Need Advice: Would you stop skydiving for two years if your career was on the line?

[SuperKat 0]

I'm going to the Police Accademy in July. I'll be on probation for two years. If for any reason, I am injured during the two year probation period, I will be fired without pay or disability and I won't get a chance to get my job back. I thought about sticking around the sport, being selective as to who I jump with, maybe do a few hop and pops a month and what not but then I thought, why risk it? I'll only be out of the sport for two years and I can pick it back up again afterwards. The confident part of me says "stick it out and be positive, I won't get injured!" The other half is saying "I've waited for this opportunity to protect and serve most of my life and to not take a chance in risking the 20 year retirement plan and other opportunities with the NYPD!" What do you guys think?

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[fenceline 0]

PM sent.

[skycop 0]

Hate to say it dude but, you may want to take a break until you are off probation. Many police brass I've run into have no sense of humor about jumping, especially if you get injured.
After probation you can tell them to kiss your ass pretty much, when it comes to your (legal) off-duty activities.
Good Luck!

"Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

[freeflir29 0]

I guess I can't give you a good answer. My answer is FUCK THEM.............I wouldn't have a job that makes conditions like that on my personal time. If it's really what you want to do though...........I guess you have to decide if it's worth it. I'm currently planning my escape from a fucked up situation where I work. They are either going to give me what I want or I'll be quitting sometime in the near future. FUCK EM! Besides........I just sent my resume in for a job that pays $250 more PER DAY than I make now.

[leroydb 0]

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Besides........I just sent my resume in for a job that pays $250 more PER DAY than I make now.

thats easy.. we all know about what you make in the military.. what are you an e6? add 400-700 for war pay/tax free.... not hard to get an increase...

though 250 is a NIOCE increase!

Leroy


..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio...

[freeflir29 0]

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we all know about what you make in the military..

That's the really great part. I'm not in the military. I'm a contractor already making VERY GOOD money. That company pays even more. Really............at this point though it's not about money. It's about working with a team that doesn't do stupid shit that is bound to get me killed. I checked with the bank and they said I can't make withdrawals from any of my accounts if I am dead.

[popsjumper 2]

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...I'm not in the military. I'm a contractor already making VERY GOOD money...

Let me send you my resume, eh????

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[freeflir29 0]

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Let me send you my resume, eh????

Don't send it to me. I may be talking to these people in a couple days though. http://www.blackwaterusa.com/securityconsulting/diplomatic.asp

[popsjumper 2]

Uhhhh.....never mind.....I can't really secure in myself much less securing others....

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[freeflir29 0]

Yeah............this work isn't for everyone. In fact......I have found an entire team that is full of CLOWNS. I'm suprised that they aren't all dead yet. It's only a matter of time I'm sure.

[btucker 0]

Firstly congratulations on your selection to the academy. I work for the Police down under (doing IT) so I know it’s very sought after job which is tough to gain selection.

Well shit is going to happen. NYPD sound like arseholes to me. Your going to put your life on the line for them and they won't let you take leave without pay if you trip over drunk in your driveway and bust yourself up.

Who wants to work for an employer that won't look after you when things go bad. I wouldn’t want that over my head – I can’t do that I might get a small injury and get fired. You can’t put up new curtains, in case you fall down! You can't go out there you might be mugged. Do you drive, you could get in a wreck and lose your job?

Are their other academies or other Police? Federal Police? Transport Police? Spooks?

From my work experience {all in IT} my poor coworkers have done this to themselves:
Serious car accident
Bad motorcycle wreck
Minor motorcycle wreck {while racing }
Shot {not serious – bloody lucky}
Brick vs Foot
Mugged
Fall off balcony {while drunk}
Busted knee doing martial arts


With what ever you do: Good Luck!

[BIGUN 1,397]

So, are you saying that if you bust out a knee playing hoops at the local park, playing tennis, or any other after work recreational activity that you're subject to termination? Or, just skydiving?

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[windcatcher 0]

hey, do what you've got to do. What's more important,skydiving, or money?

Seriously though, there's more to life than skydiving, we'll be here to welcome you back if you need a break. Just make sure you save all that $$$ for jumps when you make your return to the sky

Mother to the cutest little thing in the world...

[skinnyshrek 0]

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we all know about what you make in the military..

That's the really great part. I'm not in the military. I'm a contractor already making VERY GOOD money. That company pays even more. Really............at this point though it's not about money. It's about working with a team that doesn't do stupid shit that is bound to get me killed. I checked with the bank and they said I can't make withdrawals from any of my accounts if I am dead.

Dude, i told ya its not worth being a gay escort no matter how much they pay....Not that i know!

http://www.skydivethefarm.com

do you realize that when you critisize people you dont know over the internet, you become part of a growing society of twats? ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?

