![]() "You start off jumping with just a parachute, your plate carrier, and a helmet, so that you learn what freefall feels like," he explained. Each jump is a progression, Morelli said. The second week of the course, the students make their first freefall jump and then continue jumping and practicing their skills two to three times a day until the end of the course. "You learn about your equipment, your procedures, and how to pack a parachute." "All of the main freefall fundamentals necessary to complete the course are covered during that first week," said Morelli. The first week of the course is "ground week," during which students spend a lot of time in the classroom, but also train in a wind tunnel, where they learn how to properly position their body in the air during the freefall. "It was very evident to me early on in the course, that the instructors and the personnel in charge of the school were very supportive and really wanted to make this capability available to combat camera," said Morelli. Once he was medically cleared and had a seat in the course, he showed up at the school and began in processing. He also had to travel to Fort Benning on three separate occasions to complete the qualification physical. But before he could attend the course, he had to pass several in-depth physicals.įor one of the physicals, Morelli had to travel to Fort Rucker, Alabama and spend time in a hyperbaric pressure chamber to ensure he could withstand the pressure and oxygen changes at high altitudes. He also had to reserve a seat in the school and ensure funding was available for it. The next step in the process was convincing his command to approve the idea. So about a year ago, I dug deeper into the regulations and began making a case that we need to start a freefall program." "But as I started to meet people and talk to them about it, I never met anyone who had actually been through the course. that the combat camera field had military freefall qualified personnel," Morelli said. "When I first started in this specialty, I read. To earn the badge, a service member must first earn the Parachutist Badge, complete all necessary ground training, and then complete all of the course required freefall jumps, which include night operations, jumps with full combat equipment, and jumps using an oxygen system. Morelli, a combat cameraman assigned to the 982nd Combat Camera Company, 335th Signal Command (Theater), turned his goals into reality recently when he became the first combat cameraman to earn the coveted Freefall Parachutist Badge after successfully completing the four-week military freefall course in Yuma, Arizona. Many people set high goals for themselves, but one Army Reserve Soldier here set his goals higher than most, aiming at an achievement that would take him more than 12,500 feet above the ground.Īrmy Reserve Staff Sgt. Morelli, a combat cameraman assigned to the 982nd Combat Camera Company, 335th Signal Command (Theater), practices his freefall techniques during a four-week Freefall Parachutist course in Yuma, Arizona. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL 3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption –Īrmy Reserve Staff Sgt. Morelli, a combat cameraman and the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of training, assigned to the 982nd Combat Camera Company, 335th Signal Command (Theater), discusses various camera functions with Spc. ![]() Army) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption –Īrmy Reserve Staff Sgt. ![]() ![]() Morelli, a combat cameraman and the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of training, assigned to the 982nd Combat Camera Company, 335th Signal Command (Theater), poses for a photo at the unit headquarters in East Point. Wear the senior badge after award of the 7-skill level, and the master badge as a master sergeant or above with 5 years in the specialty from award of the 7-skill level.Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Wear the senior badge after 7 years in the specialty and the master badge after 15 years in the specialty.Įnlisted: Wear the basic badge after completing technical school. Officers: Wear the basic badge after graduating from technical school (or after attaining a fully qualified AFSC when technical school is not required). Continue to upgrade to next higher level every 12 months. Wear the next higher-level badge after 12 months. Occupational badges are reflective of a service member's Air Force specialty.Ĭriteria: General officers: Wear the basic badge, representative of the organization's mission, upon entering a headquarters staff or command position, unless previously qualified for a higher-level badge. United States Army and Air Force Miniature Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Parachute (HALO Wings) Badge ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |