Jump School Today

[JoBa]

I'm wondering if the old tough days are about like how each generation thinks they are the ones who invented sex. I do know, to me, the old 101st Ft Campbell jump school was indeed a bitch, but I'll bet the kids going through the school of today regard it as, to them, still being a bitch.

The old original Recondo school was a bitch, no if and or buts about it, but the jump school, if you were in shape, did not show up wearing Cochran jump boots, and had no airborne ink, you would probably survive the course.

-John

[JoBa]

I just checked out if they even still had Cochran jump boots and found this;

http://www.patriotsurplus.com/1500.html

In 1962 when I served, they cost us $135.00 a pair. I had three pairs. In all that time they have only gone up around $10.00 a pair. I thought they'd be around $300.00 or so by now.

Do active paratroopers even wear Cochran jump boots anymore? For us, they were part of our skin, we did everything but sleep in them (at least in garrison). We did not wear jogging shoes or tennis shoes for morning PT, only our Cochrans. A new pair broke your feet in to them, kind of painful the first few weeks, but after that, they were part of you.

Cochran jump boots were our only footwear, from class A dress to mud running, swamp wading, PT, whatever. We all had a minimum of three pairs. One for class A, one for inspection (those were never worn) and one for everyday and boon docks.

-John

[Ops NCO]

I just checked out if they even still had Cochran jump boots and found this;

http://www.patriotsurplus.com/1500.html

In 1962 when I served, they cost us $135.00 a pair. I had three pairs. In all that time they have only gone up around $10.00 a pair. I thought they'd be around $300.00 or so by now.

Do active paratroopers even wear Cochran jump boots anymore? For us, they were part of our skin, we did everything but sleep in them (at least in garrison). We did not wear jogging shoes or tennis shoes for morning PT, only our Cochrans. A new pair broke your feet in to them, kind of painful the first few weeks, but after that, they were part of you.

Cochran jump boots were our only footwear, from class A dress to mud running, swamp wading, PT, whatever. We all had a minimum of three pairs. One for class A, one for inspection (those were never worn) and one for everyday and boon docks.

-John

That interesting. In the mid-late 80's, we only wore jump boots while in class A's. Rarely, if ever, with BDUs in garrison, and never, ever in the field.

But one thing was the same: Like The World's Most Interesting Man - we rarely wore jump boots. But when we did, we only wore Cochrans...

[RAMKILR]

In the '70s we wore Corcorans most of the time, but switched over to the regular issue boots for field duty. And I don't recall spending $135 for mine either - I don't recall what I spent, but I think it was in the $50 range. I still have them, and wear them when I march in the Veterans day parades with my American Legion post, or ride in the parade with the PGR...

[IEDmagnet]

.... but I'll bet the kids going through the school of today regard it as, to them, still being a bitch.

Personally, I thought BAC was a joke. But that was '95.

[zanshin]

Ditto on RAMKILR's comments. Bought a pair new of Corcorans at the PX at Ft. Polk on the advice of a TAC NCO. I had twisted my ankle badly on our final bivouac in AIT, and he said to get a pair for support if I was gonna try to tough it out through Jump School and not get held back. It worked, although there a lot of moments I had to work hard not to let the Blackhats see me limp or wince, especially on the swing-landing trainer.

After getting dogged for 8 miserable weeks at Tigerland in Low-Crawl Alpha Co, the relaxed freedom of Jump School was amazing. Me and a platoon buddy from AIT would catch the bus to Columbus early on Sat. morning, go to Ranger Joe's, walk around all day, catch a movie, get a room at the Ralston Hotel, even go to Sunday services at the big 1st Baptist Church (good place to meet and spend some time with girls).

[Jeff82]

That interesting. In the mid-late 80's, we only wore jump boots while in class A's. Rarely, if ever, with BDUs in garrison, and never, ever in the field.

But one thing was the same: Like The World's Most Interesting Man - we rarely wore jump boots. But when we did, we only wore Cochrans...

x2 In the early - mid 80's same thing. Jungle boots day to day and in the field and Cochrans with Class A's.

[Para-327th]

Mid to late 80s, I wore my Cochrans whenever I could in garrison weather permitting since I was the O6's high speed driver. We also gained authorization to wear Jungle boots up in Alaska in the summer, which was helpful due to the soggy conditions of the muskeg we ran around on. Our new O6 asked my opinion if 1st Bde should be allowed Jungle boots once the CG authorized them for the 6 ID(L). I'd like to think I was instrumental in helping the Col. form his opinion.

[JoBa]

If you guys look closely at the photos on this thread I posted

http://www.armyparatrooper.org/dropz...um-early-1960s

You will see that every trooper, wet or dry, is wearing Cochrans. Look for the distinctive slanted heel if your in doubt.

