J-S 0 #1 November 2, 2012 So I'm following in my families footsteps of the line of firefighters. Father a firefighter, uncle a former hotshot/wildland firefighter/current fighter, and my grandfather was a firefighter. I grew up in a firehouse so I know what the job is about. I start my academy training and station volunteering in January when my girlfriend and I move back to Jersey from CA. My eventual goal is to train for the 6 weeks course in smoke jumping and give it a rookie go at it (yes, years of training before that point). My uncle will be a good mentor for training for wildland/hotshot fighting proir, before I apply for that. My question is, is there any DZs that can train with rounds (mainly for accuracy)? Ive been getting into physical shape, the gym, scrambling up and down (bush whacking) with 65 lbs of gear on my back for hours at a time pushing myself farther and farther each time. Jogging up and down hills with that same gear for a few miles at a time, stair runs, ect. So, I wanted to start now practicing jumping rounds for accuracy (obviously not with all the gear jumping in). I just want to train physically, mentally with fire experience and mentoring for years before I get a chance to prove I can be the best of the best, or at least try to be a smoke jumper. Thanks for any replies or contacts! Shawn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #2 November 2, 2012 Not all smoke jumpers use rounds... if you want to train on rounds the best school and the largest would be glad to train you up....http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/199th/airborne/ you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 8 #3 November 2, 2012 Quote Not all smoke jumpers use rounds... if you want to train on rounds the best school and the largest would be glad to train you up....http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/199th/airborne/ Fryar DZ is a nice big open area, hard to miss. Great school, state of the art training equipment. They separate the men from the boys the first week. They separate the fools from the men the second week. They let the fools jump on the third! "I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GLIDEANGLE 1 #4 November 2, 2012 QuoteWhile all smokejumper bases can operate interchangeably, the USFS smokejumpers differ in that they use round parachutes and provide fire protection coverage primarily to forested lands. The BLM uses ram air square parachutes and work to protect all public lands. The ram air parachute is better suited for areas of high winds found in rangeland country. SOURCE: http://www.blm.gov/nifc/st/en/prog/fire/fireops/people_in_fire/smokejumpers/operations.htmlThe choices we make have consequences, for us & for others! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jackwallace 3 #5 November 3, 2012 Last I heard they were trying more rappelling out of choppers. Cheaper, less extra equipment to carry home.U only make 2 jumps: the first one for some weird reason and the last one that you lived through. The rest are just filler. scr 316 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #6 November 3, 2012 Go buy a cheapo round...take it to the DZ...you'll learn how to spot and turn it pretty quick on your own. PLF is you friend! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SEREJumper 1 #7 November 3, 2012 Very few if any DZ's actually "train" with rounds. I few people migth jump them from time to time as novelties, or jump them hard core all the time in a place called Canada In reality, you are better suited to work hard on your wildland firefighter experience then risk getting hurt on a round BEFORE you have the chance to try out for the real deal. Even the website says prior jumping experience is not needed or even desired in some cases because people form bad habits. The parachute is just a way to get the the fire, being the BEST on the ground is what will seal the deal of actually making it as a rookie, they will train you the "right" way. But hey, if you want to jump a round, go ahead, they are FUN!!! We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #8 November 4, 2012 Agreed! Put most of your effort into improving your forest fire-fighting skills. Smoke jumpers only consider (invite to selection camp) the best GROUND firefighters. Civilian skydiving schools - in North America - quit training students on rounds by the end of the 1980s. Civilian skydiving schools quit using rounds for two reasons: A. circa 1980 the US and Canadian military quit selling - airworthy - surplus parachutes. B. secondly, by then we were tired of carrying broken legs off the DZ. Students under large square canopies suffer maybe one tenth the leg injuries of students under rounds. If I sound biased, it is because I have maybe 70 jumps on round canopies and more than 6,000 jumps on square canopies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #9 November 4, 2012 Quote If I sound biased, it is because I have maybe 70 jumps on round canopies and more than 6,000 jumps on square canopies. And old and cranky too... you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
