Roommate
 

I actually roomed with a graduate of the BUD/S program in 82. He was gigged almost every single day for his appearance. Ironically in a strange twist of fate I dated his former wife just 4 years ago. (I'll spair the details) Although his career is much longer and distingished than mine.


That couldn't happen again in anyones lifetime.

Gents,

I graduated a little later than you guys. I was in D co 1/507th PIR, first class of 95. Our 1SG reminded everyone of Yosemite Sam.

We had one leg Ranger who was ajay squared away and always made sure us youngins were in line. I don't remember seeing any SEALS or Air Force personnel, but there were 6 or 7 Marines who were constant targets of opportunity for the Blackhats. Did have a female officer that got booted on day three because she couldn't keep up while doing the Airborne shuffle for PT. Jeez, what a disaster. Hope she never actually got to lead any troops.

BAC was not as hard as I heard growing up. Times change.

Morning PT runs
 

Based on your post it must still be the same. That being if you fell out of one of the morning PT runs or were left behind you were sent packing your duffle bag to await orders to another assignment.

IIRC "Cardiac Hill" was alway's the last 1/2 mile of the run and thats where most of the smokers lost their wind. :boohoo

Yes, it is at the end of the run. I remember it quite well. During the run, one of the black hats was telling us that this hill is nothing and to wait till we see the next one. Of course there was nothing but flat ground after that. It didn't matter to us, there was no chance we were falling out.

you know, for some reason, that reminded me of something...i think i was in the last class to go through when the barracks were still down at Lawson Field...i remember the recycles from our class and the zero week guys were moving stuff over the what was then the OCS (6th Student Battalion) area, by the 250 foot towers...after i graduated (i was held over trying to get into Training Group, but alas, i was only 19) the recycles and zero week guys moved 45th Company into the "new" barracks...

IIRC, the Pathfinder class barracks stayed there for several years, although i was never able to get a slot...

2nd generation jumper
 

:D Guys:
Just wanted to share this with you. June 1st, 2006, I got to pin my wings on my son when he completed jump school. I received them 36 years ago when I graduated. When my son had the wings mounted in a shadow box, the guys at the trophy store in Columbus said those were really old wings. You should have seen the look on their faces whan my son told them they were mine and how old they were!

Great story Hipshot... As a son having received his fathers Wings I am sure that was a proud day for your son.

My first set of wings were my fathers as well, which he received in 1943. I have never been more proud to wear anything in my life.

Rest in Peace Dad.

Your Son.

[QUOTE=Hipshot I got to pin my wings on my son [/QUOTE]

That's a proud moment. I got to pin my old Captains bars on my son a few years ago at Bragg. I just gave him a set of my Master's Wings that he will probably have pinned on this Spring at Bragg. Would like to be able to do it myself, but that is not in the cards.

My first set of wings were from a family friend (COL,ret) that he got from his father (COL, ret)... funny thing is I caught Mike's hat at his USMA graduation, and later ran into him a few times at Bragg - one time he ran his people at the Matta Mile (these were 4th POG people) to catch the 18D reclass, so lhe could tell me that my grandmother had died - he was a MAJ at the time, and I caught a lot of shit until I finally fessed up that he informed me of a family issue. I believe the TACs questions were - SGT, WTF did you do this time, that required you getting pulled out of PT by a MAJ from the 4th POG? And no I didn't say - SGT, I was born.

I'm going to have to scrounge up a picture the next time I'm at my Mom's. She took several snaps of me getting my wings (my Airborne father had passed on by this time). In one of the pics, my black hat Ssgt Veasey, is slamming them home knocking me almost into the guys formed up behind us. Perfect photo of blood wings in action. The snaps leading up to it shows Ssgt Veasey with an evil "this is gonna leave a mark" smirk on his face. Priceless.

All the Rep-63's were piled into the same group together, along with some Marine Recon guys, and a few PJ's. I can vividly recall one of Recon Marines in my group always doing an extra push-up exclaiming "and one more for Chesty!!!" Well, Ssgt Veasey had about enough of that crap by the end of ground week. The Marine was diesel... about 5-9/10 and about 225, with no visible bodyfat. He made someone a heckuva fullback at one point. We were wrapping-up the training day on Friday afternoon in that covered area where they taught PLF's (where you held onto a pull-up bar affixed to a pulley and slid down a long cable). Everyone got one last good smoking, and then we heard it... "and one more for Chesty!!!" Ssgt Veasey said "that's it, everyone up except marines last name!" He squat thrusted him, mountain climbed him, and then made him beat his boots until he literally fell over from muscle failure. All the while he made him count them off for Chesty. Needless to say we didn't hear anything more about Chesty until graduation.

After that smoking Ssgt Veasey took his hat off, had everyone take a knee for a little Q&A before we were marched back to the barracks for final formation. Several of us had met at AIT, or during basic and had been talking about blood wings for weeks, and if we wanted or were getting them. At the end of some of the typical unobtrusive questions about relatives planning for graduation, etc. I raised my hand and asked "are we going to get blood wings?" The entire group turned their head toward me, everyone of them had a penetrating look that spoke "shut-up you dumb-a$$." Ssgt Veasey cracked that same evil grin and said "don't worry we'll fix you up." He pretty much just pounded them into everyone in my groups chest... enough to get the job done, he knocked the $hit out of me when I got mine. :)

Things have changed at Ft Benning since "the good old days". The request for, or issuance of "blood wings" is grounds for termination from the training program and loss of jump status. My son was actually looking forward to me pounding his wings on when the word was passed down that anyone caught giving an "inappropriate" pinning ceremony would be ejected from the graduation exercise and would not be issued a certificate of completion. In my son's case, he re-enlisted over in Iraq to get an airborne slot and assignment to the 82nd. Had he failed the course (for whatever reason), his assignment to Bragg would have been cancelled.

This is MADNESS!

Jump School
 

:D Guys:
Here's a couple more shots from my son's jump school graduation. I had an SF cap on my son had given me for my birthday. On it I had my minature CIB and master wings. As I was walking out to take part in the pinning ceremony, I happened to glance up at the reviewing officer. He must have noticed the hat, wings and CIB because he turned back to the PA system and said "Looks like one young trooper has some big boots to fill.". After pinning Matt's wings on, the officer came up and asked me how many jumps did my son need to make to catch up with me. I replied "2,648 more and we'll be even". He laughed and hollared "Airborne". I replied "All the way" and Matt chimed in with "And then some!".

NICE pic's!

You gotta be a proud Dad!

Fine figure of a young Buck Sergeant there hipshot. You are rightfully proud.