Kfotz!!!

I must begin by saying that it is impossible to properly describe the feeling of something like jumping from a plane but I'll do my best.
We gathered on the base at about 2 in the afternoon to prepare for our first jump. With just helmets in hand we walked to a building where all our parachutes are rigged. As a side point, one night we were taken to see how a parachute is folded. First of all, it takes about 30 minutes for some 18 year old girl I don't know to fold each parachute. They fold about 10 of these every day so I have no idea how they don't get bored and make mistakes. Watching a parachute being folded was probably the first time it sort of hit me that we were about to do what we were about to do. Its kind of like seeing your life being packed into a bag.
So we received our main chutes and reserves in a bag that carries both. Really heavy. Then we loaded buses to the air force base next door and unloaded right next to a runway of sorts. This is the same place that the Tzanchanim have always used to take off. In 1967, they were all geared up to be dropped into Egypt (I think) when they were told to take off their chutes and load buses. Destination? Jerusalem, where we captured the Kotel.
Although still hours before the plane was scheduled to take us, we set up all our gear according to the door we would be jumping from. After a break and a safety speech, we were told to strap in to our parachutes. Next we were all thoroughly checked and told to take off our helmets and sit down. It still didn't feel real to me. Until the plane rolled in. It sounded like a thunderstorm was coming in. Standard procedure is to wear earplugs next to it, important especially because it passes within meters from us. By now we are all standing on shaking legs watching as the rear ramp of the plane was lowered. Just as we had practiced, we shouted "Hey, Hop!!", turned towards the plane and waddled towards it (ever tried walking in a harness?) through the hot exhaust wind of the propellers . Our instructors then sat us down in zigzag formation, the ramp closed and the plane started to taxi.
After a few minutes we got to the runway and the plane revved its engines to lift off. According to paratrooper tradition, the plane will not take off unless everyone yells "Hey, Hop, Hey, Hop" continuously. We made it up. At 100 meters, which is the lowest possible height at which we could jump out, we raised the end of the yellow rope which was strapped to a wire that runs the length of the plane. Needless to say there was a lot of tension and anxiety in the plane. So first we said Tfilat Haderech L'tzanchan (I remember when I first saw it at the beginning of training and I thought it was a joke, but its not, and on the plane, believe me I've never prayed with more concentration), and then sang, including obviously the tzanchan song. A few minutes later, at 400 meters, the plane filled with fresh air and a howl as the side doors were open. If anybody wasn't shaking yet, they were now. As the plane neared the drop point the first cluster was told to stand and move towards the door. The red light turns on. Looking out of the plane, one can see the beach of the Mediterranean Sea. It should be only seconds now...GREEN!!! Kfotz!! Kfotz! Kfotz! The rest of us just feel the wire being pulled as the yellow rope opens the chute. The instructor looks outside to make sure nobody is left hanging out there (it once happened). Then the next group jumps. And then it's my group. We stand up and walk towards the door. I was the fourth last in my group. Red light....GREEN!! I look at the other door and see them shoving them out the door. After feeling a few tugs on the line from people leaving, I'm next. I toss my yellow rope down the wire, get into position at the door and next thing I know I'm outside in what feels like a tornado counting 21...22...23...and then all the confusion stops. I look up. The canopy opened normally. I think to myself, okay, what next? I'm forgetting some sort of check or something. Nope. I'm forgetting to enjoy. And then it hit me. Pure silence. Absolutely nothing. I imagine space is something like that. Soon after though it is broken by screams of joy by all. Everyone is just happy to be alive. I look around and see myself surrounded by a few parachutes in a long line of open canopies with a couple white reserve chutes opened. They say it takes about 40-50 seconds to reach the ground but I swear it took me 10 seconds until I had to identify my drifting direction. That happens at about 100 meters. I think I had a drift to my left or right, which makes for a simpler roll. At about 50 meters I start to hear people on the ground shouting "Raglayim tzmudot!!" which means legs together. At this point I start to feel the breathing pattern of the parachute. We don't fall at a constant speed. The parachute takes in air and fills up so you slow down, and then it lets out that air through the top hole which is when you fall faster. And over and over. The amount of force with which you hit the ground has a lot to do with when in the cycle you hit the ground. I brace for impact with legs together. Its hard to tell when exactly the ground will arrive so I wait and wait, and boom, I'm on the ground. After a few seconds of confusion I check that I'm uninjured. My parachute pulls me in the direction of the wind but I quickly get it under control and on the ground. Then the next feeling is hard to describe. The exhilaration has ended, but there is an ultimate high, and at the same time you're just feeling thankful that you're alive. Before folding up my parachute I take a few minutes to enjoy the moment and look up in wonder as the same plane drops the next cluster of tzanchanim. I ask myself: "I just did that? That's crazy!" But I loved every second of it. Except carrying the parachute to the collection point. Although once there everyone is hugging everyone, making sure that they are actually alive and not dreaming. Tension in the air is now replaced by a high.
Somehow though, the IDF always finds a way to spoil the fun things. Instead of bringing the bus to us, we had to walk about a kilometer with these heavy parachutes (and the next jumps with vest and gun) on our backs to where it was parked.
I asked a bunch of people if they remember jumping or being pushed and not one person including me could remember. I have no recollection of hearing the command "Kfotz with a hit on the back. "From the moment you're standing at the door until your parachute opens you seem to forget everything, your mind just goes blank. Despite that, the training was so good that you sort of turn into a robot paratrooper. Everything in the process is completely automatic. As soon as you leave the plane it's just you and your parachute, no instructor to help you, so we have to be absolute experts at jumping, and we are.
In addition to three day jumps, we also jumped twice at night. Wow. The view from the plane is just a bunch of lights and darkness. Only once you start falling do you start to see the ground and spot your landing. A bit more dangerous but nothing we can't handle.
Now that the jumps are over and I have my wings, I just dream about jumping again. It's such a great adrenaline rush and just an indescribable experience. If you're planning on joining the IDF, I recommend going to Tzanchanim just for the jumps. Its a great reward after a tough training. And who doesn't like walking the streets with a shiny pair of wings?

