Round Canopy Parachuting Team-Usa Foundation Inc

I was invited by a friend to attend an event with this team in 2016. At the time I was a Paratrooper on active duty so jumping out of planes wasn't particularly a novelty, but as I spent time with the team I fell in love with the brotherhood and positivity. I promised then and there that wherever the team was going, I'd be there. Since then I have seen the team build success after success and I myself have gone from a casual jumper to a volunteer to a parachuting instructor and now Jumpmaster. This team has literally changed lives and saved lives. It's More than just a Jump!

RCPT USA, this is my family, they saved my life in so many ways. I am so grateful to have cross paths with them, it gives me back that brotherhood and comradeship that I had once in the military. Awesome crew and very professional.

I was unable to go Airborne in my teens and 20's. It was always a Dream. Thanks to Karl Erickson, Retired CSM Green Beret, I got involved with RCPT. I was 59 years young at the time and it was a Dream come true. I haven't jumped in a while but I'm still a Member. I fully support the Team and the Friendships made.
It's More Than Just A JUMP! AATW

Becoming a member of this team several years ago was life changing for me. Something had been missing in my life since separating from the military, and this great organization and group of people brought it back. The team members are my brothers and sisters, and it truly is “More Than Just A Jump”!

My experience with RCPT has been an amazing experience. I joined while still serving in the US ARMY AIRBORNE unit 426 Civil Affairs BN ( SO) ( A). RCPT allows a current paratrooper to give back and give homage to those paratroopers who came before US. Not only veteran Paratroopers in foreign wars but All Veterans who serve and were ready to give the ultimate sacrifice for liberty freedom through intestinal fortitude, courage and bravery. I have been a member for 3 yrs and I continue to support the RCPT mission on remembering the sacrifices of paratroopers all over the world. I have participated in many events such as 80th anniversary DDay Normandy France ������������. Now looking forward to the 80th anniversary Operation Market Garden. Thank you for this amazing opportunity

Donald Garrison jr RCPT- USA

It is hard to find a nonprofit that has such a admirable mission, that gets such amazing feedback from the people who see it in action, and that is so welcoming of family members and friends. It made me proud as an American to participate with RCPT during the 80th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy in June, 2024. The friendship and gratitude from the French and the international participants/observers was like nothing I had ever seen before. I also got to do all this with members of my family which made this even more memorable. This is a remarkable organization with a strong international reputation. RCPT is very welcoming of new members; you will feel at home right away. This is a great place for donor support.

I first saw RCPT jumping at the Stuart Air show in 2016. I had just returned to jumping after a long gap after retirement from USAFR Pararescue. I was a total stranger, but the RCPT teammates there embraced me like a brother. I was an active jumper with RCPT 2017-1019. It was the greatest experience anyone could even ask for being part of RCPT. The jumps were all epic, even in training. Jumping at Palatka with RCPT was always great fun because of the professionalism, safely standards, and the Bonding that is ever present. My HALO jump from 22k with an 05 and 06 was epic. Even though I looked like cat being thrown out of the plane. Jumping with RCPT at various Air Shows was always an awesome experience! My last and most epic experience was Market-Garden for the 75th. Standing next to Pee Wee and Art Shaffer in the hanger before their tandem jump was surreal. Lastly, although I retired from jumping, I remain a loyal member of RCPT. AATW...! That Other May Live...!

Originally, my intent with RCPT-USA was to simply jump into Normandy for the 80th Anniversary of DDAY. Little did I know or expect that my involvement almost immediately became an amazing experience and continuous journey. It started with the Basic Refresher Course in Palatka, FL which provided great instruction and the confidence to get the knees in the breeze again since it had been over 28 years. RCPT-USA events are awesome, very well run and its like a family atmosphere. The staff are hard working, happy to help and the fellow team members are more than welcoming. I have met some amazing people and have now what I consider good friends. Being in the corporate world and not being around many Veterans it has been a refreshing experience-one I took for granted and didnt realize how much I missed being around such great Veterans and civilians alike. I am proud to be a member of RCPT-USA as It's More Than Just a Jump!

