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Cadet Sport Parachute team trains new members

Submitted by the Cadet Sport Parachute team

This summer the West Point Sport Parachute team trained its newest members in preparation for their next three years as Black Knight jumpers.

The student training program, newly designed this year, combined necessary accelerated free fall training for the new members and an experience of “in extremis leadership” for the team’s firsties.

Over the course of three weeks, each of the 12 yearlings completed an average of 45 free-fall jumps and met all of the requirements for their United States Parachute Association “A” (skydiving) license.

The coaching and instruction from noncommissioned officer coaches, officer representatives and 10 firsties helped the yearlings obtain their licenses.

In some cases, the NCOs and officers had to get additional certifications to conduct the training.

The team conducted operations on four different drop zones, jumping the first time in Geneseo with the support of the New York National Guard (Det. 1, Co. B, 3-126th Aviation) who provided lift capability with a CH-47 Chinook.

The team also received extensive support from the 2nd Aviation Detachment, skydiving instructors from the Special Operations Command, from MacDill Air Force Base and the Silver Wings Parachute Demonstration Team, from Ft. Benning, Ga.

After collectively making more than 1,300 jumps during summer training, the Black Knights will continue to perform parachute demonstrations at cadet reviews and Army football games during the 2009-10 academic year.

The team looks forward to a very successful jumping season.