When I was stationed at Goodfellow Air Force base in San Angelo Texas, my class (this was the last part of my Intel training, the part where they teach us how to use the top secret fax machine, and how to make classified coffee) decided that once we passed the harderst part of the course (about 2 month into it I believe) we would all go sky diving. When it came time to go tough, most people dropped out. Losers.
Now, in order to understand why this means so much to me, you need a little background. When I went to Texas, a large part of my class was made up of students who had an extra 6 months of language training. I had only 1 year of Russian, and the rest of the class had a year and a half. So not only had the rest of the class been working together for 6 months to a year and a half, they were all much much better at russian. They were also, by and large, older than I was, most having failed out of college (including at least one Midshipman lol) . So I didn't really fit in too well (and my smart bellybutton mouth didn't help matters any )
So anyhow, me, and our Marine Instructor, and about 5 other classmates all go out to the Midland Odessa Airfield with the intention of jumping out. Now, going into this, I had the same rationalisation about where I should jump. I needed to go with at least one person in front of me, as motivation to get out the door. But, I was overruled, and ended up going last.
As the plane taxied down the strip, the world changed. I was pumped up, and totaly psyched that I was going to jump out of a freakin airplane. My classmates looked like they were on their way to the gallows. I started singing the song "Sickboy" and that got some folks very unhappy. I think they were simply sad that I was having fun.
When it came time for us to go. Joe was the first one out. Ever since I'd met Joe, he was always in control. Things always went his way (well, except when he got bounced from the academy I guess) he was a smug sob. But as he slowely made his way out to the wing, and looked back at the cameraman/drop master, you could see the gravest concern on his face. You could see the pity of starving children. And the deepest regret of love lost. His eyes were a blueprint for human suffering. It was the funniest thing I'd ever seen.
Having seen the look on Joes face, I resolved that no matter what, I was not going down like that. So when my time came, I climbed out on the wing, looked at the camera, and gave them the biggest SEG. My form was horrid once I left the plane, but you know what? I looked damn good as I looked into the jaws of my first (and sadly, only) jump.
-Sikboy
