I bet you've made every hopeful in here,both regs and 4 PARA, very jealous and excited.A highlight for me was definitely an Exercise in America when I attached to B Coy Gp 3 PARA. We deployed to the US to integrate with their 1st Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment (1-325 AIR) and also US Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) (USACAPOC). Really interesting guys and a great opportunity. There were a fair few 4 PARA blokes attached so it was a real jolly and the banter was immense. Everyone was in really good form.
We had plenty of jumps which was great. The weather was unreal. Perfectly clear sunny days and clear cool nights. What made me laugh though was the yanks attitude to medical risk during jumping. They literally said to us that injuries are part of the nature of parachuting and one of the reasons for parachute pay!
Out of over 1400 jumpers with light winds there were about 50 injuries on the DZ of which only one was semi-serious (two broken feet). Their DZ’s are carnage! No 4 PARA/3PARA had to be scrapped off the deck though. The 82nd Airborne requires their paratroopers who are either out of date (not parachuted for 6 months) or not used the T-11 parachute to complete refresher training and a daytime “Hollywood jump” (clean fatigue) before jumping on exercise. Myself and a few other 4 PARA lads managed to blag our way on to some “Hollywood jumps” which felt amazing. Literally jumping out of military airframes in civvies/para sports gear. It’s mad how gentle a landing you can have without kit.
All US mass tactical jumps are executed at night; daylight jumps are typically only used for new equipment training etc so that was pretty cool. Had the opportunity to night jump with NVGs over Fort Bragg which was very cool. We also had the opportunity to watch a demo of some of their SF guys jump in, secure a compound whilst their oppos fast roped in and smashed it to bits. Very cool to see Delta boys first hand.
The scoff was unreal too. No minging range stew fished out of a Norgie there! Feeding on the training area was covered by 1-325 AIR’s ‘Assault Kitchen’ (a full field kitchen that smashed out gourmet meals ) and staffed by very easy on the eye Latina women that would eat you for breakfast! Post Ex we had some down time and were bused down to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We got put up free of charge in these apartments with private swimming pools overlooking the beach.
The Yank military police issued us all with a ‘lost soldier card’ which had the details of our accom and contact details for duty personnel. These were also given to the door staff in the most frequented bars in Fayetteville! I thought that was pretty funny as it was literally a “return to sender” badge. Great nights out with US troops and 3 PARA lads. Definitely some stories I best not repeat. Definitely a highlight for me!
I bet you've made every hopeful in here,both regs and 4 PARA, very jealous and excited.
Masterchef trophy is in the post. Currently stuck on a lorry in DoverMaking a curry on a hexi burner on an upturned dust bin in the block at 3 in the morning as a young Tom after a night out.
Adventure training, travel, ops, courses etc. Whatever you feel is the best thing you got to do whilst serving.
@Iron what are the most neglected areas in preparation for depot? Lack of core strength seem to come up often.Another highlight for me was my time as a Corporal within a training platoon as an Instructor at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, turning people like yourself, into Paras. It’s hard graft but worth it.
Good question and although I don’t like deviating too much from the thread title I’ll answer. If anyone wants to ask more then by all means get a new thread running.@Iron what are the most neglected areas in preparation for depot? Lack of core strength seem to come up often.
Mine much like this, also on HERRICK.Genuine answer- Musa Qala 2006. Intense contacts to the point we even kipped in body armour and helmet. True Reg