The Largest Airborne Deployment in Australia
3rd Battalion Airborne Wings
During our service in the Paratroopers with the 3rd Battalion, we took part in the largest Military Airborne deployment in Australia. We were being deployed into Silver Plains near Cohen in far North Queensland as part of the exercise Far Canopy. The exercise was part of a larger Military exercise currently underway called Diamond Dollar. Given the sheer size of the Airborne deployment, we were all excited as well as nervous.
We boarded the C130’s in Cairns fully kited out in our full combat gear. I was being deployed as part of Mortar Platoon, so I had strapped to my body an 81mm mortar tube which weighed around 6.5kg and was over 1m in length. I also had my battle pack and rifle strapped on my legs which weighed about 35kg as we were carrying in full battle ammunition and supplies.
The C130’s taxied out on to the runway in single line formation with their payload of Paratroopers. The engines roared to life on the C130’s as the aircraft picked up speed down the runway. The aircraft lifted off one by one, and they made their way towards the drop zone at Silver Plains nearly two hours away.
30 minutes out from the drop zone we hooked our static lines to the wire cable inside the aircraft. Today we were deploying using the “simdoor” rapid deployment technique. “Simdoor” deployments are where Paratroopers exit simultaneously from doors on each side of the C130’s. This exit strategy is very rapid and necessary when you have eight C130’s and 450 Paratroopers being dropped on the drop zone in a single line with one run.
As the aircraft closed in closer to the drop zone, you could sense the fear and apprehension of the men around you. We had completed all our equipment checks and we were 10 minutes out. At this stage, the nerves and the fear had increased, and you tried to give your mate next to you a brave smile and a look of “it’s going to be all right mate.” You know that you are all in it together, a band of brothers. These experiences perhaps explain why people that have served in the military together form such strong bonds of camaraderie.
The doors on both sides of the aircraft were now open and the wind screams in. It’s a chilling noise, and we know that we will be heading out through that noise as we roar 300 metres above the ground doing 120 knots. We receive the 30-second to go signal, the adrenaline starts to pump as we look our mates in the eye once last time. You cannot prevent going through your mind the worst case scenario of your parachute failing. “Red on STANDBY” the dispatcher yells out as the red light goes on, this is it, game on. There is not much going through your mind now but getting out the doors safely and landing in one piece.
“Green on GO” the dispatcher yells as the green light switches from red to green. We make our way towards the door with the wind screaming its horrible tune. I exit the door and get sucked into the slipstream along the side of the aircraft. I make my safety count of 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and look up and my canopy has safely deployed, so I breathe a sigh of relief. Looking around, the sky is filled with Paratroopers, it was an amazing site as C130’s continue to drop their human payload up the full-length of the drop zone of nearly 10km.
I was in the last aircraft, so our drop was closer to the start of the drop zone. We had been dropped a little too early, so the trees were closing in on me quickly. They were not small trees either. I lock my body in as I came down in a tree, stopping about a metre or two off the ground. I had landed nearly 100metres before the start of the drop zone, but I was okay. I could still feel my heart pumping and the adrenaline running through my veins.
We moved to the forming up areas on the drop zone to continue with the exercise for the next few weeks. It was then that we found out that one of our comrades had not survived the jump. Lcpl Bateman’s main parachute had failed, and he was unable to deploy his reserve parachute. That is your worst fear as a Paratrooper, and on that day, it could have been anyone of us that had been assigned that parachute.
When you confront your worst fears, that is when you get to know who you are. We all have fear in our lives that we must confront each and every day. It is okay and natural to feel fear, but it is when fear controls your life that you may miss reaching your full potential. Feel the fear, get to know fear and respect it, but when it rises, look fear in the eyes and let it know that it does not control your life.
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C130's making their drop at Silver Plains - Australia
How can you accept ‘facing your fear’ is the correct thing to do, when you’ve got a lot to loose by doing so?
In this instance the life of a pratrooper, but in my case, or anyone’s case loosing something that feel just as big.
I guess it all comes down to what the fear is you are facing, and what you think you could lose by facing it. Each person will make that judgement at the time. Unfortunately, many people move through life being held back by fear. You don’t have to jump “simdoors” out of a C130 to face your fears. For many it may be starting that business they always wanted, or even going out to socialise to meet new people. It may be just overcoming the fear of change.