Video of the Big Pendulum

Watch "משאך" on YouTube

Video of Tower

Once you get over the fact that it looks exactly like a person being hanged, its pretty harmless. It looks more painful than it is.
Watch in HD for better quality.
Watch "מגדל קפיצה" on YouTube

I'll never fly with this company ever again!!

We had been given our main and reserve chutes already. We had loaded the buses and driven to the runway. We had already put on our gear and had it checked. And then we waited. Okay. Delayed an hour. So we waited. And then an announcement "We are sorry to inform you but the jump has been canceled. Yes, we are serious. Take off your parachutes." I couldn't believe it. Nobody could. We were so ready to do it. But it happens. Better to push off a jump than fly on a plane with technical difficulties.
There should be a jump tomorrow but they are not 100% sure. Either way, next week on Sunday we will make up this jump. The only downside is that when we leave the base this weekend, it won't be with wings.

Ape!!

Unless you've been through the IDF Airborne School you have no idea why the title of this post is ape. I will explain shortly.
Right now I am near an air force base in the center of Israel at the school for paratrooping. Once upon a time paratroopers actually used to fall into battle. 1956 was the only time we used that method but luckily for me the tradition of still training paratroopers continues. We arrived on this new base on Friday morning before going home for shabbat after absorption day. All we did was sign in and put our stuff in the tents before hearing a few speeches. Now where does the ape come in. So Israel learned its paratroop skills from some country in Europe and has adopted some of its traditions. One if them is that before any class or speech everyone lines up and when an instructor says "Ape", everyone straightens to attention. After three days of this it still cracks me up.
We got back to the base on Sunday morning where we met up with our cluster instructor. A cluster is basically a unit of paratroopers. When we train and jump we do it in these clusters. Ours is 13 people. The first thing we did was have a class on the main and reserve chutes we would be using. It's the classic circular parachute but what you will probably be surprised to find out is that it weighs about 14kg and only slows your fall to a speedy 6 meters per second. If you were to try to land without the method we are taught you would most likely get injured. Therefore we started our lessons in a giant sandbox doing rolls. The most important thing that must be done for a safe landing is to keep your feet together. Then depending on which direction the wind is taking you, you roll in that direction. First we just rolled from a standing position. Then we did it from a ramp about 3/4 of a meter from the ground. Next we took runs up the to the top of the ramp and jumped off. The technique for this roll seems simple but performing it perfectly takes a lot of practice. My cluster has told me that I roll the best, but some of them, well, they're lucky we do it on sand. Often we, including the person on the ground who just landed on their backside die of laughter at the mistakes.
The next exercise is the small pendulum. Basically you strap into a harness and jump about a meter where it catches you. Then you check your canopy and the instructor will tell you to fix a problem likes twists in the ropes. More severe problems like rips in the canvas or a candle, which is when the chute fails to open, cause you to open the reserve which is on your abs. By the way, the jumps are from 400 meters. If your chute opens, you have about a minute until you reach the ground. If it doesn't, it would only take about 12 seconds. The main canopy opens in 3, until you realize could take another 2. That leaves about 7 seconds to open the reserve. Not a lot of time. Luckily the last time someone got a candle was in the 90s, so the chances are extremely low.
There are also replicas of the plane we will be jumping from, the C-130 Hercules. Before and on them we rehearse the procedure of putting on the parachutes, loading, in air safety checks and finally the jumps. There is a hilarious method to walking on the plane from your seat to the door but it is only for our safety. The commands we call out also have a funny tune to them, which in my opinion are used to calm people down.
Another exercise we do is the tower. Its about 9 meters in height and replicates the jump and jolt of the chute opening. This is the jumping procedure: Both hands on the outside of the plane with feet in a staggered position ready to kick out. With the command "Kfotz!!" and a slap on the back, (which on the plane will turn into a push) you throw yourself out of the plane, put your feet together, head down, hands on the reserve and count 21, 22, 23 and the chute opens. Then you look up and check the canopy. After enjoying for a bit you get into the landing position: head down, arms on the helmet, hand grasping the straps, back and knees bent. And then once you hit the ground you roll. Now back to the tower. You jump and fall about 4 meters before the zipline catches you and you slide for 50 meters to a hill where you should already be in landing position. We also practice opening the reserve and releasing the chest bag. What's a chest bag? That's where we secure all our equipment, gun and vest for me. It's strapped to our harness and is dropped 4.5 meters after the chute opens. It's annoying but that's what's necessary to become a full fledged paratrooper.
Another simulator we use is the Omega. It is basically a low zipline where you zip, jump off and perform a roll. It replicates a fast forward wind so you fall pretty hard.
The last simulator we use is the big pendulum. It is the same thing as the small one but much taller and much more painful for two reasons. First because you fall farther and second because after swinging around for about half a minute a meter above the ground, the instructor pulls a lever and you come crashing to the sand, hopefully with the roll. I hate this thing. Every time I get up there I just imagine my instructor dropping me when I'm not ready and face-planting into the sand. I'm glad I'm finished with it.
And then there is the Eichmann. The instructors deny its existence but we have seen it. A while back they canceled it. I wonder why.
So that's what we did the first week of the course plus Sunday and part of Monday. Right now we are waiting till our first jump at about 4pm. It still hasn't fully hit me bit I imagine once we board the plane it will.
There are two videos of the tower and pendulum that I will post soon. Wish me luck and stay tuned!