Is the 10 meter tower jump required at usna

My son is scared of heights - and he jumped. He has confronted his fear of heights.

There is no way in heck I would do it. My fear grows with age.
 
What kind of officer can't do a 10m jump? Overcoming fear and developing self-confidence used to be a prerequisite for leading others in harm's way. What is going on?
 
When I was in airborne school, the old saw was that if you froze in the door, Sgt Airborne was going to put his size 11 boot in your backside and you were going out one way or the other. I never saw it happen though. In fact, that was one of the good things about jumping in a stick; once the line starts moving, there isn't time to ponder.
 
Zaphod Beeblebrox said:
What kind of officer can't do a 10m jump? Overcoming fear and developing self-confidence used to be a prerequisite for leading others in harm's way. What is going on?
Click to expand...
They are human and imperfect, as we all are.

For some, it’s the height, for others, the landing, for some, the deep water. If they didn’t grow up comfortable in the water or have the opportunity to develop water skills, that can be a factor. In a safe setting like this, in the leadership laboratory that is USNA, they have a chance to overcome a personal issue, learn and grow from it.
 
franknd said:
When I was in airborne school, the old saw was that if you froze in the door, Sgt Airborne was going to put his size 11 boot in your backside and you were going out one way or the other. I never saw it happen though. In fact, that was one of the good things about jumping in a stick; once the line starts moving, there isn't time to ponder.
Click to expand...
They said everyone's first jump was always a "night jump". I concentrated on keeping my eyes open because I was afraid if I shut them I couldn't deploy my reserve and I felt sure I would need to. After the first jump it was always fun even though I've been injured. The ground's fault, not the parachute's.
 
Capt MJ said:
They are human and imperfect, as we all are.

For some, it’s the height, for others, the landing, for some, the deep water. If they didn’t grow up comfortable in the water or have the opportunity to develop water skills, that can be a factor. In a safe setting like this, in the leadership laboratory that is USNA, they have a chance to overcome a personal issue, learn and grow from it.
Click to expand...
My assumption is that USNA and other commissioning sources build them up to it. Ergo, they should be able to do it when the time comes and add a little swagger to their walk as a reward. If they can't do it with those resources then I have questions. The real reason for scary training isn't so you can jump off a ship but rather to ensure you can maintain your composure when nasty things are heading your way or happening around you.
 
Zaphod Beeblebrox said:
My assumption is that USNA and other commissioning sources build them up to it. Ergo, they should be able to do it when the time comes and add a little swagger to their walk as a reward. If they can't do it with those resources then I have questions. The real reason for scary training isn't so you can jump off a ship but rather to ensure you can maintain your composure when nasty things are heading your way or happening around you.
Click to expand...
I would argue that if you are surrounded by thousands of miles of blue water and your ship has been fatally struck or something catastrophic has happened, nasty things are indeed headed your way and happening around you, and jumping off a high deck into waters conceivably covered with burning fuel and debris, plus other unknowns such as water temp, sharks, lifeboat availability, is another way of going into harm’s way. Composure is required in all these settings. I don’t think we disagree on the fundamentals.

I think this meets the criteria for “nasty things” -
www.smithsonianmag.com

The Worst Shark Attack in History

In 1945, a U.S. naval ship was sunk by a Japanese submarine, but the ship's sinking was just the beginning of the sailors' nightmare
www.smithsonianmag.com www.smithsonianmag.com

Apologies to the OP for having strayed into naval history.
 
Last edited:
Capt MJ said:
I would argue that if you are surrounded by thousands of miles of blue water and your ship has been fatally struck or something catastrophic has happened, nasty things are indeed headed your way and happening around you, and jumping off a high deck into waters conceivably covered with burning fuel and debris, plus other unknowns such as water temp, sharks, lifeboat availability, is another way of going into harm’s way. Composure is required in all these settings. I don’t think we disagree on the fundamentals.
Click to expand...
Your description is exactly why I picked a different poison than the Navy. The Navy is smart using a 10m jump into water as it's fear management training since it has direct applications for them. All services have their own variations with the same as you say, fundamentals, as the desired outcome.
 
