National Airborne Day
More than just a "shuffle"
All Paratroopers have done it. The Airborne Shuffle. No it’s not a dance or something you do at a wedding, although it is connected to the Jumpmaster Rap: “Last two jumpers turn towards the skin of the aircraft. Second to last jumper, check the last jumpers static line!”. Shortly after those commands and a Green Light, the Airborne Shuffle begins.
So what is it? It’s certainly not a run and it can’t be described as a walking motion. The Airborne Shuffle is what happens when a Paratrooper is loaded down with his Main Parachute, Reserve Parachute, Ruck Sack and Weapons Case (Combat Load) and attempts to make his way to the Paratroop Door in order to exit it a timely manner. You don’t want to run to the door, but it’s not a leisurely stroll either. You need to exit and you need to do it with the rest of your stick or chalk.
Technically it’s about safety. Each Paratroop door should be exiting a Paratrooper in 1-second intervals. Except the jumpers can’t exit at the same time or you may have a mid-air collision. To avoid this, the Left and Right Paratroop doors are dispersed by 1/2 second. As Paratroopers leave the aircraft, the end of the stick has to “shuffle” to the door to keep this time dispersion between each jumper.
I don’t know about the 82nd Airborne Division as a whole, but the leadership I had believed in running. Each with their own personality and tendencies, but all had a deep seeded love for running. Here are just a few short stories about these incredible leaders who I was privileged enough to serve under from 2000 and on.
SGT Ontiveros “Onty”: This was my first leader at my first permanent duty assignment at Fort Bragg, NC. A great American from the hard streets of L.A with a strong lineage of hard working Mexican-Americans in his blood. He believed in hard work and doing it right. No slack given. He would consistently run his 2-mile run test around 11min30sec and could easily keep a 6min/mi pace for 5 miles. It was standard that a 5-mile run should take about 30 minutes.
1SG Trentsch (sp): This man believed in the long run. When he led a Battery run, which ended up being about once per week, it was dreadful. Your career hung in the balance. Your promotions, duties and schools seemed to rely on one pivotal fact. Could you run? This man’s runs were between 6 and 10 miles and approximately an 7min/mi pace, which at the time felt slow because “Onty” was my leader.
1SG Rivord: When he took over, we were excited to hear that he hated running over four miles. We all kind of took a sigh of relief because we were about done with 1SG Trentsch. Then Friday came and 1SG Rivord decided to take us on his 4-mile run. It was 4-miles alright, only thing was we were running a 6min/mi or faster. I don’t think he enjoyed running. I think he just wanted to get it done with as fast as possible. So he did. It was hell.
1SG Olivas: I think he had some ongoing competition with Rivord, because when he took over he wanted to put us to the test. So he took us for a run through Area-J, ensuring we hit every sandy road available. “Coolyconch” Mountain was his comfort zone. Maybe he just enjoyed watching us puke running up that damn hill, I don’t know but he seemed natural in the sand. 1SG Oliveras could do everything! The short run, 2-miles in 10’30” and the long run. Placing 2nd place in the Army 10-miler on Fort Bragg, NC. I remember I asked him about the picture hanging on his wall, where some tall, thin Soldier was breaking tape and winning the Army 10-miler. It was obviously not 1SG Olivas who was all of 5’7” and a barrel chested Mexican-American. I asked, “So, 1SG, why do you have a picture of some guy winning the Army 10-miler on your wall?”. His response…………"Look in the background numbnuts! That’s me!”. I had to look closely and move in closer, but there he was in the picture. A mere 100yds or so behind the 1st place winner.
SFC Souza: Probably one of the most charismatic and motivating leaders I ever worked with. He taught me a lot about being a Jumpmaster. This man was a Ranger and could run! Except he would love to run us through the CS Gas Chamber. It was fucking crazy. He’d force us to run in the entrance, out the exit while he’s kicking up CS Gas ridden dust from the floor. It wasn’t enough to really make you lose your shit, but it was enough to induce watery eyes, a running nose and your throat being on fire. Then of course we’d take off running again! It was fucking crazy. I loved it.
Looking back on my experiences in the 82D ABN DIV, all of my great leaders could run. All of them absolute studs, warriors, war-fighters. I knew if we were to go to war together, they would be there when shit started to get tough. Sure enough, September 11th, 2001 came and the world changed. We were on a war footing for the rest of my career and I truly believe if it wasn’t for these great leaders, I’m not sure I could have handled it.
So on National Airborne Day, you can join me in meeting the “Airborne Standard” by running 4-miles in 36minutes or less. If you really want a challenge, step it up to the Airborne Ranger standard of 5 miles in less than 40 minutes.
