Hood Cadet Earns His Wings—named Paratrooper

“Thirty seconds,” the Jumpmaster yells to the troops on the C-17 transport plane. Each paratrooper must ready him or herself for the ride of his or her life. The sound of the airplane rattles and pierces through the air. One can hardly hear which makes arm and hand signals imperative. The roaring sounds of the 4 turbine engine send pulsing vibration down the jumper’s spines, and thrusts the plane 125 mph, and that’s after slowing down to safely deploy 90 combat-equipped paratroopers at 1250 feet at the Ft. Benning Airborne school. Finally it is “green light, Go” and the jumpers shuffle down the line to the jump door and throw themselves into swirling jet breeze of hurricane force winds. Counting 1thousand, 2 thousand 3 thousand 4, the jumpers experience the opening shock of their lives and race toward the ground.   

From January 5th through the 25^th Cadet Vestermark, of the Green Terror Battalion, attended the Basic Airborne Course at Ft. Benning, Georgia. The 3 week long training included three phases of military skill training, and rigorous physical training. Airborne school is not taught in any classroom and is all hands on training. Being at airborne school, there is an implied danger, but with proper attention to detail, and the excellent hardworking staff, every student remains perfectly safe.

The first phase was called Ground Week. During this week, students become familiar with their equipment, proper technique and body position for exiting an aircraft, maneuvering through the air, and finally the landing on the ground.

As such, on the first day, the students repeatedly practiced exiting a mock-door set of a C-130 and C-17 aircraft. During this training, airborne students could practice keeping a tight body position and practice jumping 6 inches up and 36 inches out.

On the second day, the students were required to qualify on the 34 ft. towers and force the fear of heights out early. In this event, the students worked on applying the skills they learned in the mock door on their first day of training. Once the jumpers left the tower, they would glide down a long zip-line where a detail of other students not jumping would help disconnect the jumpers. Compared to what the jumpers would face during jump week, the 34ft. tower was a piece of cake, but at first jumping from it is terrifying. Watching the jumpers exit for the first time was hilarious, especially those who were kicking and screaming.

Further into the week, the airborne students learned the techniques for executing a proper parachute landing fall. Here the students jumped off walls practicing left, right, front and back falls. Afterwards, the students moved to the Lateral Drift Apparatus and repeatedly fell over and over until they perfected their technique.

The highlight of ground week was the visitation by President Bush. Bush came to visit Ft. Benning, and the Alpha Company had the privilege of demonstrating various airborne training exercises. Later, all viewed a special show by the Silver Wings exhibition jump team. Cadet Vestermark had the opportunity to come very close to the president as he demonstrated the use of the mock C-130 door.

Finally it was Tower Week. During this week, students refined and perfected all the skills they learned during ground week. However, this time the students jumped from the towers with combat gear. They also were dropped on the Swing Landing Trainer to practice pulling parachute slips and prepare for landing. Lastly, the students learned how to escape danger in emergency situations, how to activate the reserve, and how to untangle twisted risers.

If airborne school could be described in one word, it would be “repetitive.” Every student walking on to the plane during Jump week is well prepared to make all 5 qualifying jumps. This is due to the excellent staff of Sergeant Airbornes teaching the classes. It is this repetition that turns the techniques into muscle memory and ultimately save one’s life.

The time had come and Jump Week had arrived. Now, the students had to demonstrate everything they had learned to ensure a safe week. In order to graduate from each phase of airborne school, the students had to qualify by a Sergeant Airborne in every event to demonstrate they were prepared for the next phase of training, to pass airborne school; the students were required to jump 5 times from an aircraft in flight, 2 of these with full combat equipment. After being given the command to stand and the plane approaches the drop zone, everyone gets in line to jump, and waits anxiously for the green light, to shuffle up to the door and jump. Cadet Vestermark had this to say about his experience.

“My first jump was so exciting. I was nervous, but I wasn’t that scared. Of course at this point I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The feeling of jumping was the most incredible time of my life. As soon as you clear the platform and leave the security of the plane, you are just sucked into a vortex of wind. I remember watching the jumpers in the right door go first and just get sucked out of the plane. I’ve never seen anything like it in all my life. Jumping with combat gear was quite an experience as well. I remember distinctly just waddling to the plane and trying to stay upright and standing on the plane was like being at a funhouse. I found it most difficult to stand up especially when the plane was still taking off. The most incredible time was jumping first. I remember being called to standby and just staring out into the wild blue yonder. I looked up and saw sky, and looked down and saw earth. I could see the lights in the corner of my eyes. I knew there was less than 20 seconds until I had to go, and then I saw the green light and the Jumpmaster slapped my butt and yelled ‘GO.’ I stepped kicked and counted to 4 thousand and felt the opening shock of my life. It was so surreal. As soon as my chute opened, everything was completely silent and I looked up and saw the other fellow jumpers and the silhouette of the plane flying away. I couldn’t believe I was thrown out of a plane traveling 125 mph. It was unbelievable, but I was happy to finish my 5^th jump. ”

The jumpers descend down to the ground at a rate of 18 to 22 ft/sec and land hopefully the way they were taught, but most smash and roll. The jumpers aren’t in the air for long. In fact the entire descent is a total of about 45 seconds.

