JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
A Marine Corps unit at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is hosting a first-ever Marine Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course to train Marines to be certified jumpmasters, the troops who are responsible for military free-fall parachute operations.
Fifteen Marines are undergoing training in the jumpmaster class at the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, a Marine Corps reserve unit based at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. The three-week class started Jan. 29 and runs until Feb. 16.
Master Sgt. Cliff Moffitt, NCO in charge and chief instructor for the class, said the Marine Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course is the first jumpmaster class to be run by the Marine Corps for its troops.
In previous years, Marines had to train in jumpmaster courses at other Department of Defense service schools.
Moffitt said the Marine Corps decided to run their own jumpmaster course to meet growing operational needs among its troops.
“We have an operational need that we weren’t able to satisfy elsewhere,” Moffitt said. “So the determination was made to start up our own Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course. By having our own course, we will be able to produce the number of Jumpmasters required in the Marine Corps.”
Moffitt said the course consists of academics, conducting inspections on jumpers wearing multi-mission parachute system equipment, a process known as Jumpmaster Personnel Inspection, and spotting, the skill of maneuvering an aircraft consisting of jumpers over a desired impact point.
After taking the course and becoming certified jumpmasters, the Marines will oversee every aspect of military free-fall operations, including planning, execution and recovery.
“A Jumpmaster is overall responsible for the safe conduct of airborne operations,” Moffitt said.
The Marines in the course are experienced and qualified military free-fall jumpers who have met the course prerequisites. The course includes four instructors, who are certified Jumpmasters and have an average of 8 to 10 years as experienced military free-fall jumpers.
The mobile training operations part of the class is being conducted at Skydive San Marcos, located near San Marcos, Texas.
Moffitt said instructors in the class emphasize to the students attention to detail and being sure of everything they are doing as Jumpmasters.
“We strive for perfection in everything we do as a Jumpmaster,” Moffitt said. “People’s lives depend on it. It’s been challenging to the students as it’s meant to be. Upon graduation they will be qualified Military Free-fall Jumpmasters responsible for all aspects during military free-fall operations. They (students) will leave here and go back to their unit and act in the capacity of a Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster, which is a significant responsibility.”
Moffitt thanked the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion for their help in hosting the class.
“They are gracious hosts in ensuring the Marine Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course has everything necessary to complete the mission, which is to produce qualified, competent Military Free-Fall Jumpmasters,” he said.
Before hosting the Marine Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course, the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion had hosted an Army-led jumpmaster course last year.
Staff Sgt. Jack Hausmann, a reconnaissance Marine with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp Pendleton, Calif., is a student in the Marine Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course.
Hausmann, who has 13 years of military service, including four years as a free-fall jumper, said he is taking the course so he can help his battalion become self-sufficient in free-fall jumping operations.
Moffitt, who has 19 years of service in the Marine Corps, became a Jumpmaster 12 years ago as part of his duty as a force reconnaissance Marine.
“I think it is incredible leaving an aircraft at 25,000 feet at night, it is the ultimate feeling of exhilaration,” Moffitt said. “As a jumpmaster, I enjoy executing my duties knowing that I’ve done everything necessary to ensure the safety and proficiency of the jumpers that I am responsible for.”