Airborne Army and Morse Code

[KY5U]

I saw a special today (it has been around) on what would-be Airborne Army personnel have to go through to earn their jump wings. Among the requirements is over 50 push-ups in 2 minutes, and 50 sit ups in 2 minutes as the qualifier. You must also be able to run two miles in 16 minutes. This is just to GET IN the program. They showed the instructors calling "time" on the sit ups and a recruit not making the grade. They showed an instructor timing the run and dropping his arm at 16 minutes on the finish line to signify everyone who had crossed was in, everyone else was out.

It was hard not to think about the morse code requirement for Amateur Radio. I noticed on the special there was no group "no push-up international" trying to reduce the requirement, nor was there a "no running international". There was no American Rubout Running League trying to increase the number of Airborne troops by making the requirement less. They wanted the best of the applicants in the Airborne and made no apologies for that. They spoke of their "traditions" like the youngest recruit being the "keeper of the wings" until everyone graduated.

I could not help but think that with trucks, tanks, and airplanes that running was not a modern mode of conveyance any longer. In fact, running is just another mode of conveyance and should have no significant role over other modes. No doubt running and push-ups are keeping out soldiers who would otherwise make great Airborne Paratroopers. For this reason I sent a petition to the US ARMY asking that running, push-ups and other forms of unfair entry requirements be removed from the Airborne requirement.

When I spoke to an Army representative and asked why the unfair running and push up/sit up requirements were there, he responded that it demonstrated the minimum requirement necessary to ensure they got the best applicants. I pointed out that there were Airborne soldiers who got tired and some who tried never to run or do sit-ups again. So why was it necessary? He still held to the unreasonable position that the requirement exists because it is their rule and tradition. Imagine! He did mention that the requirement used to be 2 miles in 10 minutes, but they reduced the requirement 10 years ago. I told him that a reduction would be totally unacceptable, that the various requirements had to be ELIMINATED!

Perhaps it is time for Amateur Radio to stop trying to get the best possible members it can, and reduce requirements so anyone can get in with no effort. Like running and push-ups as an entry requirement to the Ariborne Paratroopers, Morse Code is an entry requirement to become an Amateur Radio Operator. What a travesty!!

[N2NH]

I keep wondering why everybody wants QUALIFIED people? What's up with that?

LOL

[N8CPA]

Wait a minute! Do you mean to tell me that it's the 21st century, and the still make them run, and do calisthenics before they learn to use parachutes? I'm shocked!

[AB8MA]

Ok - Running 2 miles in 16 minutes. That's just twice a quick walk. But 50 pushups. No way. Sorry. I quit.:angry:

[AF2CW]

There is a slight difference between the military and Joe
Blow the civilian. #I think it has something to do with
rights, or something silly like that. #In the military you
basically have no civil rights. #You do as your told,
period, end of story. #In the civilian sector, that's a
different story of course. #Someone will be certain to
defend someone that doesn't want to do something for
whatever the reason. #And life goes on.

Of course the list goes on as to why the military uses
such out dated ways of weeding out the weak links to
get the best people for a specific job. #Sadly it doesn't
carry over in the civilian sector. #Anyone can do
anything they want, and when there is a barrier that they
just don't want to deal with, they cry loud and long until they
get what they want.

[N7CEO]

Guess I'm in double trouble here...
Not only was I in the 82nd Airborne..
I was a CW & RTTY Radio operator also!
34 years later and jumping out of planes,
CW & RTTY are still fun!

[W7DJM]

""could not help but think that with trucks, tanks, and airplanes that running was not a modern mode of conveyance any longer.""


Are you kiddin me? (Kindly substitute a stronger word for "kiddin", one that I can't print here without getting thrown off the board. You know the one I mean.)


You really aren't trying to compare physical fitness requirements in """ONE""" of the most demanding jobs in the world to "dumb down no code," are you?


Actually, these people (if they don't already) should probably be required to learn morse. Seems to me that deep jungle/ mirror signalling might come in handy when you're standin' in that swamp hoping the chopper sees you before the bad guys do.

Come to think of it, might be kinda handy to be able to run, too.

[KA4DPO]

Quote[/b] (AG4YO @ July 15 2005,14:46)]I saw a special today (it has been around) on what would-be Airborne Army personnel have to go through to earn their jump wings. #

AG4YO, I seriously doubt that you called anyone regarding entrance requirements for jump school. I am the US Army Airborne and Special Operations Evaluator. I know that such a call would be treated as a crank call.

Also, to try and draw some analogy between physical fitness requirements for jump school and CW is not very convincing. All Army personnel are required to pass an Annual Physical Fitness Test (APFT) to those standards. I hope your post was done with tongue in cheek. The XVIII Airbourne Corps and USASOC are home to the best soldiers in the world. The physical demands are not easy but there are good reasons, harrassment is not one of them.

If you have questions regarding the rationale for physical testing or have other questions please feel free to contact me. My E-mail address is available in my personal info or use the QRZ mail and I'll reply.

[W5MJL]

The post was definitely tongue-n-cheek. It could have been done with almost anything in our society that has standards. I thought it was very well written.

[KC9EOG]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that special forces troops actually still use morse code because they can communicate without speaking or having to type onto a lit up screen.