Skydiving is something I have always wanted to do, just always watching SOCOM sky divers jumping and landing like a bird. I know I can do it. I decided i had to do this and wanted to do Free Fall.
On Monday, Jan 31, 2005, I arrived early at air Operation Department, Special Operation Command to get registered for class. My journey began with my free fall instructor, Msg Fernandez. He spent teaching me how to handle my parachute and what I was going to do during the free fall and what to do if I have a parachute malfunction. After a month of stabilization training, malfunction drill, tower training, exit drills, canopy management and parachute rigging he schedule me for first assisted jump but it was to rainy and cold so the jump got postponed until the next day.
Monday, February 21 dawned bright and sunny with a few white puffy clouds. A great day for a skydive. Suddenly the nerves set in. I really was going to jump out of an airplane. We got to the dropzone, I checked in, and a little later met with my jumpmaster, Tsg De dios . He got me suited up in my parafoil parachute and walked me through my jump. Then suddenly we were on the plane and I knew I was in for a truly incredible experience.
As we climbed to altitude, my jumpmaster, Tsg De dios, had me talk through my skydive. We checked the altitude and as we approached jump altitude, everyone in the plane began doing gear checks and putting on helmets. A few moments later the door goes up and people start jumping out of the plane. I slide down closer and closer to the door until it is my turn to jump. I have to close the door of the plane and go back around because we are too far out from the landing area. Then the door opens again, my jumpmasters ask me if I am ready and then I am in the door, ready to jump. Suddenly time just kind of stands still. There is this incredible blast of cold air that hits me in the face. I prepare to do my count, I count, and then I am out of the plane. Upon exiting the plane a momentary panic sets in, then I arch and realize I am incredibly stable and controlled in this flight and I begin to look around.
Time seems to have stood still to allow this incredible experience to happen. I do my objectives that the jumpmasters have outlined for me and then it is time to open my parachute. Out comes this beautiful, perfectly rectangular parachute that is just incredible. I get to just absorb the world below me as I float safely down towards it. The world just doesn't look quite the same from up there. Trivial things seem to melt away as I explore this new frontier from the air. As I get closer to earth I have to land the parachute. I get to the ground safely, only having to put a knee down to keep me from tumbling. It was easier to land than I thought it was going to be.
Now, I belong to the brave sky divers who conquers the fair and see the beautiful world up in the sky. This experience has changed me forever .I think it is safe to say that I will jump even after 50 years from now…Now I always jumped with SOCOM Military Free faller… Incredible!
THANKS TO THE MILITARY FREEFALL INSTRUCTOR FROM AIR OPERATION DEPARTMENT, SPECIAL FORCES SCHOOL, SPECIAL FORCES REGIMENT, AIRBORNE,PHIL. ARMY
BLUE SKIES !!!