I was a paratrooper in the US Army.
After 26 years of not jumping, I attended RCPT's 1-week Airborne Refresher course and made 2 jumps.
It was easily the best Airborne training I've ever received, to include at Jump School in 1990!
The instructors were thorough and highly knowledgeable.
Interacting with like-minded veterans and supporters of veterans, all of whom had similar experiences helped to create an atmosphere of brotherhood and camaraderie that's very hard to find anywhere else.
Before I went with the RCPT, I had looked into other round canopy Jump Clubs, but the fantasy camp in Oklahoma cost 10 times more; the one in Texas cost 5 times more, and the other two local Florida clubs cost more than the RCPT membership and jumps.
It's literally the most bang you can get for your buck, and the instructors and participants make it a fantastic experience.

This is a great nonprofit for all that are interested in parachuting, but especially for veterans who miss the camaraderie of their active service days. They provide a very welcoming environment that fosters fellowship.

In early June of 2016, my wife & I were in Normandy France, it happened to be the 72nd Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion commemorative jumps and celebrations. In the small town of Sainte-Mère-Église, I watched as people from around the world came to pay their respect to the greatest generation that has ever lived. The languages of almost every culture were heard with one common theme, honor the legacy of the WWII Paratroopers and Veterans. People were there to celebrate their freedom from a world of oppression from a tyranny, that occurred in WWII.

As the story goes, I noticed a young man wearing a parachute, and it was not fitting him correctly. As a former jumper & Jumpmaster, I stopped him, helped him size & wear it correctly. As a Jumpmaster, I did what I always did and began a JMPI on him. During the inspection, the crowd began to grow & watch with intensity as I performed a JMPI on the young man. After I gave him the seal of approval, the crowd cheered. With his broken english, he asked me if I would be jumping today. I said no as my jump days we're over. I was 49 years old at the time, so how could I jump again. The young man mentioned there was a jump later that day at the famous DZ, La Fière just on the outskirts of Sainte-Mère-Église. My wife & I went to watch the paratroopers jump to commemorate the D-Day Invasion. I noticed that some of the paratroopers were much older men and women. How could this be? Were these old operators or airborne troops living in their glory days? So many questions. So I approached an older gentleman, Butch Gardner, and asked how he was doing this? He said he was a part of the Round Canopy Parachuting Team.

Now retired & having served 12 years as a paratrooper, I wanted that adrenaline rush again, I had to find a way to get back under canopy & I did. I learned that the home of the Round Canopy Parachuting Team-USA was located in Palatka, Florida, and was co-located with Skydive Palatka. What... it was in my back yard, as I live in St Augustine, Florida and I could learn how to skydive also. So the journey began.

At that time, the team had 8 parachutes & 41 active members. My freefall instructor was Juan Arango, and he was a Static Line Jumpmaster as well. Juan put me through the refresher course, Extended Airborne Refresher (EAR), as I had a 12 year break from jumping in the military. It all came back to me just like it did from my days at Ft Benning and Ft Bragg.

The team set our sights on the 75th Anniversary, the word began to spread and the team began to grow.

During the 75th Anniversary, SGT Tom Rice made his return visit to Normandy by performing a tandem jump on to the very "Drop Zone" on the "very spot" he landed on in 1944. It was very surreal for me as I watched Art Shaffer fly Tom Rice in under tandem canopy. The world celebrated as Tom Rice, then 97 years old, stood up & waved to the crowd to signify he was back. Tom went on to make several other tandem jumps in the Netherlands & in his hometown of Coronado, California. Tom passed away at the age of 100.

