Jump Day

We jumped yesterday out at St. Mere Eglise dropzone earning our $150 extra bucks for the month. Other than the first 6 seconds where you're waiting for your chute to open I'm getting pretty used to doing it. I still don't particularly like it, as I am very much a keep-my-feet-on-the-ground guy; I prefer mountains, oceans, and vehicles. I really don't understnad why we still do static line jumping either as I can't imagine doing any World War II type invasion as an Operator. It would be too detectable for our type of mission. So I assume it's because it's is an old army tradition, and a reason to get some extra pay, and I imagine that many guys really do love "jumping out of perfectly good airplanes".

One thing, however, that I have noticed (at least for me) and really appreciate is the fact that jumping always makes you think about loftier things in life. Above all, it forces one to overcome fear- to be brave. It's making your body do something that it naturally doesn't want to do. The "fight or flight" mode kicks in- adrenaline, bronchodilation, vasoconstriction, dilated pupils, and your body gets ready for either running like hell, or fighting. It's good to kill any fear and learn to control it in order to perform. There aren't many avenues available for the average guy in the average workplace to face this kind of stuff regularly to refine one's courage, so I am grateful. War is life and death, and there is no room for cowardice.