Tandem Team at Chicago: Wrap up

Another Tandem camp in the books for the Tandem Team. Its been a fast week taking individuals all over the greater Chicago area on their first jump. The last two days brought folks from local high schools, local youth football leagues, the Illinois State Police, the Chicago Park District, and 95.1 Morning DJ Tom Kief.

Tom Kief enjoys the view

You may wonder why we take certain individuals and how they are chosen to be one of the lucky few that get to experience the thrill of freefall with the Golden Knights.  These jumpers were chosen for the exceptional amount of work that they do for their communities, their efforts to support the US Army and all our military, and the fact that they influence our youth  to stay in school, stay out of trouble and steer clear of drugs.  The local recruiters and the Chicago Recruiting Battalion selected these individuals because they exemplify the values that the US Army follows – Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.  Each jumper took the last value, Personal Courage, to the extreme this week facing their fears and the dangers of jumping from an airplane at 13,500 feet above Illinois.

That’s it from Chicago, well for the tandem camp. SFC Elliott, SSG Abeln, SSG Ewald, SSG Zell head to the Chicago Air and Sea Show this weekend where they will be taking Actor Vince Vaughn and 9 other lucky individuals on a tandem jump landing on the beach in Chicago.  If your in the Chicago area come out see the show and watch Your US Army Parachute Team do what we do best, put on an amazing show for the crowd.