Graduated! Fifth jump was on Wednesday...all went fine. Have to admit I never really executed much of a textbook PLF (Parachute Landing Fall) on any of my five jumps. Just kinda kept feet and knees together and landed like a bag of doo-doo. I've found that it's tough to know during the last fifty feet of the jump whether I'm drifting to left, right, front, or rear. Consequently, I kinda just keep feet & knees together and hope for the best. WHUNK!!!!
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<br>Graduation Day was Friday and, would you believe it, happened to coincide with the first National Airborne Day, decreed by none other than George Bush. For all you paratroopers out there, August 16 is now National Airborne Day. The day was replete with a band, the entire 1/507th PIR formed up at the Airborne Walk, and General Leczinski (Ret.) gave a heck of a great speech. I hate to admit it, but when he started in about the long line of paratroopers that had gone before us, and the places they'd been, and the things they'd done, all of a sudden there was a baseball-sized lump in my throat and I was fighting to keep the eyes dry. It really hit me right here, and for really the first time I was glad I enlisted in the Army and proud of something I'd done here. It was really a terrific event, and I'm not usually much for that type of thing.
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<br>Now I wait around for a week or so at the 1/507th, and then the Ranger training cadre come and pick us up on Thursday, and then the following Monday--barring any delays--I start the 23-day Ranger Indoctrination Program. The last step to the Tan Beret. I'll really need some divine intervention for this one, but I'm sure I'll get it.
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<br>I've said it before, but I'll say it again. It really does feel great to know you guys are out there pulling for me to make it. My family's behind me 100%, friends too. But it has been really motivating to come here and hear your stories and encouragement. And yeah, Waders, I'll eventually make it to somewhere where hopefully a lot of us can meet. I'd really like to meet the good folks here.
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<br>AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY!!!!! Justin
