Eighth Air Force major sets record at jump school

Published Aug. 2, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
Eighth Air Force Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Awe-inspiring. Exhilarating. Beyond fun. Serene. Contemplative. Exhausting. Numbing. Mindless. Stupid. Inane. These are all words one Airman from the Headquarters Eighth Air Force used to describe the feelings and emotions he had after jumping from a plane.

"I attended, and even more amazingly, graduated from the NATO Jump School in Texel, Netherlands," said Maj. John Seffern, Eighth Air Force plans, programs and requirements. "That is the good news, the bad is that, and even though it was fun in a horrible sort of way, I don't think I would do it again."

In keeping with the traditions and heritage of former members of "The Mighty Eighth," Seffern set a goal and didn't let anything stand between him and accomplishing that goal.

"I am, apparently, the oldest person, by far, to do this (and I felt like it too)," said Seffern. "They said they didn't remember anyone in their 30s or 40s doing this, let alone me at the ripe old age of 55."

Seffern believes the Air Force's new physical training standards is what allowed him to get back into shape after retiring from the Air Force Reserves in 2003 and being recalled to active duty in September of 2010.

"I definitely have to give credit to the Air Force and the new PT standards for allowing me to almost keep up with the 19-year-old troops that were at the school," said Seffern. "When I first joined the Air Force in 1974 all we had to do was run a mile and half, then when I went into the Reserves in 1990 we had the Ergo test. The Air Force PT program definitely helped because Jump School required lots of core and upper body strength.

"It also helped with my endurance, because we had to do three jumps in one day and they were really surprised that I could land, gather my chute, run with the Danish army and be ready to jump again almost immediately" said Seffern.

Seffern currently tries to work out two times a day. He runs two and half miles or does strength training during his lunch break and also tries to go to a Zumba class three times a week after work.

While Seffern was amazing the younger generation with his physical fitness prowess, there was one person who wasn't too impressed- Mother Nature.

"The winds, for the entire time we were there, were out of limits, but they dropped us anyway. This led to some interesting outcomes, and landing locations. One French sergeant landed so far away we thought he was in Germany, and we witnessed another troop break both her legs. I managed to come back with no injuries, except to my pride ... I flared over a creek, then my canopy and I got dragged into and under the water."

As Seffern finished his fifth and final jump to earn his Dutch jump wings, the public address announcer announced that the oldest guy to ever earn their wings at this school had just landed and was walking toward them.

"I never expected to get the applause of hundreds of strangers," said Seffern, whose career includes several other firsts. "That was the good news, but the bad is its pretty discouraging when the only record I can get starts with, 'The oldest person ever to ....'"