Army Single Service Training - Parachute Jump

By OCDT Ryan Pitt
06 November 2008

ADFA offers some amazing experiences to midshipmen and officer cadets. As second year Army officer cadets we recently attended the Army Parachute Training School (PTS) in Nowra. We completed an intense three day course before jumping into water off the south coast of NSW.

When we arrived we were given first class parachutes which we used to practice throughout our stay at PTS.  We were taught all the basic drills required to conduct the Parachute Familiarisation Course in a large hanger especially made for this kind of training. It was a great boost to our confidence to be able to physically conduct the drills, and a good opportunity for us to talk with instructors about their own experiences in the Army.

On the day of the actual jump our nerves were high and our adrenaline pumping.  When it came time for my group to board the aircraft we were all excited and ready to jump.  As the plane took off it was amazing to see the ground fall away from the rear of the open aircraft.

As we flew over the drop zone, we stood up and prepared to exit the plane. I was the fifth person to jump and watching my friends disappear in front of me was a strange sight.  Before I knew it, I had jumped into thin air and was falling to earth.  The drills I had been taught instinctively kicked in and I looked up to see my parachute open.  As I glanced around I could see the water below and my mates around me.

As my feet touched the water I disengaged my parachute and dropped in. As quickly as I landed in the ocean I was grabbed out by the instructors in their boats.  It was short ride but one I will never forget.

When I came to ADFA I knew I was going to be put out of my comfort zone, but I never imagined such an amazing feeling. My training ensured that I was able to overcome my nerves and enjoy the descent, and I’m already looking forward to the next challenge.


Army Single Service - Parachute Jump
Site built by Educational Technology Services UNSW@ADFA