1 00:00:02,750 --> 00:00:03,670 - My name is Sergeant Serrano, 2 00:00:03,670 --> 00:00:04,657 I'm a combat videographer. 3 00:00:04,657 --> 00:00:06,620 I'm going to talk to you about my experiences 4 00:00:06,620 --> 00:00:07,453 going through the Airborne School 5 00:00:07,453 --> 00:00:08,700 at Fort Benning, Georgia. 6 00:00:10,300 --> 00:00:12,010 In order for me to prepare for Airborne School, 7 00:00:12,010 --> 00:00:12,843 I had to make sure 8 00:00:12,843 --> 00:00:14,660 I met the Army's physical fitness standards. 9 00:00:14,660 --> 00:00:16,890 So for their PFT, I had to conduct a two mile run 10 00:00:16,890 --> 00:00:19,020 in 15 minutes, 54 seconds, 11 00:00:19,020 --> 00:00:20,831 conduct 42 pushups in two minutes, 12 00:00:20,831 --> 00:00:23,593 conduct 53 sit-ups in two minutes, 13 00:00:23,593 --> 00:00:25,373 and a 20 second flex arm hang. 14 00:00:34,140 --> 00:00:36,000 Upon arrival at Fort Benning, Georgia, 15 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,055 I had to check into my Cadre into the unit. 16 00:00:38,055 --> 00:00:41,300 On that Monday, we conducted Army Physical Fitness Tests. 17 00:00:41,300 --> 00:00:42,180 While conducting that, 18 00:00:42,180 --> 00:00:43,910 that's where most of the washouts are. 19 00:00:43,910 --> 00:00:45,650 That's usually where all the soldiers, airmen, 20 00:00:45,650 --> 00:00:47,573 marines, and navy, that's usually where you 21 00:00:47,573 --> 00:00:50,040 distinguish yourself between everybody else 22 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:51,210 to see if you can meet the standards. 23 00:00:51,210 --> 00:00:52,460 If not, then you get cut. 24 00:00:53,300 --> 00:00:55,580 In order to progress, you need to pass that, 25 00:00:55,580 --> 00:00:57,170 you need to conduct parachute landing falls, 26 00:00:57,170 --> 00:01:00,503 how to rig up your partner into parachutes, 27 00:01:01,850 --> 00:01:04,090 and do a single exit out of a 34-foot tower, 28 00:01:04,090 --> 00:01:06,440 and you get great at all of these events, 29 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:08,390 and in order to progress to Tower Week. 30 00:01:12,230 --> 00:01:13,400 I would say being a Marine 31 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:14,720 in an Army training environment, 32 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:16,650 being one out of 12, out of 350 students 33 00:01:16,650 --> 00:01:19,980 motivated me just knowing the fact that I was representing 34 00:01:19,980 --> 00:01:21,110 the Marine Corps, and knowing 35 00:01:21,110 --> 00:01:23,483 that I was holding myself to higher standard. 36 00:01:23,483 --> 00:01:25,100 During Tower Week, you're going to learn 37 00:01:25,100 --> 00:01:26,270 how to do parachute landing falls 38 00:01:26,270 --> 00:01:28,080 off a swing lining trainer, which simulates 39 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,520 right before you hit impact on the ground. 40 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:31,970 During that time, you're going to get great 41 00:01:31,970 --> 00:01:33,750 at that event, and then as well you're going 42 00:01:33,750 --> 00:01:35,810 to do swing lining on a suspended harness 43 00:01:35,810 --> 00:01:37,390 in order to do corrective actions in case 44 00:01:37,390 --> 00:01:40,090 of malfunctions while you're doing the air operations. 45 00:01:41,612 --> 00:01:43,451 I want to say that my biggest challenge 46 00:01:43,451 --> 00:01:46,060 while in Airborne School and during training 47 00:01:46,060 --> 00:01:48,259 was the fear of coming back as a failure, 48 00:01:48,259 --> 00:01:50,759 and not coming back to my unit with my Jump Wings. 49 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:55,390 During Jump Week, this culminated event, 50 00:01:55,390 --> 00:01:57,170 we had to conduct five parachute jumps, 51 00:01:57,170 --> 00:01:59,820 conducting three Hollywood and then one day 52 00:01:59,820 --> 00:02:01,620 combat equipment jump, and then one night 53 00:02:01,620 --> 00:02:02,990 combat equipment jump. 54 00:02:02,990 --> 00:02:03,920 In order for you to graduate 55 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:06,120 you need to successfully complete all jumps. 56 00:02:10,540 --> 00:02:12,990 Being in the air is one of those unexplainable feelings. 57 00:02:12,990 --> 00:02:15,530 Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane at 150 knots, 58 00:02:15,530 --> 00:02:17,060 knowing the fact that the only way down 59 00:02:17,060 --> 00:02:19,230 is to jump out of that door. 60 00:02:19,230 --> 00:02:21,040 Just seeing the hatch open up, 61 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:22,360 just getting the ten minute warning, 62 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,700 getting 30 seconds and then seeing that green light go 63 00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:26,070 and seeing everybody rush out door 64 00:02:26,070 --> 00:02:28,070 is just that adrenaline pump within your body, 65 00:02:28,070 --> 00:02:29,520 it's just very unexplainable. 66 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:36,700 When I received my wings at graduation, 67 00:02:36,700 --> 00:02:37,840 it's one of those unique opportunities 68 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:38,950 for me as a marine. 69 00:02:38,950 --> 00:02:40,990 Not only that, it's just one of those opportunities 70 00:02:40,990 --> 00:02:42,917 that only gets ported to critical skills Marines 71 00:02:42,917 --> 00:02:46,760 and their MOS's, so me being a combat videographer, 72 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,050 just knowing the fact that this can possibly 73 00:02:49,050 --> 00:02:51,880 open up many more doors, for me and not only that, 74 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,310 but for other marines and other occupational specialties 75 00:02:55,290 --> 00:02:56,240 made me feel proud.