Other WWII Veterans that are honorary Jumpmasters and friends to the team were Jim "Pee Wee" Martin and Vince Speranza. With the help of Skydive Palatka, Jim "Pee Wee" and Vince Speranza jumped on Eerde DZ for the 75th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden. All three (3) gentlemen shared their life lessons, countless WWII stories.

All three (3) gentlemen have since passed away, but the memories they gave us will live with us forever. Reflecting, we stand on the shoulders of Giants! It is up to us, you & me, to tell their stories again and again. Say their names, and never forget the sacrifices they gave us. The liberties and freedoms we have today are because of them, the greatest generation that has ever lived.

Through the Round Canopy Parachuting Team, you can walk in the shadows of Giants, our heroes. You too can pay honor & respect to them as I have.

RCPT-USA has two (2) training events each year in Palatka Florida. Our spring event, Operation Sandsnake, is usually held each year in March. Our fall event, Operation Blackcat, is held in October, again both in Palatka Florida. We conduct other training and proficiency events and jumps throughout the year. We also jump at airshows throughout the country.

If this has intrigued you like it did me and you want to join our team, you can at rcptusa.org. Our team email is rcpt.us@gmail.com. RCPT-USA is a registered 501(c)(3) Non-profit Foundation. Our Board of Directors, staff and cadre are ALL volunteers. No one takes a salary or receives compensation for what we do. We are an all volunteer organization.

If you're a retired paratrooper, a military veteran, a first responder or just a patriot who never jumped and wants to learn, we can help you. Our team teaches the Basic Parachute Course to people like you. If you're looking for the comradery, the brethren, or something greater than yourself, then you've found it. As we like to say, it's “more than just a jump.” 

Hope to hear from you soon. Airborne All The Way!

As a former military paratrooper, my youngest daughter grew up hearing stories of her father jumping out of a “perfectly good airplane”. She had expressed an interest in learning more about the history and heritage of airborne forces in the U.S. military and after completing a couple of tandem skydives my daughter wanted to participate in military style jumping. This led us to RCPT-USA in Palatka, FL. The team at RCPT are consummate professionals who train directly from the military Airborne SOP’s. As an organization, RCPT’s primary focus is safety. These principles are reinforced during airborne training and operations. Additionally, RCPT fosters a welcoming environment that caters to veterans and others who are willing to become members of the airborne family. My daughter and I have been jumping with RCPT for the last 3 years and look forward to spending time with our brothers and sisters of the silk. Anyone looking to join a worthwhile organization that promotes brother/sisterhood while keeping the history and legacy of the airborne alive, will benefit from joining RCPT-USA.

What a great organization. I was missing what I enjoyed most about the military.. the camaraderie and the ability to jump. As soon as I stepped from the plane it was like 17 years faded away and my body took over performing the actions from deep seated memory. This was followed by meeting my brothers and sisters from the silk. The free flowing conversation, stories, and shared experiences lifted my spirits like nothing else. I have seen confidence restored in people without it and genuine caring and compassion for those who need it. It’s more than just a jump!

I started jumping with RCPT in 2020 and it brought me back to days long gone or so I thought. I hadn’t static lined jumped in almost 20 years with the Army, I am a skydiver and jump regularly. After that first weekend with RCPT I discovered why it’s so much more than just a jump! The camaraderie is really the essence of the team as well as honoring the boys of 44. Since joining the team I have jumped into Normandy on two different occasions as well as Market Garden. Those experiences have had a profound impact on my life, giving me hope for this great country we live in. I love this sport, this team and the people I meet from it. Thank you RCPT! #BlueSkies

After retirement from the military plus 6 years, I discovered I could continue to jump. Not only that, I could jump in Normandy! Being around this team has me back in the fold. I have met and spent time with real American legends, heroes, and patriots. I'v learned more about static line parachuting than I could have imagined. As an AD master rated parachutist- I was surprised at how little I actually know about the systems we used. The SF-10 Parachute is forgiving and maneuverable and a pleasure to jump. Jumping from a WWII C-47 over Europe is truly a life changing experience.