r/army • u/cherry_jumpmaster • Jul 28 '16
US Army Jumpmaster School: After Action Review and Tips
Hello all, just wanted to drop by and download some info as it's fresh. I'm currently waiting to graduate Jumpmaster School tomorrow morning (all requirements have been met). If there is anyone out there who has a unit who is pushing them to go to this course, or maybe you are just interested this post is for you. Just remember everything is constantly changing so what is relevant today might not be relevant in the next class...but some of the concepts will remain the same.
A little background just to give you some insight, this was my first attempt at this course and I arrived here with Pre Jump completely memorized in it's entirety as well as Nomenclature committed to knowledge. I had not downloaded the Jumpmaster app prior to arriving at the school and had not practiced any JMPI prior to arriving. Fast forward to the end, I passed JMPI on my 4th attempt (my test scores leading up to JMPI allowed Re-Entry). I should note that during the course I did end up downloading the Jumpmaster App and scored above 80% or above in Pre-Jump, Nomenclature and the Written Test in order to keep Re-Entry (instead of 3 attempts, you get 5 which I obviously needed to pass).
People refer to the Jumpmaster App quite a bit and it's great, whatever method you need to memorize the content is what I recommend. I memorized the 5 pages of Pre Jump (you have to recite the entire thing to an instructor) by simply looking at the paper and going a little bit at a time. Some recommended that I record myself and play it back over and over, that didn't work for me. All who showed up not knowing Pre Jump and attempting to memorize it upon getting here failed out and went home.
As for Nomenclature, I can't stress knowing this inside and out, not just skating by with enough knowledge to limp through the test. When you get to JMPI you will have to look at something (deficiency) and immediately be able to spit it out while you are already 3 steps further along in the inspection process. If you pause for even a second to think about what that item is (ex: Adjusting Strap not secured properly in Pouch Attachment Ladder System Webbing) you are done. Go home Jumpmaster.
The Written Test is challenging, in that the sheer amount of information to study is ridiculous and the instructors didn't exactly do the "foot stomp" to let us know what we needed to focus on. I used the JM App flashcards to study for this and what I had highlighted in my book but it still wasn't enough. I did score above 80% in my test in order to maintain Re-Entry but even though I studied hard there were still items on there I had to guess at. Be prepared to do math on scratch paper, brush up on it.
Re-Entry: I can't stress how important this is with respect to JMPI. Assuming you make it that far in the course, you'll get 3 shots at passing JMPI which as of today is inspecting a Combat equipped Jumper and two Hollywood jumpers in less than 5 minutes. You can't miss any major deficiencies (or call any that you think are there but aren't) and you can only miss 2 minor deficiencies...all while going as fast as possible with your mind spinning at the edge of control. You need those two extra chances at JMPI, you NEED them if anything for piece of mind. Many who pass the first or second chance are "alumni" who have been to the course 2 or 3 times before, if it's your first shot at JMPI the nerves will be off the charts.
JMPI: I previously stated that I did not practice this prior to coming to the course and that's because you get PLENTY of time to learn it doing circles. All day, every day, you stand in giant circles either wearing rigs or inspecting them and it is exhausting. Super glue the cuticles on your fingernails, it helps. You will do JMPI until you do not want to do JMPI, and then you will do it some more.
PWAC: Our PWAC exam was after the JMPI test, I think this was done on purpose because most who are going to fail do it during JMPI thus less folks to shove on an aircraft for PWAC. To my knowledge nobody failed PWAC, just do what they show you how they show you and have a good exit.
Summary: I've been in the Army for a long time and have attended some very physically demanding courses and I can say without a doubt this was the most intense and challenging course I have been to. Not because it required carrying a ruck for 20 miles but the mental stress associated with perfecting JMPI and trying to pass that event is simply off the charts. While waiting for Roster numbers to be called to test I've seen men pacing, talking to themselves, praying, staring at themselves in the mirror, the full range of emotions. As they fail and their last chance gets closer the desperation and anxiety increase because nobody wants to go back to their unit as a no-go. This course doesn't discriminate, it doesn't matter how many tabs or badges you have...some make it and many do not. If you have the opportunity to attend I highly recommend it, good luck.
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Jul 28 '16
Well written. As a suggestion, when this inevitably comes up in searches later, everyone always has questions about the duty day, facilities, unusual rules, etc. Maybe include a blurb about that.
