Pathfinder Parachute
Group UK
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Cambodia & Thailand 
Promo Video
Thailand/Cambodia
Abseil tower group photo Thailand
Presentation of Cambodian Wings
Cambodia
Generals
Medal
Jumpship MI-8 Cambodia
Pathfinder dancing class
Prop blast party
Watch this space for next years Warning order
| 2006 Video
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2006 Picture
Album
(members only) _______________ 2006 Article |
The Thailand/Cambodia parachute course is unique to Pathfinder. It started out as a basic Parachute course Only a small group went over as it was the wrong time of year, Pathfinder had too many other events taking place at the same time etc. However the group going over had a wealth of experience and bags of enthusiasm for the event. None of the jumpers had ever been to this part of the world before so it was to be a culture shock as well.
It was not cheap. Even cutting the costs to the bone it was still an expensive holiday but it was a chance of a life time to visit both these countries and get to interact with their armed forces and meet new people was something not to be missed.
Due to the vast distance from the training school in Thailand to the Drop Zone the easier option was to ground train and acclimatise in Thailand as the guest of the Kings guard and then fly over the border to Cambodia to complete the jumps, this was the easier option.
Maamar was our main contact on the ground and he worked very hard to make the right choices to give our people a good holiday as well as a good course. Some of it would be made up as the guys went along ,this was to be expected, being all retired soldiers they went expecting to rough it. At some stage however thanks to Maamar this never happened.
Ian Marshall, our senior jump master and Instructor was team leader for the event. As an ex Paratrooper he could be expected to make this work and think on his feet if he had too. Thailand proved to be every bit as interesting as the brochures had said. A fantastic mix of old French colonialism and modern Thai culture, temples to be visited and a night life second to none, was an experience not to be missed.
The people were friendly and helpful and our group warmed to them immediately. The Thai army were professional and courteous and welcomed our group with open arms. Training facilities were made available to Ian and the group that had never been offered so openly to others. Nothing was too much trouble for them.
Due to the expertise amongst the Pathfinder group there was an interaction of specialist skills resulting in many new friendships being made. Our jumpers were happy to share their knowledge and skills with their Thia counterparts and as a result the entire ground training facility and Airborne instructors were put at our disposal for future courses.
Thailand phase one, finished all to soon. A farewell dinner was arranged with the Thia army officers with requests and promises to return. Phase two saw our small group flying to Cambodia as the guests of the > 911 Anti terrorist unit. Here was a unit of experienced soldiers, full of enthusiasm for their work. However being a poor country still recovering from a brutal and nasty war and being largely forgotten by the rest of the world they were trying to do everything with nothing.
We had been warned about the condition of the Cambodian Special Forces and their needs and so our people had taken over a few parachutes and some specialist equipment which we knew the Cambodians needed to get the job done. Once again our jumpers found a poor country who's people despite their own plight were friendly and cheerful and full of life.
After the first trip and the successful conclusion of the jumps course with the presentation of Cambodian wings to all Jumpers, we knew what we had to do. Several more trips have been made with Maamar pinpointing the areas the Cambodians needed help in.
Del Hall from Survival Equipment Services and our equipment sponsor has taken part on one trip presenting the Cambodians with much needed Parachutes and supporting equipment. He was instrumental in assisting their Parachute Riggers and Ian ran courses for their jump masters on Parachute spotting techniques (something that up until then had been done by the pilot of the aircraft).
Pathfinder has now become an unofficial training team for our Cambodian friends. Jason Snailham and Ian Marshall now run a first time jumpers course, Accelerated free fall course and of course, jump with the Cambodians to gain their wings. Not bad when you consider the complete course is only ten days.
Due to the logistical problems only our free fallers had the opportunity to jump in Thailand. The group have so far helped with parachute and rigging techniques, Given additional training and advice to Cambodian Jump masters, improved the free fall skills of the 911 Anti terrorist Unit and of course made new friends.
With Robins help, a keen free faller and herself an amputee, http://www.worldextremities.org/index.html
Thousands of pounds worth of prosthetic limbs were presented to a Cambodian institute that specialises in limb replacement. (Cambodia has the highest number of amputees in the world due to the millions of mines left around after the war, many of them being children).
Thousands of pounds worth of round canopies were presented to 911 on behalf of SES by Pathfinder and thousands of pounds worth of freefall parachutes, the money being raised by the individual jumpers were presented by Pathfinder to upgrade the parachute training in Cambodia. Maamar had worked tirelessly to get much sort after equipment for both the Thai and Cambodian units.
Three Pathfinder members have been presented with medal awards by the Prime minister of Cambodia for assistance in the rebuilding of their country, an honour no other Parachute group has ever received. For this recognition we are deeply grateful. Due to the many strong friendships cemented on these trips some of our Pathfinder members from Canada, China, USA and the United Kingdom formed a small rescue team and went at their own expense to the Tsunami hit region.
Here they linked up with Thai and Cambodian friends and gave what ever assistance they could. Others back home gave generously to the various charities working in the area. The future will bring more courses of a similar nature. No two courses will be the same. Our main aim is to jump with the Thai's and the Cambodians to gain their wings, to see the country and meet the people.
However where possible our jumpers will assist in training projects to both countries airborne. A working holiday if you like but an enjoyable one that will leave you breathless, wanting more but with the satisfaction that you have left a lasting legacy and the knowledge that there really is an "Airborne Brotherhood".
Robins
Talbott
Read her Story
Robins Picture Gallery
As most of you know, I gathered up prosthetics and went on a journey to Thailand and Cambodia with Jason Snailham and the Pathfinders. On October 21st 2004
Due to the nature of the training Pathfinder supplies, we do not carry out joint ventures with other Parachute groups in Thailand or Cambodia. Anything else you may see advertising similar courses out there are nothing to do with Pathfinder. To see more information on previous courses in these counties visit our web site and look at our "History" section. You will see how each visit has done something different.
If you are interested you will need to book early as places on these events are limited and on a first come first served basis. Flights need to be booked early so don't leave it too late.
http://www.pathfindergroupuk.com/2003.htm http://www.pathfindergroupuk.com/2004.htm http://www.pathfindergroupuk.com/2005.htm
http://www.pathfindergroupuk.com/2006.htm
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Copyright © 2006 Roy Mobsby. All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2006 Roy Mobsby. All Rights Reserved. for permission to use any of the pictures including (any and all reproduction), articles, text or layout contact Roy Mobsby pathfinderuk1@aol.com or contact the webmaster nick@pathfindergroupuk.com legal action may be taken for the unauthorised use of any material in this website