This course instructs free fall parachuting high altitude, low opening (HALO) using the high performance ram air canopy. Includes wind tunnel training, in-air instruction focusing on student stability, aerial maneuvers, air sense, and parachute opening procedures. Each student receives a minimum of 30 free fall jumps including 2 day and 2 night jumps with supplemental oxygen, rucksack, and load bearing equipment.
General Weekly schedule
Week One
Week one begins with the usual Army drill of In-processing, weigh-in, equipment issue, etc. You are assigned an instructor and a jump buddy (about your same height and weight so you fall at about the same rate). Your instructor stays with you the whole time. You learn all about the ram air parachute, emergency procedures, rigging procedures, repack procedures, etc. You do table drills to learn how to fall properly and stable, and also get in to the hanging harness to practice emergency procedures (malfunctions, cutaways, entanglements, etc.). You also cover jump commands and the oxygen system. Then the fun begins! First, you get into the wind tunnel. This is a massive fan that blow at speeds up to 150 mph…it actually lifts you and supports you in the air to simulate freefall! You go through all the emergency procedures (EPs), and you fine tune your body position.
Weeks Two through Four
Jump, Jump, Jump…and you will also jump. From here on out it is pretty much all jumping. You must remain stable, pull at the designated altitude (+/- 200ft), and land within 25m of the group leader. If the weather is good, you get to do a lot of jumps (including HAHO). High Altitude High Opening jumps are jumps where you exit at say…13000 ft and 5 seconds later deploy your chute. You then glide a couple of kilometers (a lot more depending on exit altitude and winds) to the target…quite a ride! Graduation consists of equipment turn in, diplomas and paperwork, and the requisite class party. Definitely a fun school.
Media Gallery
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/embed?listType=playlist&list=PLBtlXyo377646Wf0zcajwu8O5n3A4hBxG&layout=gallery[/embedyt]
ETCA COURSE INFO (Air Force Reporting Instructions)
COURSE ID: L9AQA1XXXX 0F1A
TITLE: MILITARY FREEFALL PARACHUTIST
LOCATION: Yuma Proving Ground
LENGTH: 4 WEEKS
CLASS FREQ: 14 classes per FY
Course Description:
Trains and qualifies officer and airmen whose duty requires high altitude low operating (HALO) military freefall (MFF) parachuting using the Ram Air Pararescue System (RAPS). The course utilizes the vertical wind tunnel to teach basic body stability, aerial maneuverability, and opening and emergency procedures. Each student receives three-weeks of in-the-air instructional high altitude low opening (HALO) involving day and night, non-tactical, combat equipment, grouping, oxygen, and high altitude high opening (HAHO) procedures at Yuma Proving Ground AZ.
Admin Instructions:
REPORT FOR TRAINING
Reporting Location (All Students)
US Army Military Freefall School
301 C. Street
Yuma, AZ 85365-0997
USAF NCOIC TEL 928 328-2483
Prior to Class Start Date
MFFPC WELCOME LETTER:
Students will receive a WELCOME LETTER from the MFFPC. Students are to follow that instruction should it differ from these ETCA instructions due to changes at MFFPC.
BILLETING: Students will stay in Bldg 540 IHG/Candlewood Suites while at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ. Lodging will be pre-arranged by the student, the number for IHG/YPG hotel is (928) 388-6200.
MESSING: Students will provide for their own meals during training hours, YPG commissary open Tues-Sat. Government mess facilities are not available on YPG. Company B does not issue missed meals statements or meal cards.
TRANSPORTATION: Airport to govt. lodging: 25 miles (airport taxi required to and from Yuma PG AZ). YPG and the MFFPC do not provide shuttle services to and from post. Students should procure rental cars for course duration.
(a) Rental cars. Rental cars are not authorized during duty hours while at YPG, all student movements provided by MFFPC shuttle. Rental cars are for after duty hours, students are advised to have a rental car while attending MFFPC.
(b) Airline tickets. Students will arrange for their own travel from home station to Yuma, AZ and also Yuma, AZ back to home station. This covers all legs of travel for the entire course.
(c) Travel to Yuma, AZ will be by commercial air one day prior to class start only.
Class Start Date
Reporting Instructions: Students will report to the IHG hotel lobby for pickup at 0530hrs on the scheduled ATRRS report date. A shuttle bus will be provided from IHG hotel to the MFFPC terminal for student inprocessing. The uniform for in-processing is the service specific duty uniform.
NOTE: All ATRRS confirmed MFFPC students will receive a WELCOME LETTER from the MFF Schools NCOIC. Questions related to ETCA and Welcome Letter content conflicts, please contact the POC referenced in the Welcome Letter first, then ETCA POC should conflict not be resolved.
Prerequisites:
Must be a qualified static line parachutist. Possess a current Flying Class III physical. Any variations from the above standards require a waiver from the Commanding General, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, NC. 28310
Waiver Authority
Any variation from the above standards requires a waiver from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) Commander, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, NC 28310. This waiver must be obtained prior to arrival and presented to the MFFJM Cadre on the report date, no exceptions.Soldiers/airmen requesting waivers for disqualifying conditions will submit their physical examinations along with memorandum requesting the waiver (no later than 30 days prior to the class start date) through the USASOC Medical Training Division for delivery to USAJFKSWCS (where waivers are considered)
a. Army Active Component or Reserve Component Special Operations Forces Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers or enlisted personnel, assigned to or on orders for assignment to a Military Free Fall coded position.
b. Other Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers, or enlisted personnel of the Active or Reserve Components, selected DoD civilian
personnel or allied personnel must be assigned to or on orders for assignment to a MFF coded position
c. Must be a qualified military static line parachutist.
d. Must have a current Class III flight physical examination as previously stated.
e. Personnel cannot exceed 240 pounds.
f. Any variations from the above standards require a waiver from the Commanding General, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, NC 28310.
