I can feel the roar deep in my chest.
the men and women around me all sharing my expression of fear and excitement.
our time is coming soon, they're looking out the doors to the eternity that is the earth below.
"10 minutes!" He shouts and we echo. It doesn't feel all that long before I'm standing and checking my gear;
"Helmet, chinstrap, chest strap, left and right leg strap!"
Here it comes, the light is red, my heart is pounding, I'm moving forward at the slow shuffle pace they've drilled into us the past two weeks... two weeks, is that long enough?
That's it, I'm at the door. eyes on the horizon, feet and knees together.
I count my 6 count thousands and before i know it the **** of everything holy telling me I've survived this one. that wasn't so hard. my first jump a success? But wait, I'm still falling..
200 ft... prepare to land, drifting to my left rear. pull front risers and adjust lower body accordingly. I shift my knees and tuck my chin and before it hits me... BAM perfect PLF.. or as close as can be expected..
we survived it all.. the training wasn't a ruse after all... Thank. God.