Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. David Biddinger, 563rd Rescue Group jumpmaster course instructor, performs a jumpmaster personnel inspection during the Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., June 28, 2016. Jumpmasters must be highly proficient in every component of the jump process, from ensuring equipment is donned properly, to coordinating with the aircrew during the release so jumpers land on the designated drop zone. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nathan H. Barbour/Released)Mastering the jump
                        
                        
                        Master Sgt. David Biddinger, a 563rd Rescue Group jumpmaster course instructor, performs a jumpmaster personnel inspection during the Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., June 28, 2016. Jumpmasters must be highly proficient in every component of the jump process, from ensuring equipment is donned properly to coordinating with the aircrew during the release so jumpers land on the designated drop zone. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Nathan H. Barbour)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        U.S. Airmen perform jumpmaster personnel inspections during the Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., June 28, 2016. Jumpmasters must be highly proficient in every component of the jump process, from ensuring equipment is donned properly, to coordinating with the aircrew during the release so jumpers land on the designated drop zone. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nathan H. Barbour/Released)Mastering the jump
                        
                        
                        Airmen perform jumpmaster personnel inspections during the Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., June 28, 2016. Jumpmasters must be highly proficient in every component of the jump process, from ensuring equipment is donned properly to coordinating with the aircrew during the release so jumpers land on the designated drop zone. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Nathan H. Barbour)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Jumpmasters certify at Davis-MonthanPublished July 5, 2016
                    
                    By Airman Nathan H. Barbour
                    
                    
                    355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
            **DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) --**The jumpmaster is highly proficient in every component of the jump process, from ensuring equipment is donned properly to coordinating with the aircrew during the release so jumpers land on the designated drop zone.In the past, the only place to receive the formal training required to lead a jump was the Military Freefall School at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.Master Sgt. David Biddinger, a free-fall jumpmaster instructor, had experience working at the school in Yuma before being stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base about four years ago.“We realized that the Air Force had a need for the jumpmaster course,” Biddinger said. “Working with contacts in U.S. Special Operations Command and at the (Military Freefall School), we were able to convince the Army and Air Force of that need.”For about 3 1/2 years, Biddinger worked side by side with the 68th Rescue Flight to establish a new SOCOM approved course at Davis-Monthan AFB.“Getting officially recognized by the Army and (SOCOM) as a validated course is special; it is a difficult standard to attain,” Biddinger said. “This is the only Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course in the Air Force and it’s one of two in the Department of Defense.”The course will graduate 12 Airmen at the end of its fifth 3-week-long rotation, reaching a total of 58 certified jumpmasters across the battlefield Airmen career fields.“Before this course, we only had the option of attending the school in Yuma,” Biddinger said. “We only saw about 28 slots per year spread between all the different groups that jump in the Air Force.”The course is intended to train middle-level NCOs and officers. Students vary from tactical air control party specialists, combat controllers, pararescuemen, and survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists from all different commands. In addition, as a joint accredited organization, the 68th Rescue Flight also affords this training and qualification to other services such as the Navy, Army and Marine Corp.“I go back to my unit as a free-fall jumpmaster,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan, a 321st Special Tactics Squadron combat controller. “Anytime my unit has a jump, I’ll either be the primary person in charge of all the coordination or the assistant.”During each free fall, the success of the mission and the lives of others are in the hands of the jumpmasters.“We’re training special operations Airmen to be able to deploy personnel out of the aircraft safely and ensure that those guys reach the ground to do their mission,” Biddinger said, “whether the mission involves rescuing someone, calling in airstrikes, or recovering downed equipment or aircraft.”Davis-Monthan AFB 



SOCOM 



Army 



jumpmaster

Related Links
        Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course
                                
                                Davis-Monthan is the site of the only Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course in the Air Force. Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF Kendall visits Bangor ANG Base
                    
                    Vice President Harris congratulates USAFA Class of ‘24
                    
                    Senate confirms Melissa Dalton as next Under Secretary of the Air Force
                    
                    ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFBInnovation
                AFSFC reaches final phase of fielding Model Defender gear
                    
                    Around the Air Force: PCS Allowances, Air Task Forces, All-Volunteer Force
                    
                    AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAFMAJCOM News
                AFMC to expand AcqDemo workforce
                    
                    AFMC empowers small businesses for Air Force reoptimization
                    
                    Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil