Journey There: Leaving home on 13th August 2025 in time to be at the minibuses for 2015hrs, the excitement was getting bigger. After meeting up with everyone and final checks with our OC, Charlie, we were on way. Travelling from Belfast to Dublin to get the ferry (and a couple of hours sleep), then the long drive to Netheravon, England. Most of the journey was spent sleeping, eating and having good craic. We arrived at the accommodation at around 1530hrs on the 14th August, and were pleased to see how spacious and cosy the rooms were. Night One was spent eagerly awaiting our training the next day, and excitement was added to nerves. We really were here and ready to begin training for our Jump!
Training: As soon as everyone’s alarms went off in the early morning, we all shot up out of bed in excitement, knowing that we were going to jump out of a plane 4000ft in the sky. We got our delicious breakfast at 0715hrs and proceeded to our training at 0800hrs. We met our instructor, John, and were grateful he was very nice and got to know us immediately. He made our training as enjoyable and fun as possible, all while making sure we learned everything we needed to safely enjoy our SOLO parachuting experience. The course was very strange; it was completely new and nothing like anything any of us had ever done before. Yet, it was thrilling and engaging. Some of our favourite parts of the training were using the big baby bouncers to imitate being in the air and practicing the landing positions so that we wouldn’t get hurt. Once we had finished the training, we had the written test to ensure we understood and had learnt everything we were taught. Thankfully, nobody failed so everyone was cleared to jump! Now it was time to JUMP!
4000 feet! It’s 2000hrs, we get our gear, our chutes and prepare to get into the plane. The plane itself is a C208, a propeller plane with a side door that slides into the ceiling. The roar of the engine makes it really, really real! We are actually going to do this… the tension and anxiety is coming off everyone as we get strapped in, hooked up, take off and climb into the air. Everyone is nervous, some more than others, but as we make our way into the sky, the nerves are replaced by the adrenaline rush. We are so high up and jumping out of a plane, 4000 ft in the air. Cdt SSgt LM is at the front, ready to go. The doors open, we all shuffle forward, L at the door. “Stand by, Stand by” calls to Jump Master, “Go.” And away L flies. His chute opens and it is Cdt Sgt HA’s turn to shuffle forward……..
Then the order continues: Cdt Cpl NC, Cdt Sgt ED, Cdt Sgt AL, Cdt Sgt T S, Cdt Sgt SK and Cdt Sgt SC.
The parachute opens immediately we leave the plane, one by one, and our safety is completely and purely in our own hands, meaning we have to control the parachute, especially on landing in the designated field. Landing safely, a grin as wide as it could go, L tells the ground crew:
“The views were amazing and I would 100% do it again.”
We all agree that one of the best parts about the jump was seeing the beautiful pink and orange sunset as we float back down to earth and seeing the vast view of fields below us while being in the sky.
Aftermath: After we finished our jumps, the OC treated us to whatever we wanted for dinner. Pizza, fast food choices and dips were the foods of choice. The adrenaline still running through us, it wasn’t so easy to settle, even to our favourite foods. Then, back to the barracks and heading straight to bed. Tired but exhilarated, it was good to get a comfy bed after out long day.
Relaxation Day: After a well-needed long sleep, the OC gave us a lie-in. Breakfast wasn’t until 0930hrs! When all fed and watered, we got into the minibus and headed to Bovington Tank Museum. It was a huge museum full of all types of tanks, missiles, military artifacts and information about multiple wars. It was a good few hours of a very different type of learning than yesterday. The museum was very interactive, giving us the chance to see the mechanisms inside the tanks and the replicas of the bunkers used, mostly from WWII. After our visit to the museum, we travelled back to the barracks for dinner and some time to watch the next course finish their evening jumps. A bit of down time and chatting about what we have achieved, and it was an early night.
Travelling home: An early morning (as usual) on 17th August, bags packed, rooms cleaned and breakfast. Then back on the minibuses for the long drive and ferry home. There was definitely more sleeping than talking on the way home than when we left. But the good feelings and pride we felt in ourselves and each other remained. We really did jump 4000! And on our own.
The Cadets would like to thank the OC and Melissa for organising this Jump and for giving us the opportunity of a lifetime.