Equipment Required:
Reporting Instructions:
Students will report to the MSG. George Bannar Wind Tunnel, Bldg 2590 at 0530hrs on the scheduled ATRRS report date. A shuttle bus will be provided from Candlewood Suites to the MSG. George Bannar Wind Tunnel at 0515hrs. The uniform for in-processing is the service specific duty uniform (i.e. Army students will report in A.C.U.s).
Course: US Army Military Freefall School
MFF Course Unit Address is:
US Army Military Freefall School
301 C. Street
Yuma, AZ 85365-0997
USAF Office DSN 899-2229
AF Training Location designation at Yuma is: 350 BA TS, OL-B, Yuma PG, AZ
MFFPC is taught in two locations on Yuma:
- MSG. George Bannar Wind Tunnel, Bldg 2590
- MMFPC – Daly Terminal – BLDG 2802
Daly Terminal DSN 899-3914
YUMA PROVING GROUND, ARIZONA 85365-0997
Students will report with the following documentation and all the equipment listed in the equipment section:
a. Military ID card and Identification Tags.
b. Copy of Travel orders for the duration of the course, with variations authorized, IBA or CBA travel. Orders must start from the
student’s home station to Yuma Proving Ground, AZ and return to home station or next duty assignment if TDY en-route.
c. Current physiological training card, AF 1274, AF Form 702, Navy Form 1550/28-NP-6 or USAAMC AA Form 484. HAPS card must remain
current through completion of course.
d. Copy of student’s current high-altitude, low-opening (HALO) physical examination IAW AR 40-501, Chapter 5, paragraph 5-3 and
Chapter 8 Para 8-14 and 8-19 and all supporting documents (i.e. laboratory exam sheets, x-ray interpretations, etc.).
1) Physical examinations are valid for two (2) years from the date of completion for all services.
2) Physical examinations are valid for one (1) year from the date of completion for individuals 45 years old or older.
3) Physicals must be stamped and signed by a Flight Surgeon or Dive Medical Officer (DMO) and should have a USAJFKSWCS stamp. If
your flight surgeon does not have a USAJFKSWCS stamp, the physicals must be sent to MFFmedical@ahqb.soc.mil NLT 4 weeks prior to
course start date. Direct all questions to MFF HQ (928) 328-3636.
4) Physicals that do not meet MFFPC standards defined by AR 40-501 chapter 5 paragraph 5-6, must have a waiver from the USAJFKSWCS Surgeon or Deputy Surgeon. AF and Navy waivers are not acceptable.
NOTE: Students must resolve any discrepancies with the above-listed paperwork prior to the ATRRS official start date. Students with unresolved issues may be disqualified from training.
Students are required to bring the following uniforms and equipment:
- 1 set Duty uniform (i.e., ACU, service specific duty uniform); headgear with rank and/or insignia (beret or utility cap) for inprocessing.
- 2 set Duty uniform (i.e., ACU, other unit specific and authorized combat uniform); for jump operations.
- 5 ea T-shirts, service specific (tan, brown or green) No “logos” are authorized on T-shirts
- 5 ea Black nylon running shorts or service equivalent
- 5 pr White or service issued socks
- 1 pr Low top running shoes (to be worn when in the wind tunnel)
- AS PER Unit issue sweat suits and warm gear may be worn during winter months (bring them!!!!)
- 1 pr Military-type gloves (flight gloves or black issue are acceptable). Gloves must have leather palms and should have good
- insulation without sacrificing dexterity. Gloves must be full fingered.
- 1 ea Notebook
- 1 ea Reflective belt (for running during hours of darkness)
- 1 ea Pen
- 1 ea Lensatic Compass
- 1 ea SORZ goggles clear (no tint)
- 1 pr Black, Tan boots or service specific combat boot (lace through eyelet type). Boots with open hook eyelets are not acceptable for wear during MFF air operations.
- NOTE – The following item must be present at in-processing:
- 1 ea Body Armor (no ballistic plates required). Your instructor will determine its air worthiness and adjustments will be made to your gear as necessary and prior to the start of training. For the CRYE PRECISION AVS carrier, make sure the molle detachable flap is on the front.
- NOTE: Do not bring centerline closure Body Armor that utilizes Velcro to fix the left and right sides of the armor to each other in the center of the chest area, vertical orientation, unless it has a zipper on the ends of the adjoining flaps. This type of body armor creates an unsafe condition that is not conducive to MFF operations.
- 1 ea ACH or Ops Core Helmet (Fast Series) with Accessory Rail Connector and wing-loc or picatinny blocks.
- 1ea Peltor or MSA Tactical Communication Headset with 6 PTT.
Looking for more info about Military Freefall (MFF)? Check out the Community Forums Pipeline section to ask questions or find out more.