All The Way!

T-11 Advanced Tactical Parachute System — Pre-Jump Briefing

The Jumpmaster commands the stick through all pre-jump actions. Upon the command “GET READY,” jumpers assume the preparatory position. On “STAND UP,” jumpers rise and face the skin of the aircraft. “HOOK UP” — attach the static line snap hook to the anchor line cable. “CHECK STATIC LINES” — trace your static line from the snap hook to the pack tray. “CHECK EQUIPMENT” — conduct a head-to-toe self-check and check the jumper in front of you. “SOUND OFF FOR EQUIPMENT CHECK” — slap the jumper ahead and shout “OK!”

On “GO,” hand your static line to the safety and step into the door. Maintain a tight body position — feet and knees together, hands on the ends of the reserve, chin on chest, elbows tight. Jump up and out at a 45-degree angle with a vigorous exit. Count: “One thousand, two thousand, three thousand, four thousand.” Check canopy.

At the end of the four-second count, look up and check your canopy. The T-11 is a round parachute with a modified shape that reduces oscillation and descent rate compared to the T-10D. Verify: canopy is fully deployed, no malfunctions (blown panels, line-overs, cigarette rolls, Mae Wests, or inversions). If the canopy is good, gain canopy control by pulling on the appropriate risers to steer toward the DZ.

If you have a total malfunction (no canopy deployment by the end of your count): immediately activate the reserve parachute. Pull the ripcord handle with your right hand, pull the reserve straight out, and throw it into the airstream away from your body. For partial malfunctions (canopy deployed but not functioning properly): if you cannot correct it with riser manipulation within 2 seconds, activate the reserve.

• Total malfunction — activate reserve immediately
• Partial malfunction — attempt to correct, then reserve
• Towed jumper — await Jumpmaster action, prepare reserve
• Entanglement — communicate with other jumper, separate if possible

The T-11 descends at approximately 19 feet per second (compared to 24 fps for the T-10D). Prepare for landing at 200 feet AGL. Feet and knees together, knees slightly bent, chin on chest, elbows tight. Make contact on the balls of the feet and execute a PLF through the five points of contact: balls of feet, calf, thigh, buttocks, and pull-up muscle. Do NOT try to stand up — fall into the PLF.

The JMPI is the heart of Jumpmaster School. The Jumpmaster inspects each parachutist from head to toe in a specific sequence covering every point of attachment, routing, and rigging. A single missed deficiency on the JMPI practical exam results in failure. The sequence covers: helmet, reserve parachute, harness, main parachute, static line, combat equipment, and lowering line.

• Front inspection — helmet, reserve, harness, equipment
• Right-side inspection — static line routing, connector snap
• Rear inspection — main pack tray, static line stowage
• Left-side inspection — universal static line, ALICE clips

After graduation, Jumpmasters are responsible for conducting sustained airborne training for their units. This includes pre-jump briefings for every airborne operation, JMPI of all jumpers, safety of flight coordination, and DZ operations. The Jumpmaster is the final authority on whether conditions are safe for a jump. This responsibility is absolute.