After a lengthy absence, I am now back online with what I hope will be something of interest!

A Parachuting Exercise in Slovakia - Eastern Europe - (courtesy of both the Slovakian Army Airborne & International Airborne Operations) has been arranged for members of the South African Special Forces League & invited guests.  The members of the SA Special Forces League are former retired members of SA Special Forces & one of the reasons for this exercise is to provide our retired members with the opportunity to meet other members of International Special Forces Units & Paratrooper Regiments. We're also going along for the ride as an exercise of this type is great fun & I can promise you that you will have an absolute gas!

I need to field at least 10 jumpers preferably 12-15 & due to various factors (chief amongst them, financial) a bunch of the participants have cut-away - 'scuze the pun. I currently have 4 definites, 4 undecided & 1 camera-man amongst our members so am looking for suitably qualified (Airborne) candidates to fill the remaining slots.  We also have room for a few spectators eg: Wives &/or girlfriends.  The course dates are 22 June to 29 June 2008 inclusive.  The Course Cost is 990 Euro's for beginners & 950 Euro's for experienced jumpers.  Spectator cost 390 Euro's. These costs are payable directly to the Course Organisers of which 50% is payable by the 25 April 2008 & the balance on the DZ.  Additional costs would include your flights to Slovakia, Med-Evac & 3rd Party Liability Insurance (I can provide options regarding this) & some basic equipment eg boots if you've outgrown your favourite pair of jumpers, black Twin-zips or camo & other miscellaneous items such as beer-money... 

Parachuting options include S/L Round (Slovakian OVP-68 & Polish L-2 Cadet), S/L Square (Czech Mars 300) & FF for those qualified.  We have also been able to arrange for an AFF (Accelerated FreeFall) Course at a cost of 1790 Euro's but must have at least 5 candidates for the AFF Option. Currently there have been no takers. All equipment & beginner training will be provided by the host unit including full board for the duration. If you are S/L Round qualified & would like to qualify on S/L Square this is a perfect opportunity.  We have scheduled 10 jumps on 2 DZ's - 8 jumps from an AN-2 (NATO code "Colt") & a Let-410 & 2 jumps from a Mi-8 helicopter (NATO code "Hip").  Jumpmasters present for the exercise who will award their National Wings & Certificates at the conclusion of the course to successful jumpers include Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine & Russia.  There may also be jumpmasters from other nations on the DZ but this has not yet been confirmed.

For a further briefing for any potential candidates amongst the members of this forum, I would be grateful if you would contact me directly on asfm@telkomsa.net as soon as possible.    I am aware that it is short notice but hope that some of you will grab at the invitation! 

The guys that are going to Slovakia from South Africa will have to confirm & pay for their flights by the 15th April & if we do not have the quota of jumpers before then will probably have to scrap the Op so I would be most appreciative if those amongst you who are interested would respond soonest please!

Note that this is NOT a "boys night out only" exercise.  Female jumpers & as mentioned, spectators in limited numbers, are welcome too!

Over to you...

Unfortunately, we have to plan for stuff like this and it's just too short a notice for us to participate.

Good luck with it!

Given the short notice (for which I do apologise), I have been able to arrange an extension on the 50% Course deposit FROM 25th April TO 21st May 2008.  I hope that this will better enable participation!  More than this I can't do I'm afraid.