Send USNA Parachute Team to Collegiate Nationals
Donation protected
The U.S. Parachute Association's National Collegiate Skydiving Championships takes place every year over the Christmas/New Year's holidays with roughly fifteen colleges and universities in competition.
We are former parachute team members who always want the midshipman parachute team from Annapolis to be there to represent the Brigade of Midshipmen, especially against the two dominant teams -- the U.S. Air Force Academy from Colorado Springs and the U.S. Military Academy from West Point.
However, unlike those two service academies whose expenses for cadets and coaches are fully funded for travel, lodging, meals, registration, jumps and every other aspect of the event, the midshipmen are not funded by their school except for the standard commuted rations funds to defray meal costs after the fact.
The evolution, then, is hugely expensive for the mids right at a time when they're also trying to go home and see families for the holidays. To represent the Brigade at Collegiates, they have to pay their own transportation costs from Annapolis to Lake Wales, Florida and back, registration fees, jump fees for a week of practice and competition jumps (about $25/jump), event participation fees, rental gear costs, a week's lodging, and meals up front.
Eighteen midshipmen have signed up this year to give up their vacation/leave time to represent Navy, the largest contingent from their school ever to attend the competition. One volunteer coach and benefactor has stepped forward with an incredible donation to defray many of the costs of the competition itself, but lodging, travel and other costs still loom large.
The mids would be greatly appreciative of any help that alumni, team parents and other enthusiastic supporters can contribute to defray costs for the team and its volunteer coaches to enable them to represent the school and the Brigade of Midshipmen at this, the most significant parachute team competition of the school year.
** This campaign is the sole effort of USNA alumni and team supporters and has no official connection to the U.S. Naval Academy or the Department of Defense. **
We are former parachute team members who always want the midshipman parachute team from Annapolis to be there to represent the Brigade of Midshipmen, especially against the two dominant teams -- the U.S. Air Force Academy from Colorado Springs and the U.S. Military Academy from West Point.
However, unlike those two service academies whose expenses for cadets and coaches are fully funded for travel, lodging, meals, registration, jumps and every other aspect of the event, the midshipmen are not funded by their school except for the standard commuted rations funds to defray meal costs after the fact.
The evolution, then, is hugely expensive for the mids right at a time when they're also trying to go home and see families for the holidays. To represent the Brigade at Collegiates, they have to pay their own transportation costs from Annapolis to Lake Wales, Florida and back, registration fees, jump fees for a week of practice and competition jumps (about $25/jump), event participation fees, rental gear costs, a week's lodging, and meals up front.
Eighteen midshipmen have signed up this year to give up their vacation/leave time to represent Navy, the largest contingent from their school ever to attend the competition. One volunteer coach and benefactor has stepped forward with an incredible donation to defray many of the costs of the competition itself, but lodging, travel and other costs still loom large.
The mids would be greatly appreciative of any help that alumni, team parents and other enthusiastic supporters can contribute to defray costs for the team and its volunteer coaches to enable them to represent the school and the Brigade of Midshipmen at this, the most significant parachute team competition of the school year.
** This campaign is the sole effort of USNA alumni and team supporters and has no official connection to the U.S. Naval Academy or the Department of Defense. **
Organizer
Bill Boniface
Organizer
Annapolis, MD
