Bradfield College CCF Parachute Course

On the 13th of October Bradfield College CCF Army Section, with 6 cadets and 2 CFAVs, headed to Netheravon Airfield on Sailsbury Plain to take part in their first solo parachute jump.

Tom, a Cadet Corporal, describes the experience:

“The parachuting course started on a Friday evening with a drive to our accommodation, a slightly chilly bunkhouse on the edge of the airfield which would be our home for the weekend. Training started bright and early on the Saturday morning and consisted of us being drilled on everything we needed to do when we jumped. The best bit of the training was definitely when we were suspended in the parachute harness so we could perform the drills in a more realistic scenario.

On the day of the jump everyone’s nerves were on edge. We kitted up and were briefed on the wind for the day. After boarding the plane, I was set to jump last however after most of the stick had jumped, we were told that we were not going to be able to jump, as the winds had picked up. Disappointed, we landed with the plane. We were waiting for an hour and planning to leave but then got told that the winds had dropped slightly and just half an hour later I was on a plane yet again.

When I was called up for the jump, I was terrified, sitting in the door the shear amount of wind shocked me. I think the highlight of the whole trip was that moment of jumping out of the plane with adrenaline pumping. When I jumped, I forgot all the drills that I was meant to know but when my parachute deployed twisted the training kicked right back in and I quickly untwisted it cleanly. Looking around I could see the British countryside all around. As I descended a voice from the radio strapped to my helmet guided me down to a slightly rough landing in a field I had to share with some highland cattle! This was a great weekend that I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.”