Photo By Sgt. Brandon Anderson | Air Force 1st Lt. Isaac Leuthold, an officer assigned to 712th Air Support Squadron,...... read more read more
FORT HOOD, Texas - If your idea of a good time is free falling from an airplane at an altitude of 13,000 feet, then you might want to consider joining Air Force 1st Lt. Isaac Leuthold, for a weekend of his version of excitement.
Leuthold, who is assigned to 712 Air Support Operation Squadron and a self-described adrenaline junky, initially got interested in sky diving while attending the U.S. Air Force Academy.
“During my freshman year in college I attended the Basic Parachute Program offered there, and after coming down from my first jump I was hooked,” said Leuthold. “It was like a total change of perspective, and I went from this seems like its pretty cool to I need to do this all the time.”
Leuthold said that after his first jump he was hooked on the pure sense of freedom he felt after jumping out of the airplane and never reconsidered stopping his new passion.
“I think what’s most appealing to me about skydiving is the absolute sense of freedom,” said Leuthold. On the ground you’re living in two dimensions, but in the sky it’s a whole different experience of life.”
Leuthold said his parents had mixed emotions about his new hobby at first, but over time they gradually began to accept it as part of his life.
“When I told my parents that I wanted to continue pursuing skydiving my dad was very supportive, but my mom was concerned about how dangerous she thought it was,” said Leuthold. “After seeing my passion about the sport my mom came around to accepting it.”
Leuthold said he then took his passion to the next level by getting certified as a tandem skydiving instructor. During a tandem jump two people are fastened together by high-tensile-strength material.
“You really get to see the full spectrum of human emotion when you take someone skydiving for the first time,” said Leuthold.
“You’ll see everything from the macho man screaming like a little girl to someone that appears timid on the ground trying to pull you out of the aircraft because they’re so excited to go.”
Leuthold added that, aside from the various reactions of his clients, they also range in age that can span a generation.
“The oldest person that I’ve taken skydiving was approximately 65 years old, and the youngest was 18 years old,” said Leuthold. “For the oldest it was a bucket list thing, and for the youngest it was a birthday present from her parents.”
Leuthold said he hopes his passion for skydiving is contagious for his clients, and that many of them become part of the skydiving community.
“I’ve been amazed by variety of people that I’ve met through my involvement in the sport of skydiving,” said Leuthold. “One of the most memorable was a paratrooper from World War II that’s still jumping.”
Leuthold said there’s something about the adrenaline rush that unites people in the sport of skydiving that can only be compared to the sense of community found in the armed forces.
| Date Taken: | 09.30.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2014 13:30 |
| Story ID: | 143787 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 57 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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