my thoughts about clarifying my understanding of what I'm getting into here. haha. Looking forward to all this; biggest concern is I'm sure it'll eat into my summer surfing time in wilmington!

Okay folks--newbie here. 2 tandems and a dozen or so static line jumps with the Army. Getting my tax return in a few days and think the time is right to spend a couple grand to follow through on actually getting my A license. CANT' WAIT TO START. I'm in NC and have heard only good things about Raeford Drop Zone which is just a stone's throw away. My Dad got me "the skydiver's handbook" which seems a pretty good--if maybe dated resource. What neither the handbook nor the dropzone's webpage has made clear to me is how the progression process works--particularly after your category E jumps--ie, am I basically flying solo here or what?? I mean I'd assume that by or as part of category H you have to have some kind of certification. Just trying to get an idea for how many jumps in these categories, if I'm paying an instructor's ticket, or why the dropzone's wepage says "Continued Coach Programs for Category F through H also available and greatly encouraged!" as if I have a choice on how my training progression works?? Also relates to total cost here--don't think this dropzone has one of those all-in-one programs. Probably shoulda just called the dropzone haha, but appreciate any explanation you seasoned jumpers can provide. Thanks and thanks, folks. Kyle