A side note for you modern paratroopers; The reason for the slanted heel was so your boot would not snag any metal on the floor of the airplane during the famous "Airborne Shuffle" to the door.

-John

[Jeff82]

The way I see it, the Corcoran jump boot started in the very early days of the US airborne history meeting a specific need for those forces. With the passage of time newer boots eclipsed the jump boot for airborne and field use. However the ability of the jump boot to take a high-speed shine, and it's history, kept it the most duly qualified for ceremonial use.

[JoBa]

Our garrison, class A, and inspection only Cochrans, were always kept to the maximum level of very high gloss spit shine. In an emergency, we used underarm deodorant pads to bring them back to what they should be. This only works on well built up wax.

In Nam, the leather did not hold up so well in that humid, wet environment, so the jungle boot was re-introduced.

Then the finale death knell for our beloved Cochrans came back in the late 70s or 80s. It was discovered that a spy satellite could actually pick up the reflections from them, even dirty ones out in the field.

The above "facts" are based on my recollections of various articles I have read over the years. I'm getting on, the little chemical transmitters in my brain are not what they once were, so please correct me if I am wrong.

-John

[oldmp]

My clearest memory of jump school was "break area procedures". Those guys took turns smoking us. Then asking. "anyone wanna quit?" "There's coffee and donuts in the white house". pointing up the hill. I later ran into my BAC company commander (42nd Company)at Bragg, he was the CO of the Golden Knights.http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...18574043_a.jpg

[Old All American]

I had to go through Jump School twice, first in 1975 where an old Judo ankle injury acted up and got me put on medical hold, I finally was able to go back in 1981 when I got assigned to Bragg and finally get my wings. I remember Jump School as a constant smoke both times. The first time the physical part was easier, the second, being older, I found I could handle the mindgames better, but as I said before I had the benefit of Ft. Bragg PT. True, we had the relief of being finished after the training day, but the time they had us was a constant dog. After the PT test which washed some two hundred (our class was too big as I recall being told), we did Break Area Procedures which was at least an hour (maybe two, can't say as it's been so long) of being dropped because we were too slow, didn't sound off loud enough or recover fast enough from low crawling back into formation, all the while constantly being asked if anyone wanted to quit. And there were those who did.

Then, once you survived that you were doubletimed to training where pushups or "beating your boots" if you were in harness was constantly being barked if you were too fast, too slow, not loud enough or just unsatisfactory in anything you did or failed to do. Mound detail was a dog, we were never fast enough in unhooking the jumpers from the 34 foot towers so we were dropped. Lord help the rope man who had to run the risers back to the tower - HE was always too slow and dropped. Guys doing the exits were little better off, does anyone remember "sitting at attention" on those benches with feet and knees together watching the door of the 34 foot tower - Lord help you if you took your eyes off the tower.

I remember a SFC Demons who looked just like Flip Wilson on steroids. He used to stand off from you about ten to fifteen meters away from the bench right in the edge of your peripheral vision and start staring at a victim. You knew what he was doing but eventually you were going to glance over at him - which was what he wanted. He'd grin and come over to you, get right in your face and say, "You know what you did wrong! Now drop down and give me ten!"

While you were down he'd start with one-liners that would crack you up, getting your more and more pushups. Of course, other guys would start cracking up and before you knew it everyone on the bench was doing pushups. I loved and hated that guy.

Then there were the runs all over post they'd take us on Friday, (particularly the Friday of Zero Week) when they told us if we fell out we'd be recycled. I think on Zero Week they told us everyone who finished would get the rest of the day off and be off the duty roster that weekend. Man, they ran us out to the hospital, the then-new PX, back to Main Post where they gave us a tour of the Infantry Museum and just as we thought we were going home they remembered they hadn't shown us Lawson Field so we had to do a "column left" and head down the hill, then back up. I remember guys dropping out left and right. Then, when we were finally running back down the street leading to our barracks they ran us past our normal stopping point. About half the remaining guys fell out right there. I was about to say to heck with it when the cadre, who had been hiding behind the buildings and trees came out and began dogging those who had dropped, I figured I could make it a few more blocks - which was all we had to run. About a block past the barracks they called "Quick Time" counter-columned us and marched us back. It had all been a mind trick to see who was willing to go "all the way." Which has always been one of the keys to Jump School (I know from experience staying healthy is the other).

[z0phi3l]

When I went in 90-91 straight out of basic, we didn't get to redo our PT test, we had done one 2-3 days before getting to Benning, all I recall is PT in the pits, running, pushups, and chinups, at the time they had the real low bars for the women to use while in a reverse pushup stance, some of the Females opted to use the regular pullup bar, those were the only ones to actually make it to the end and jump/graduate.

[Recon133]

July & Aug at Ft Bragg. Started with over 400. Probably 15% fell out the first week due to the heat and humidity. Lost about 1/3 total. Everyone who started jump week, graduated.