Zaphod Beeblebrox said:
Your description is exactly why I picked a different poison than the Navy. The Navy is smart using a 10m jump into water as it's fear management training since it has direct applications for them. All services have their own variations with the same as you say, fundamentals, as the desired outcome.
Click to expand...
First time I rappelled: “Oh, $hit!”
Second time: “Whee!” Just another get way of getting someplace if I have to.
 
Capt MJ said:
In DH’s day they climbed the rope ladder to a suspended platform in McD. If you didn’t go off within a certain amount of time, the rope ladder was swung away. 😳
Click to expand...

Should install a one-way turnstile (like the pedestrian security gates at gate 1) so once you enter, you can’t depart. Then at the top of the platform, they can turn fire on so it gradually forces the individual to the edge and they have to jump. Make it as realistic to the environment that Sailors might face. Problem solved.
 
Capt MJ said:
I would argue that if you are surrounded by thousands of miles of blue water and your ship has been fatally struck or something catastrophic has happened, nasty things are indeed headed your way and happening around you, and jumping off a high deck into waters conceivably covered with burning fuel and debris, plus other unknowns such as water temp, sharks, lifeboat availability, is another way of going into harm’s way. Composure is required in all these settings. I don’t think we disagree on the fundamentals.

I think this meets the criteria for “nasty things” -
www.smithsonianmag.com

The Worst Shark Attack in History

In 1945, a U.S. naval ship was sunk by a Japanese submarine, but the ship's sinking was just the beginning of the sailors' nightmare
www.smithsonianmag.com www.smithsonianmag.com

Apologies to the OP for having strayed into naval history.
Click to expand...
Great movie! The ending scenes gave me chills.
 
usnabgo08 said:
Should install a one-way turnstile (like the pedestrian security gates at gate 1) so once you enter, you can’t depart. Then at the top of the platform, they can turn fire on so it gradually forces the individual to the edge and they have to jump. Make it as realistic to the environment that Sailors might face. Problem solved.
Click to expand...
😱🔥🔥🔥
 
Okay, so I have a story to share about a West Pointer that's apropos here.

A West Point coach was recruiting an athlete of mine. He was an alum of WP. He talked about during Cadet Basic Training when he had to do the zipline. He said he was scared to death of heights and had to climb up a ladder to a platform some 30 feet in the air and zip to the other end. He was terrified.

The guy in front of him in line was what he described as the West Point posterchild...big and strong and fearless. He said he was an impressive Plebe. When the posterchild climbed the ladder and got to the top and was harnessed in, he reached for the device and backed away and started fitfully shaking his head. Then he'd reach again and back away again. He would cross his arms and squint his eyes and just start shaking his head back and forth. The guys behind him and below him were shouting encouraging words telling him he could do it. The coach said he thought to himself, "Oh, thank goodness! If this guy is afraid, then it won't seem as bad when I get up there."

Then, all of a sudden, the posterchild started dancing. He had this big smile on his face and was dancing around. He was only pretending to be scared. He grabbed the zipline and was hooting and howling and flailing his legs as we went across. The coach said the guys were cracking up.

Then the coach got to the top and was legit scared and hesitant, and all the Cadets were yelling at him. "Come on! It's not funny anymore!" Only, he wasn't pretending.

That story came to mind as I was reading about the 10 meter jump.
 
Zaphod Beeblebrox said:
They said everyone's first jump was always a "night jump". I concentrated on keeping my eyes open because I was afraid if I shut them I couldn't deploy my reserve and I felt sure I would need to. After the first jump it was always fun even though I've been injured. The ground's fault, not the parachute's.
Click to expand...
Unless you've done it, people don't realize how hard you land using a T-10. That's why they spend a week on landing properly.
 
We met our 2020 WP last month as he returned to now Fort Liberty from Special Forces selection (SFAS). He said there were more than a handful of otherwise-very-capable candidates that froze on the Nasty Nick obstacle course, mostly fear-of-heights related. Some didn't know they had these phobias until that moment. They were warned that on certain elements a refusal was an immediate trip home, but they couldn't overcome it. He said SF selection was the first military thing he had undergone where absolutely no one who didn't deserve to pass did pass.

Now, SF has a very different mission-set from that of most Navy officers, but I would suggest the 10M jump wasn't about a real scenario as much as it was a mental exercise that an officer should be capable of. "Fear is the mind-killer", for the Dune fans.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top