Active Duty BASErs

**asuskier** · November 16th, 2009, 08:21 PM

I was just wondering who all out there is currently on active duty and still chooses to BASE. Have you filled out any paperwork, do you stay away from illegal shit, or do you just fly under the radar? I know there are forms you can fill out for skydiving... but I feel that the military would definitely have a problem with BASE.

**base1313** · November 16th, 2009, 11:35 PM

It's a risk you take... if you get hurt or caught, you deal with the consequences, it is not going to be authorized as far as the military is concerned.

**jonmurrell** · November 18th, 2009, 05:46 AM

Walk up to your commander and say, "Can you sign this memo?"

Soldiers get hurt doing all kinds of stupid shit and they get taken care of, and I've never seen anyone get in much trouble for just getting hurt. I'd imagine the consequences of getting caught/arrested would be about the same as you see for DUI/DWI or other arrests: Article 15 and all that brings.

Don't get hurt... but don't get arrested either.

edit to add: if they've got you, go politely. Where I'm from punishment can pretty lenient but adding a resisting charge will get you raped without mercy...

**guamcurious** · November 18th, 2009, 09:01 AM

just dont ask....... does it say anywhere that you cant base jump? If you ask they'll say no.

**davo** · November 18th, 2009, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by guamcurious

just dont ask....... does it say anywhere that you cant base jump? If you ask they'll say no.

+1

i did pass off a speedflying injury as a bouldering slip... less questions and less BS. I do know that the SGLI will pay out for most of our extreme sports activities, but lets try not to test that theory, MK?

**Para_Frog** · November 18th, 2009, 04:20 PM

Varies with commanders and the type of unit. When I was with Marine Recon - everyone jumped and this kind of shit was encouraged. Now I'm in an armored Cav unit - former tankers all - completely different mindset from Special Operations. My last commander singled me out as a rogue, risk-taking douchebag (and he was just talking about skydiving).

My current commander asked me to do a demo off the Perrine for a commander's conference.

Just depends. I fly under the radar though. I don't advertise around work, but everyone knows Harvey's a BASE jumper.

The only injury doing either I've had in the last 18 years was a ruptured biceps tendon going through a tandem rating course. Told the Army it just ruptured pulling myself up from a seated position. Which is true. I didn't tell them it was to exit a 182 with a dude strapped to the front of me. Unnecessary minutia.

If you get hurt BASE jumping...call it hiking. Because it is.

If you get arrested - suck it up and take your lumps.

**base1313** · November 18th, 2009, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by Para_Frog

If you get hurt BASE jumping...call it hiking. Because it is.

If you get arrested - suck it up and take your lumps.

That sums it up really well...

**Uberchris** · November 18th, 2009, 04:55 PM

amen.
my current command knows i skydive and likes it (i have not mentioned BASE). some peoples command wouldnt allow skydiving at all, no questions asked.

**stitch** · November 19th, 2009, 10:45 AM

Here is a bit of a story about how serious things can get if things go wrong. A close friend recently died on a backcountry base jump while on leave. I never questioned this person if it was okay with his command to be jumping. I figure he's an adult and would know the consequences.

It should be okay to discuss this now because the investigation is over. But we came to find out after he came up missing that he had lied to his command about where he was going on leave and what his intentions were. One of the JAG officers that interviewed me, also said his 1st sergeant had a conference with my friend before he left for leave and gave him a direct order not to be base jumping.

I don't know what, if any, affect this may have had on any death benefits to his family. None I hope. But had he just been injured. I would say it would have been ugly. Probably an article 15 with 2 reductions in pay grade at the very least. In affect his military career would have been over.

**Para_Frog** · November 19th, 2009, 11:06 AM

I read the official SIR at the Army Safety Center. Pretty cut and dried, no opinion or speculation. Just facts.

Now, big Army may have a knee jerk reaction, but as far as SGLI goes - there is no aviation/wreckless behavior clause - yet.

The Army is, however, big on statistics. The ratio of soldiers killed diving into shallow water off-duty to dying BASE jumping over the last year is about 10:1.

Drowning off-duty: about 20:1

Negligent firearms discharge: 6:1

I won't even go into POV deaths - off the chart. As are suicides.

So maybe no knee-jerk reaction, however since BASE is so misunderstood and glamorized, it could happen.

My command has asked everyone, as I have asked my soldiers, NOT to get hurt prior to our deployment. In my unit it's motorcycles and ATVs that are fucking people up off-duty.

I'm personally scaling back the BASE, just because I don't want to pull a Stone and have it cause me to miss the deployment. That would suck balls.

Priorities afterall. And BASE doesn't pay my mortgage.

Edit: Shit, I'm currently nursing a 2nd metatarsal stress fracture I got RUNNING. They haven't banned me from THAT.

**Blitzkrieg** · November 19th, 2009, 11:12 PM

so does that mean you'll be in moab for turkey day?

**Para_Frog** · November 20th, 2009, 11:47 AM

Hey now...don't go getting crazy. Special events will never be scaled back, just the routine stuff.

I can't make it this year because I have to go be a staff weenie at a pre-mob training in CA that weekend. Sucks ass.