Finally, the course was over, and the class graduated 327 paratroopers out of a starting number of around 500. One thing that Cadet Vestermark took away from airborne school and which he can apply to every aspect of his life is that there is more to being a paratrooper than just jumping; it’s a way of life. Cadet Vestermark has earned his wings, which his father Col. Neil Vestermark, a graduate of the airborne school, and qualified Jumpmaster, pinned on at the graduation ceremony. Now Vestermark, a second generation paratrooper must uphold the values and standards of the wings. If there is one thing he’ll always remember it will be to always remember to keep his feet and knees together, keep his eyes on the horizon.

   Leif Vestermark

 

Cadets take 2^nd in Brigade-Wide Ranger Challenge competition

 Gazing into the distance over the mountains at the Westminster Airport, the behemoth CH-47 Chinook approached quickly into view. Its approach was soon followed by the incredible rumbling created by its rotors powered by its twin turbine engines. The thunderous sound of this modern marvel pulsed through the air at a top speed of 196MPH, deadening the sound of our hearts beating. Boeing, the innovators of the CH-47 Chinook rightly named it such due to the enormous updraft it produces. Chinook, an Indian word is used to describe the dry winds that blow off the Rocky Mountains into the plains of the Midwest. The power of this helicopter was amplified tremendously by its beauty and grace in the air. The cadets stood in awe as this enormous aircraft circled into the landing zone and touched down as softly as a mother laying an infant into its crib. The extremely motivated cadets of the Green Terror Battalion stood like gladiators, ready to do battle at the annual Ranger Challenge competition at Ft. AP Hill, Virginia and their chariot had just arrived.    

            On Saturday October 28^th ten cadets of the Green Terror Battalion, comprised of Hood College, Mount Saint Mary’s University, and McDaniel College vigorously competed in a brigade wide competition at Ft. AP Hill, Virginia. Members of the team included team captain Ryan Newnan (McDaniel), Co-Captain James Edie (MS Mary’s), Leif Vestermark (Hood), Stephanie Hanlon (Hood), Anthony Pappas (MS Mary’s), Dan Gonski (McDaniel), Daniel Spurrier (McDaniel), Kris Gaasch (McDaniel), Tim Hentgen (McDaniel) and Scott Edmonds (McDaniel). These cadets had the exclusive opportunity to show up the competition by arriving to Ft. AP Hill in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. On the way, the cadets observed Wash. DC from quite a different perspective. While cadets from other schools were sitting in traffic on I-495, the cadets of the Green Terror Battalion were flying overhead. While flying, the pilot opened the rear ramp and exposed them to the beautiful sights of the Capitol Mall and the Potomac River.

            Eight Cadets from eighteen different colleges and universities in the Brigade competed in the Ranger Challenge competition. These schools included Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, Valley Forge Military Academy, Howard, Bowie, West Virginia State, WV University, Temple, University of Maryland, Loyola and many more. Each school was placed into one of three divisions according to size and the Green Terror Battalion competed in division III. At the competition, the team competed in 6 events, testing physical and mental endurance, technical military skills, and Warrior Ethos. These events included a Physical Fitness Test, M-16 assembly/disassembly, a commander’s challenge, grenade throwing, a one rope bridge, and the infamous 10k road march. The team struggled through a tough round of competition during the M-16 event, which included clearing the weapon, disassembling and re-assembling the weapon, followed by a functions check. For some it may not be too hard, but try doing it in less than 6 minutes. The team placed a disappointing dead last in that event, but that was not enough to discourage the hearts of the team. After this struggle, the team found their inner strength and began to dominate in the other events. The team finished the one rope competition in 5 minutes and 30 seconds. The purpose is to get all team members and their gear across a 20 foot wide river bed using nothing but a rope. This ordeal includes hand tying Swiss-seats individually on each cadet. Then another team member must dive into the murky water and trudge to the other side in order to lasso the rope around a tree. In the mean time, the remainder of the team promptly pulls tight on the rope in order to secure the knot. Then, each cadet must shimmy him or herself across the rope, paying close attention not to penetrate the out of bounds surrounding the bank. 