[SuperKat 0]

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Hate to say it dude but, you may want to take a break until you are off probation. Many police brass I've run into have no sense of humor about jumping, especially if you get injured.

yeah, I'll probably go that route. After all, two years isn't that long. I have the rest of my life to continue skydiving, provided I don't get shot, stabbed, clubbed to death, or get in fatal police car chase accident. I'm swapping one extreme and dangerous thing for another.Maybe I should stick to being a network engineer. NOT!

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After probation you can tell them to kiss your ass pretty much, when it comes to your (legal) off-duty activities.
Good Luck!

Sounds like a plan! Thanks bud.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[SuperKat 0]

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Firstly congratulations on your selection to the academy. I work for the Police down under (doing IT) so I know it’s very sought after job which is tough to gain selection.

Thanks. That's where I hope to end up in after I work the streets for a couple of years. I've been a network engineer now for A & E Television Networks for 7 years now.

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Well shit is going to happen. NYPD sound like arseholes to me. Your going to put your life on the line for them and they won't let you take leave without pay if you trip over drunk in your driveway and bust yourself up.

Here's the problem. They graduate about 800-1200 candidates every 6 months. We're pretty expendable, I guess. If I get busted up from a car accident or any other accident that doesn't involve recreational sports, then yes I will be put on sick leave or maybe desk duty. I figure it's only 2 years so it's not much to sacrifice. I just hate having to give up the sport. Especially now, since I just started doing faster and accurate landing approaches. I'll have to start all over again.

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Who wants to work for an employer that won't look after you when things go bad. I wouldn’t want that over my head – I can’t do that I might get a small injury and get fired. You can’t put up new curtains, in case you fall down! You can't go out there you might be mugged. Do you drive, you could get in a wreck and lose your job?

Probation is only for two years. After that, I can pull a muscle from wanking it and still have my job. And as long as it doesn't involve recreational sports, I should still be employed if I get hurt from anything else. I guess you could say they're protecting their own interests. In the NYPD if you get injured, after probation, they're forced to retire you with 75% of your current pay for the rest of your life. Which is why I can understand why they're being like that. Bad cops back in the day used to injure themselves just to collect 75% pay for the rest of their lives.

[SuperKat 0]

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So, are you saying that if you bust out a knee playing hoops at the local park, playing tennis, or any other after work recreational activity that you're subject to termination? Or, just skydiving?

Yup, especially skydiving. Any recreational injuries would subject me to being terminated. Why? because bad cops back in the day would injure themselves and retire with 75% of their pay for the rest of their lives. Besides, we're supposed to be a tough bunch. If we get injured during probation means we don't deserve to make the cut. There are about 800-1200 police accademy graduates every 6 months. We're just a number. The good part is, it's only a 2 year layoff. 2 years might come and go but I will surely miss the sport.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[SuperKat 0]

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hey, do what you've got to do. What's more important,skydiving, or money?

The more I think about it, to retire 20 years later with 50% of my pay for the rest of my life, I'd say it's worth sacrificing two years of being inactive in the sport.

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Seriously though, there's more to life than skydiving, we'll be here to welcome you back if you need a break. Just make sure you save all that $$$ for jumps when you make your return to the sky

Spoken like a true supportive girlfriend. Why If I wasn't taken, you'd be my sky chica. rawr! lol

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[freeflir29 0]

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Dude, i told ya its not worth being a gay escort no matter how much they pay..

I don't do it for the money...........it's the fringe benefits that I was after.

[Ron 10]

Its only the sky.

It will be there if you want to come back.

But a few years of fun is not worth not having a future

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[Michele 1]

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Thanks man. I'm still torn between the two decisions but I think I'm leaning more towards calling it quits for two years first.

Know what? The sky's not going anywhere. And if it does, you'll have a whole lot more to worry about then skydiving, I promise.

Re-read your sig line, and decide what you want for your whole life, not just your weekends, or time off. And then go confidently in the direction of your dream...and thanks for serving.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[fireflytx 0]

Hell No!

"Well behaved women rarely make history"

[SuperKat 0]

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Its only the sky.

It will be there if you want to come back.

But a few years of fun is not worth not having a future

You're right. However, the confident part in me, which took 4 Scott Miller canopy classes and a Flight 1 canopy course thinks that I will be fine and I won't get injured. However, the other side of knows that anything can happen to me, no matter how proficient I am under canopy.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[jumpwally 0]

Teach the 1st jump course , load the planes or just hang out. The DZ can be alot of fun,,learn to rig or pack. Have fun most of all.

smile, be nice, enjoy life
FB # - 1083

[diablopilot 2]

No. But not because of the reason you list in your poll. For me a career that conflicted with what makes me happy would be stupid. It's one reason I started working in skydiving.

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