Page 45 - Cadet Review Autumn 2022

CADET REVIEW AUTUMN 2022 45
from 4000ft. After an exciting but short flight, the first on any plane for one cadet, the door opened and it was time to go.
Staff Sergeant Rebecca Montgomery, Detachment Commander Endcliffe Hall when asked about
her weekend said: “So when I signed up for the parachute jump last year, it was a case of ‘sure,
I can do that’, and was doing it for the ‘old birds’. We had the brief and I felt confident, I knew what I had signed up for and that Netheravon has an incredible safety record. On the day of the jump, I experienced the whole range of emotions from
frustration, excitement, anticipation, nerves, frazzled brain from the training and thinking WHAT AM I DOING?? You leave the plane with an initial ARGH but then your training kicks in – 1000 2000 3000 4000 CHECK CANOPY – Is it big? Is it rectangular? Is it free from damage? Can I control it? Once your breathing returns to normal, the air is calm, you
get to see fabulous 360 degree views and you feel like you are flying, or some would say falling with grace-ish! A voice in your ear guides you not to land on the direction arrow, and you remember your landing drills – LAND WITH TWO FEET FLAT. So
I flare my canopy to slow down and feel that I can land with two feet and take a couple of steps to walk coolly away. Only I didn’t. Oh I landed with two feet, and was so happy that I forgot to take the steps and faceplanted the buttercup field! Relieved, with pride slightly bruised but happy that I can say ‘I have done that’. This was a big enough thing for me to do as
a middle-aged adult, it is massive for the cadets and they have done themselves proud by pushing themselves out of their comfort zones, and everyone has led by example. Brilliant!”
Cadet Robert King said: “By far the best experience I have had in my entire life, the adrenaline was an amazing feeling especially with the team around me. Making new friends is always the best too.”
At the end of the weekend six cadets who had completed the training and a solo static line jump were presented with the cadet parachutist badge by chief instructor Stacey Canning.
The event was organised by Sergeant Instructor Gemma Randle who deserves a great deal of praise for a very well planned event which has been an amazing experience for everyone involved.