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u/cherry_jumpmaster Jul 29 '16
Good point. It's truly big boy rules at the course, the instructors are great and very professional / always willing to help. They will teach you everything you need to know and never divert from the standard. It's truly on you to execute. Typical duty day was 0700 or so if we had a test, and the rest split between 0730 or 0900 start times for the rest of the course. Rarely did we get out past 1600 hours which might seem great, but when you are doing circles all day long with barely any breaks you are at tracer burnout by 1600. Most who travel here stay on base at the IHG Hotel, it's very nice.
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Jul 28 '16
My knuckles just had a PTSD flashback to AAS and JMPI reading this. Good write up, Jumpmaster. Also, a Jumpmaster app? What a time to be alive...
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u/kkronc Jul 28 '16
This should get saved somewhere on the sidebar. I don't recognize all of your acronyms (I'm not airborne yet) but I do recognize a quality writeup.
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Jul 28 '16
Good tips. Congratulations on graduating tomorrow. I actually work at hhc and was on the dz when you guys jumped yesterday.
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u/cherry_jumpmaster Jul 29 '16
Ha! Dude how HOT was it out there!?! Not that I don't enjoy lugging 100lbs of kit off the DZ for what seemed like an eternity but it was nice to finally exit the AC. I was a little salty when I saw the instructors ride their MC6's in super close to the assembly area. Baller.
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u/FourLeaf_Tayback Jul 28 '16
So many people undervalue being reentry qualified. I also needed 4 tries to pass JMPI and this is where a majority of students will fail.
How much time did you guys spend on performance of safety duties? When I went through I was shocked at how little it was emphasized.
Congrats!
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Jul 28 '16
Is it Army school hard? Or PhD in physics hard?
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u/cherry_jumpmaster Jul 29 '16
Well I don't have a PhD in physics but it's a little of both. The physical part just wears you out, wearing a rig all day every day takes its toll and in some aspects degrades your ability to perform when it becomes time to perform your turn at JMPI (out of the rig). Mentally it's like trying to do 2 or 3 things all at once which is very challenging and stressful. Your sequence for inspection has to be perfect and quick, so that's one thing. You have to know all of the nomenclature for each item you inspect, that's two. You have to know exactly what the deficiency is that you are calling, but after you see it you have to keep moving so that means you are inspecting another item while formulating how to properly state the deficiency you just saw. Wait what, there's another deficiency now there is two to remember but you can't stop. This is just during practice....when it becomes time to test and you add in the pressure and stress it gets stupid quick. Ridiculousness.
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u/po_toter Jul 29 '16
Have you been to pathfinder school? How does it compare to that?
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u/chrome1453 Aug 02 '16
Stickied this thread to the sub. Thanks for the contribution.
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u/cheese4brains Jul 28 '16 edited Jul 28 '16
I never got the opportunity to attend the school, but as a young private I was assigned to the driver detail for the instructors for a few cycles. It was the greatest detail I was ever on. All the instructors took time out of their demanding schedule to teach me everything they could. I learned so much, but most of all I really came away with respect and admiration for the quality of soldier that comes through that course.
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Jul 28 '16
Interesting write up. As a fellow old man who only recently completed Basic Airborne Course and who was terrified through all 5 jumps, I don't expect I will be attending this school any time soon (hopefully never). But I still like to hear that the Army strongly challenges those men and women who seek to be responsible for our safety during jumps. Congratulations on your accomplishment. I'll pass this info on to my paralegal who is trying to go.
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u/PrivateSnuffy Jul 28 '16
Can you go into detail on the cuticle thing?
Also, congratulations
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u/TeamRedRocket Jul 28 '16
Did you go to Benning's course?
At bragg you could call out deficiencies that didn't exist and wouldn't get singed for it when I went through. This was a while ago though.
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u/cherry_jumpmaster Jul 29 '16
Yes I went to Benning. Calling out a deficiency that does not exist means you bought it, and that's potentially minus 35 jumpmaster. Ask me how I know...lol
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Jul 28 '16
Did you go to the one at Benning? Also is this USASOC jumpmaster or conventional army?
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u/abnryn Jul 28 '16
Good write up. It sounds about the same as it was (minus the PWAC at the end).
I think the only thing I would add is that the JMPI portion of the course I think has a little to do with luck. I passed on my second try, but I don't think it's because I was anymore skilled than any others. There were also a number of people who failed who I would honestly trust with my life had they become JMs.
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u/cherry_jumpmaster Jul 29 '16
I won't argue that point, this is just viewing the world through my lens. It's crazy in that room for sure.
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u/xixoxixa Jul 29 '16
JM school remains the three hardest weeks I spent in the Army. That school is no joke. I used to come home and shadow-box JMPI on my wife wearing my kit and bleed from my fingertips.
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u/dantheman_woot Jul 28 '16
Nice write up man