The Final Test For A Jumpmaster

The Jumpmaster Course trains paratroopers to be Jumpmasters. Basically, a Jumpmaster is responsible to make sure the parachutes have no safety issues and are properly worn by each jumper before they jump out of the aircraft. They are also the ones who, when the aircraft is in flight and the door has been opened, check the door for safety, then, with feet solidly placed at the edge of the door & holding firmly to each side of the door, lean out the door, and watch for landmarks to identify the dropzone (place where we jump out and hope to land). Once the dropzone has been identified, they give the various prepare to jump warnings, they direct the first jumper to the door, and when the airplane crew gives the "Green Light" (a red/green light next to the door), commands "Go!" to the first jumper. At the command "Go!" all jumpers exit the aircraft about a second apart. The last jumper out being the Jumpmaster.

The final of the course is a pass/fail test in flight on the aircraft. The test is for jumpmaster candidate to be able to check the jumper's static lines, the safety of the door, then properly hang out the door, and then direct the jump at the proper time. I was 13th in line on the plane to take the test. The first in line, a young sergeant decided he would show the Jumpmaster Instructors that he was as good as they were, so he checked the door, placed his hand on the side of the door, and popped his body vigorously out the door, planning to hang as far out as he could but............he was so vigorous........he actually kept right on going out the door........

The next up was a female LT, having watched the sergeant, was much less vigorous and gingerly held onto the door frame, and proceeded to hang outside.........then we heard a faint "help me ......... help me"......then we watched as first one finger, then another, then another popped loose from the leading door edge......until she also followed the sergeant out the door.......the Jumpmaster Instructor, looked out the door shook his head and in each case wrote "failed" on their grading slips and threw the slips out the door after jumpers........now you have to understand that a Jumpmaster never ever "falls out the door" and to fall out during the test was automatic failure of the course. The pass rate for the Jumpmaster Course was less than 50% of those who start the Course. So you know when it was my turn to be at the door for the test.....I had a "Death Grip" on the door....I would not be surprised that the airplane might still have my finger impressions in the door frame.....needless to say I had a good hang and passed the test and became a Jumpmaster. I had a number of interesting jumps over the years, some of which involved running off other jumpers parachutes, trees, thorn bushes, vehicles on the dropzone but these are for another telling