It was a tragic day in the end, but we were all just doing our job as Paratroopers. With more age and wisdom, I can now look back with a more mature view that war is not the solution to our world’s problems. Everyone of has fears no matter how big or small. It is when we face these fears do we move forward and growth within ourselves. In the end, you may have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Me personally, I would rather take the leap than die wondering.
Darren,
Your description was very realistic. Thank you for sharing it. I began to feel the fear by just reading your account. Fear can paralyze people from taking that step that will then give them the confidence to do anything in their lives. I learned this when overcoming my fear of public speaking. The classic book by Maxwell Maltz, Psycho-Cybernetics, was a huge help to me. Now I speak to hundreds of people at a time with confidence and peace. I would also rather take the leap than to die wondering or as has been said, “die with the music still in me.”
Hi Marilyn, I am new to writing, so I am glad I could transfer to you the moment and the emotions that were taking place. That is wonderful that you overcome your fear of public speaking. I am completing the 7 Summits and would love to share my stories of adventure in front of a room full of people. That means for me that I will need to confront and overcome my fear of public speaking.
Darren,
I highly recommend the book Psycho Cybernetics. It is an old book, but it is a classic. The premise is that your mind is like a computer. It does not know the difference between a real and an imagined experience. By visualizing yourself presenting and being comfortable and receiving accolades, you will fool your mind into thinking you have had successful experiences, and you will be able to rely on those feelings rather than the fear. A little bit of stage fright is good, however, since it keeps you alert and on your toes. It takes 20 min. each day for 21 to 30 days. Actually, it takes 21 days to overcome any habit. I know you will do very well. When you have something good to say, it becomes much easier! You certainly did it well with your writing! You have all my support and encouragement!
I will make sure I get that book and great advice Marilyn, thank you.
Darren, this is an awesome story of courage, strength and victory. I think more men, and really, more boys, need to read stories like this and meet men like you who have gone been confronted with fearful situations yet have made the decision to get through them.
Fear is a terrible sensation to feel when you are paralyzed by it. But the only way to learn to overcome fear is to literally look it in the eye and step right into the situation that is bring fear to you. Only then can you find out what you are made of and only then can you dispense with the doubt that invades your mind in that moment just before you make the decision to step into it.
Thanks for writing this up man.
Thanks for your comments Robert, I really appreciate it. Like most, I still have fears ahead of me that I need to confront as well.
Hi Darren, This is a fantastic story and I thank you for the entrancing recounting of it. I imagine it is a sight and lesson you will never forget and I feel that I will face the day a stronger person now. I agree that we cannot let fear rule our lives because when we allow it to happen once it’s the thin end of the wedge and we can wind up becoming more and more fearful. Moreover, I think it is important to be courageous every day. Although we may not be facing something we would classify as a ‘fear’ I have found that a little bit of courage in most situations is a good thing. As they say, “Be courageous, confident, compassionate & correct.”
Thanks Deb. Awesome comments. It is said that in the end we are the sum of all our experiences. As time moves forward, sometimes we can start to lose the memory of the experiences that have shaped us. I am glad to now have the chance to relive some of these experiences, adventures and adversities and share them with others. As you know, not all my life experiences have been great, but you must have walked the path to truly understand adversities in life and how to overcome them. Hopefully, sharing these stories may help others find messages to help overcome some of their life’s obstacles.
Well said, Robert!
Hello Darren,
I did not read your story until I was sure that I had the time and when I gave it my full attention, I was glad I did. You really brought your whole experience to a place where, I hope, you will find some peace.
There are two outcomes when we are at a place of fear, fight or flight. In writing about your experience, you look it again in the eye and in this way, fight and defeat your fear. I find this an impressive virtue and this should be nurtured.
You have taught me so much about how I can begin to fight and defeat things that I fear in life. I am so glad that I read your story and commend you for your valor and strength.
Always be well!
Sophia
Hi Sophia, thank you for your kind comments. I am so glad my story has provided you with some knowledge to fight your fears in life. I have some more adventure stories to come, so please stay in touch.