ISSUE 14 : Jan/Feb - 1979 - Australian Defence Force Journal

\PARACHUTEFAMILIARISATIONCOURSES"A Graduates report"Major XL R. IrvineRoyal Australian InfantryGeneralTHIS report is designed to provideinformation to those who have neverheard of the course or are still hesitating.VenueThe course is conducted at PTSWILLIAMTOWN. PTS is not a privatetransport system (although it acts as one) butPARACHUTE TRAINING SCHOOL, anArmy-run school at the RAAF BaseWILLIAMTOWN.The CourseThe CI introduces himself (Good morning, Iam LT. COL . . . , CI of PTS; on behalf of theBase Comd. . . .) and gives a brief on thecourse. The brief is well presented and theattitude of the CI, and the humour of the slides,relax (temporarily) all but the most devoutcowards. You learn that:a. if you are in the Army, you are probablytoo old or too important to be fullytrained as a military parachutist (heforgot too much of a coward);b. the course is nothing more thanfamiliarisation, that is, you don't get'wings', a certificate or even a chickenfeather; andc. you will enjoy yourself (sickly grins).You then observe a live commercial (called ademo by PTS) for the parachute. This leads youto believe (temporarily) that:a. there is no chance of the 'chute NOTopening;b. your arms are not going to be ripped off;andc. there is no need to cancel any plannedvasectomy; all parts will still befunctional.If you are chosen to be in the first flight (thatis, you stood in the front rank when they lineyou up), you move to your equipment whereyou are:a. introduced to the life jacket (goodmorning Miss West);b. shown how to fit and adjust yourparachute (I might cancel that vasectomyafter all);c. practised in exit position, descentpositions and water entry drill (haven't Imentioned landing in the water'. 7 ).You then move to the mock-up Caribouaircraft (which is cunningly disguised as apartly finished shed) where you practisehooking-up and stepping out of the aircraft. Bythis stage, you feel that you are thoroughlyfamiliar with parachuting and can go home.But no!You then are given a cup of tea or coffee (1declined due to a funny sensation in my lowerabdomen), lined up and counted off in fours.You are delighted to find that this is yourjumping order and not teams for a tagwrestlingmatch.