Amen to that, Brig. I am a proud owner of my 'blood wings', as well as being pinned by every rank I ever got.

 

Let me tellya, when I made Meritorous Cpl, my GySgt, an old retread (9th Marines, Da-Nang, '65, 3PH's, Dual Cool...you get the idea), about knocked me into next month. It was....memorable.....to say the least...lol.

yeah, when I picked up Lance, we had a bodybuilder we called the Grim Reaper. I swear my heart skipped a beat when he hit my left side. If it didn't, then some function went wrong for a split second

 

9th Marines...what a legacy. I've worked with the new 1/9 and am going to assist in the build-up of the soon to be reactivated 2/9 when I get home. Reactivating 9th Marines...seems like bad JuJu to me...

I found the following it may offer some no-nonsense advice for successful completion of the Basic Airborne Course: PHYSICAL TRAINING (PT)

 

 

You must be physically fit before you start the BAC. The physically weak are more likely to either not complete the course because of an injury, or fail the course due to an inability to qualify on the training apparatuses. You will have PT the first period each day, followed by seven hours of demanding, vigorous training.

 

Typical PT Session. You must qualify during daily PT by completing the exercises and distance run. Of the 5 daily runs, any student who fails to complete two runs in a week will be eliminated from training. A typical daily PT session includes stretching warm up exercises, calisthenics maintenance exercises, and a 2.4 to 4 mile formation run. Males and females run in the same formation during PT and the average pace is 9-minutes per mile. This policy treats all BAC students as equals and meets current XVIII Airborne Corps standards.

 

BAC Daily Run Schedule WEEK

DAY

DISTANCE

PACE

 

GROUND

1

3.2 MILES

8:45 - 9:15 PER MILE

 

2

2.4 MILES

8:45 - 9:15 PER MILE

 

3

2.4 MILES

8:45 - 9:15 PER MILE

 

4

2.4 MILES

8:45 - 9:15 PER MILE

 

5

2.4 MILES

8:45 - 9:15 PER MILE

 

TOWER

1

4.0 MILES

8:45 - 9:15 PER MILE

 

2

3.5 MILES

8:45 - 9:15 PER MILE

 

3

3.5 MILES

8:45 - 9:15 PER MILE

 

4

3.5 MILES

8:45 - 9:15 PER MILE

 

5

3.5 MILES

8:45 - 9:15 PER MILE

 

 

 

 

PT Uniform.

 

Summer (APRIL thru SEPTEMBER): Brown undershirt, BDU trousers rolled to ankle height or slightly above ankle height, civilian running shoes, and white athletic socks.

Winter (OCTOBER thru MARCH): BDU shirt, brown undershirt, BDU trousers rolled to ankle height or slightly above ankle height, civilian running shoes, and white athletic socks. Cold weather jacket (field jacket or Gortex jacket), black watch cap and gloves may be directed for wear.

The purposes of the BAC are to:

 

 

1. Qualify the BAC student in the use of the parachute as a means of combat deployment. This qualification is accomplished by:

 

Developing the student's confidence though repetitious training to overcome the student's natural fear of jumping from an aircraft while in flight.

Maintaining the level of physical fitness required of a military parachutist through daily physical training.

Qualifying the student as a parachutist by performing five satisfactory parachute jumps from an aircraft in flight.

 

2. Develop a sense of leadership, self-confidence, and an aggressive spirit through mental and physical conditioning.

 

BAC course content and structure:

 

 

The BAC is divided into three training weeks: Ground Training Week, Tower Training Week, and Jump Training Week. The training starts at the individual level and progresses to a team effort.

 

 

GROUND TRAINING WEEK (WEEK 1)

 

During Ground Week, you begin an intensive program of instruction to build individual airborne skills, prepare you to make a parachute jump, and land safely. You will train on the mock door, the 34-foot tower, and the lateral drift apparatus (LDA). To go forward to Tower Training Week, you must individually qualify on the 34-foot tower, the LDA, and pass all PT requirements.

 

TOWER TRAINING WEEK (WEEK 2)

 

The individual skills learned during Ground Week are refined during Tower Week and a team effort or "mass exit" concept is added to the training. The apparatuses used this week are the 34-foot towers, the swing landing trainer (SLT), the mock door for mass exit training, and the suspended harness. Tower Week completes your individual skill training and builds team effort skills. To go forward to Jump Training Week you must qualify on the SLT, master the mass exit procedures from the 34-foot tower, and pass all PT requirements.