During the 10k road march, which is slightly over 6 miles, the Ranger Challenge team reached inside themselves and pushed through and endured an intensive challenge. The road march was especially motivating because the cadets were encouraged every step of the way by their commander Lt. Col. Brian Feser who helped strengthen the morale of the team as they finished as a unit. The team finished the road march in an amazing 76 minutes.

            The cadets of the Green Terror Battalion demonstrated an outstanding performance of team work and unity that exemplified the Army Values and the Warrior Ethos. These values helped secure a second place finish for all but one of the challenge events, and an overall second place finish in division III of the brigade. The cadets were stressed and pushed to the limit, but were able to fall back on their leadership training in times of tension. The cadre of the Green Terror Battalion was extremely proud of the Ranger Challenge team’s success, so proud that the team was treated to a well earned breakfast at Cracker Barrel. At the award ceremony, the cadets were addressed by the commander of the Brigade, Colonel Ippolito with encouraging and motivating words. “All of you, I am extremely proud of. Out of 1,500 cadets, the 126 that participated in the Ranger Challenge competition successfully completed the physical and mental challenges, while exemplifying the meaning of team work and the Warrior Ethos that your military professors try to instill in you everyday. All of you worked extremely hard as a team, and all of you have earned the right to wear the Ranger Challenge Tab. Congratulations!”

Leif Vestermark

Joint FTX

Peeking over the ledge of a 100ft. tower, preparing to be strapped and secured, one’s heart pumps rapidly, palms sweating and knees knocking. The wind is a slight breeze to the east, with a light drizzle. The clamor below is enough to frustrate any student concentrating in the classroom at Hodson or Rosenstock, but up here; ALL is silent. Leaning over the edge backwards, one makes an L-shape with his body, and places every bit of confidence in his physical strength and crew around him to ensure his safety.  “On Rappel,” he shouts as he prepares for the response from below for the clearance to jump. “On belay,” the belayer shouts and that’s his cue to let go and jump from the wall. Experiencing the ultimate thrill rush, and zipping down the 100ft. line in 5 seconds he realizes this is no ordinary classroom.

The weekend of September 30^th through October 1^st the US Army ROTC cadets at Hood College, McDaniel College and Mount Saint Mary’s University participated in a Battalion Field Training Exercise at Camp Frettered Army National Guard Facility. There, the cadets experienced the real life of the army and the training involved in order to make our military the most elite fighting force in the world. The purpose of the entire FTX exercise is to prepare the cadets of the Green Terror and Bulldog Battalions for the successful completion of the Leadership Development Assessment Course, LDAC for short, which all cadets will experience the summer of their junior year. LDAC is the specialized course in Ft. Lewis, Washington, where seniors in ROTC will be expected to demonstrate all the skills they have acquired throughout their 4 years of study. Their score at LDAC will be a determining factor in the branch selection process. The others are GPA and PT scores.

The day began with a wake up call in the dorm rooms of Coblentz Hall at 0415, surely disrupting the cadets’ roommates’ perfect sleep. It was imperative to arrive at Mount Saint Mary’s by 0445 in order to meet with the rest of our battalion at McDaniel College in all efforts to prevent tardiness with our appointments with the infamous PT test scheduled promptly at 0800. On the test, the cadets push the physical muscle endurance and stamina of their bodies by performing 2 minutes of pushups, sit-ups and a 2 mile run.

Afterwards the cadets met in their assigned squads joining other cadets from Bowie State University. Rotating through various classes lasting a brief 60 minutes, the cadets became highly skilled in tasks such as land navigation and terrain identification, grenade safety and execution, squad tactics, first aid, and M-16 assembly and disassembly. Most exciting for cadets to participate in, were the EST 2000 simulations and rappelling. The EST 2000 is a complete computer simulator that provides troops with a real live experience of firing automatic assault weapons, including M-16’s, M-203’s with grenade launchers, an M-249 saw and pistols without firing a single round. The amazing part is that it provides the precise kickback that the gun would in battle or on the rifle range.  

The cadets were well fed. Each cadet was provided with 3 Meals Ready to Eat (MRE’s), which were actually quite delicious, but don’t be surprised if one doesn’t see a few cadets trying to trade the vegetarian meals.

As well as all the technical and tactical skills the cadets learned that weekend, the cadets demonstrated team work, discipline, and responsibility. They learned to trust in themselves and others in their squad, made new friends and learning the Army way. Most importantly they all had a blast. ROTC is an organization of leadership excellence. Are you exceeding the expectations in your life?

Leif Vestermark

 

 

Official:
CDT CPT S. Miller
Battalion S-5

CDT L. Vestermark

Battalion AS-5

Distribution authorized McDaniel College, Mount St. Mary’s, and Hood College Respectively