Judah

Graduated the Army's Basic Airborne Course with 8 jumps (3, an injury and almost 6 months recovery, then back and all 5 required jumps again). Pretty excited about working in more jumps on the military side, but am also curious as to whether I'd be able to jump static line on the civilian side now? The T-11 lands a little hard for my liking (I weigh 200 pounds), and I was hoping someone could tell me what the rate of descent might be for a civilian static line chute? I'm interested in freefall, but am hoping to get trained through the military vice going straight for an AFF course.

I broke my ankle and calcaneus my first night time static line jump at Fort Benning in February, and the doctor just cleared me to return to regular duty. I ran 5 miles Sunday at about a 7:19 mile pace, and my ankle was really sore after. With some ice and elevation (no drugs, unfortunately I have a bad liver due to a reaction to anti-malaria drugs while I was stationed in Africa) I pretty much felt fine the next day. I can do PLFs off a 2 foot box in the gym without too much discomfort, but I am looking into ankle brace options. My question for everyone with some more experience is this: while I can wear an ankle brace, and I assume I should while I am actually jumping for the time being, would it be equally helpful to simply cut weight? I should be going back to do the final week of jump school over again in August, and will do 5 more static line jumps over 4 days. I am a bigger guy (6'2+ and 210 pounds), and from talking to a few folks more knowledgable than me it sounds like losing 15 or 20 pounds between now and jumping again would have a noticeable difference in perceived impact on landing. Can anyone speak to that? I certainly don't want to re-break myself, and being in my thirties am already the "old man" to be just starting on military static line.

I stumbled across your forum while trying to entertain myself during convalescent leave following an injury at the Army's Basic Airborne Course. I have completed three static line jumps- unfortunately I broke my tibia (nondisplaced) and the back quarter of my heel off on my third jump (first night jump). I have 6 months from my injury to recover and return to finish my last two jumps, and thought this might be an interesting place to read and follow in the mean time. Once I am able to complete my static line course, I should be attending a free fall course a few months after if all goes well.