 

 

JUMP TRAINING WEEK (WEEK 3)

 

Successful completion of the previous weeks of training prepares you for Jump Week. Graduation is normally conducted at 1100 on Friday of Jump Week at the south end of Eubanks Field on the Airborne Walk. However, if weather, or some other reason delays the scheduled jumps, graduation may be conducted on Fryar Drop Zone (DZ) after the last jump. Guests and family members are welcome to observe all of the jumps at the DZ, attend the graduation ceremony, and participate in awarding the wings. Fryar DZ is located in Alabama on the Fort Benning Military Reservation. Following graduation you are allowed to depart for leave, or your next duty assignment. Guests and family members may qualify for billeting privileges at the Gavin House on Fort Benning. They can determine their billeting eligibility by calling the Fort Benning Billeting Office at (706) 689-0067.

utes and running shoes? 9 min per mile? that's not bad at all. I thought it's be at least boots and utes, boots and running shoes looks stupid and funny as hell

 

we used to have to run 3 miles in under 30 minutes in boots, utes, FLAK jacket with SAPIs and a full combat load, and a pack with a 50 pound sandbag. my first time doing that, it sucked, but I finished it in 26 something minutes. so I wouldn't worry much about the runs there, you're obviously not a fatbody

Thanks for that info! I am teaining well then. In run in my battalion 4 days a week (I run alone the oter 3) on average from 2.7-5 miles each day at a pace ranging from 6:50-7:45 per mile, and I have never, ever, fallen out of the run. Like I said, once I master the pull-ups, I will be ready! Thanks again for that great info!

Justin

Brig,

You make your own JU-JU. Don't fall for that superstious crap it will get you killed.

 

Chris

I don't fall for the superstitious BS. I just like tossing out the bad JuJu line.

 

Like charms...those things have mysteriously disappeared from the new MRE menus...because NOBODY was eating them,

I have "mastered" pull-ups, I can knock them out easily. I am still running 3-6 miles 5 or 6 days a week. I had been practicing pushups where my chest touches the ground, until I just re-read this and see its a closed fist method ...whoops! I leave in about a month, and can't wait!

4 days to go, Now I am excited!

remember the old cadence...

 

"If my chute don't open wide

I got a reserve by my side

If that chute should fail me, too

Look out Satan, I'm'a comin' after you...."

 

have fun

Good luck! Stay hydrated it's going to be hot, hot, hot and humid. Kevin

yeah, forget the heat, beware the humidity. make sure you consume the salt packets in the MREs. very important

Hopefully you wouldn't get a Maxwell parachute. You know, that's one that's good to the last drop! (Thanks to W.C. Fields for that).

4 days to go, Now I am excited!

Never went to jump school but I do have great memories of Sand Hill D Co. "Dragons" 1/19th Infantry Candyland. Good luck to you.

WOW It is HOT here! I had no idea. I have been red-taped as someone to be watched for heat casuality because I am from the North where its cold. I didn't think I would get internet access, but I do and have a whole 30 minutes worth!

WOW It is HOT here! I had no idea. I have been red-taped as someone to be watched for heat casuality because I am from the North where its cold. I didn't think I would get internet access, but I do and have a whole 30 minutes worth!

 

it grows on you

BTW, It will be hotter than heck down there...Being a northerner used to cold seasons and a lot of snow, It will seem like I am standing on the sun! I will start hydrating long before the trip there!

 

Justin

 

I live near Atlanta and we've had several consecutive 100+ degree days here. And it's ALWAYS hotter and more humid in Columbus. Good news is the heat wave is starting to finally break here

 

Greg

BTW Brig, There are about 7-10 Marines in my class here, most, if not all are Recon Marines. I evny their Desert uniforms, I bet they are a bit cooler than our dark heat absorbent ones, haha.

BTW Brig, There are about 7-10 Marines in my class here, most, if not all are Recon Marines. I evny their Desert uniforms, I bet they are a bit cooler than our dark heat absorbent ones, haha.

 

This morning at the swap meet I picked up a Gore Tex and Thinsulate thermal jumpsuit liner that is used for HALO jumps. The guy I bought it from was a Recon Marine. I don't suppose you need any thermal undergarments right now?????????

Haha, What I need is an air-conditioned bubble with a heat shield to travel in.

Look at the bright side to all that heat and humidity...they won't make you double time off Fryar Drop Zone.

BEAR

Fryar DZ January 1973

 

BTW Brig, There are about 7-10 Marines in my class here, most, if not all are Recon Marines. I evny their Desert uniforms, I bet they are a bit cooler than our dark heat absorbent ones, haha.

 

our deserts are quite nice. and of the Recon guys happen to be a 1st LT?

In my Platoon, there are a bunch of CPL's. There is one CPT who is about 6'6 in 2nd platoon, and a few other Marine officers who don't wear rank. No pin on rank on blouses is permitted, so we only know their rank by the Alpha or November designation before their roster number, or by talking to them.

Marines hate wearing rank in the field anyway. Kinda hurts under the FLAK jacket

Just got back today after spending 24 hours in the airports due to delays. I got my wings, I am out of the hot weather, and its back to business as usual!

 

AIRBORNE!

 

Justin