Round Canopy Parachuting Team - USA Foundation Inc upcoming events

Hardrock Charlie Summit 2026 (1 May 2026)

Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

RCPT-USA is proud to host the 2026 Hardrock Charlie Summit. This is a closed event for members of Hardrock Charlie. Jumpers must obtain a registration code from Hardrock Charlie in order to register for this event.

In 2020, a small group of Rangers planned a water jump in Tavares, Florida. It was a chance for the guys to get together for a little fun. Word got out and more Rangers joined the jump list. Within a few weeks, we had a reunion on our hands. It seemed like everyone was interested in an organized event as a chance to catch up with one another.

The reunion turned out to be so much more than a water jump and a few beers. Quick glances turned into big grins and bro hugs. A bunch of brothers talking about how “happy” they were to be together again. It was then that our group recognized that connecting and supporting fellow Rangers needs to happen within the immediate brotherhood at the Company level.

We fully acknowledge that there are numerous Veteran organizations in existence who do great things. But they are often broad in scope and far reaching, missing the small unit connection shared within SOCOM. We took the observations of one of our own, General Daniel B. Allyn, realizing how true it was: “As an Officer, the last chance to directly impact individual troops was as a Company Commander.” His words resonated with us, and we realized that among those in attendance at the reunion, with many moving on to different units or civilian careers, that the common denominator was being “raised” in C Co. 1/75. And we fully know that this sentiment is felt through all the Companies and Battalions within the 75^th Ranger Regiment….and we are here for all.

To impact and affect the health and welfare of those warriors who served to our left and right, where better to focus our efforts than at the most familiar level possible? No one knows us better than the brothers we were raised with, and it is our mission to make the reconnection among us. In 2020, it was obvious it was needed. And here we are….and here we go!

Jumpers must be current steerible round canopy static line jumpers who have jumped within the last 240 days. If a jumper has not jumped within the last 240 days but no more than 2 years they must attend the BAR training offered 1 May, 2026. RCPT-USA is not offering any additional jump training during this event. There are currency opportunities with RCPT-USA in October 2025 and March 2026 during Opertaions Black Cat X Sandsnake X. If a jumper has never performed an intentional water jump and has never participated in wet silk training they must attend wet silk training on 1 May 2025. BAR and Wet Silk Training will be conducted at Kay Larkin Field, Palatka, Florida.

Jump for Pee Wee and Accuracy Competition 2026 (25 Jul 2026)

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Honor and remember Jim "Pee Wee" Martin at the 2026 Jump For Pee Wee in Xenia, Ohio. All jump proceeds will benefit the Pee Wee Foundation.

RCPT-USA is proud to announce a worldwide accuracy challenge to all round canopy parachutists hosted by Skydive Greene County. We heard all you active duty, prior service, and civilian jump teams armchair quarterback each other so let’s level the playing field. If you think you have what it takes to say you are the best come show us July 25-26, 2026 in Xenia, Ohio.

STRAPHANGERS WELCOME

Jumpers do not need to jump on a team to participate

We will host a canopy accuracy competition open to everyone. Each team will consist of 4 current jumpers and you will have your own jump run and jumpmaster to call your spot. Let's see who’s the best overall round canopy jumpers. You’ll be performing 3 jumps and the distances to your target will be averaged, best 2 out of 3 passes will determin your score.

Aircraft- Skyvan- tailgate/ramp exit

Accuracy Teams will be 4 pax. per team. Each team has three jumps for scoring.

Straphanger jumps available. You do not need to compete to participate.

Accuracy teams have priority at manifest.

PriceParachute Rentals: SF10a and MIRPS-SLCP available for $50 for the entire event

Packing Tickets: $30.00 per rig. Self packing available for rentals IF the jumper is jumping that rig again. A packing ticket will need to be purchased for final rental gear turn in.

All jokes aside come be a part of the camaraderie whether you jump or not. We want this to strengthen the Airborne Community and bring us all together. There’s no home field advantage for any team and it’s a chance to honor the Boys of ‘44 in Jim “Pee-Wee” Martin’s home town.

RCPT-USA National Airborne Day Tomb Wreath Ceremony and Dining Out 2026 (14 Aug 2026)

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

RCPT-USA will be honoring all Allied Paratroopers- Past, Present, and Future at our second annual Arlington National Cemetery Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Weath Laying Ceremony.

Arlington National Cemetery, our nation’s most hallowed ground, is the final resting place of more than 400,000 veterans and their family members. ANC hosts approximately 3,500 ceremonies each year. These range from official visits by U.S. and foreign dignitaries to public wreath layings at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We are grateful to all those who visit ANC and choose to honor those who have served and sacrificed on behalf of our nation. To learn more about the cemetery and its history, explore our Education Program: https://education.arlingtoncemetery.mil/. For all who participate in ceremonies, the “Understanding Arlington” module offers an overview of the cemetery and its traditions, as well as tips for visitors:

https://education.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Themes/Understanding-Arlington.

RCPT-USA's Public Wreath Ceremony: 16 Aug 2026 at

After the wreath Ceremony RCPT-USA will offer a tour of a nearby landmark for those interested. US Army Museum, Fort Belvior, VA (cost- tbd)

16 August 2025 at 6:oo pm, RCPT-USA will hold a Dining Out program at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, 2799 Richmond Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202 From $6pm- 10 PM. Dress is Casual. Tickets $60.00 Per person.

***** Please return to the event and register for each activity you plan to attend. You must compete one registration at a time.*****

Apple Valley Airshow 2026 (9 Oct 2026)

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Save the date

Apple Valley Airshow 2026

RCPT-USA returns to the San Bernardino County Department of Airports for the 21th Annual Apple Valley Airshow & NAPA© Auto Parts Car Display on Saturday, October 10, 2026

RCPT-USA will be performing a demonstration static line parachuting jump Saturday October 10, 2026

We will need of jumpers and ground support personnel for this airshow. Space is limited.

The Apple Valley Airshow is a 1 day event from Saturday, October 10, 2026. Jumpers are to arrive NLT 0630 Saturday October 10, 2026 are Apple Valley Airport with all equipment and uniforms prepared to jump Saturday morning October 11, 2025. All participants (jumpers, JMs, DZSOs) must commit for the entire event.

This is a great opportunity for our west coast jumpers! Closest arrival is for our traveling jumpe

rs is Ontario International Airport, San Bernardino County, California.

Jumpers must be an active and current member of RCPT-USA (no members who have never jumped with RCPT-USA in the past), Jumpers must also be approved to perform in an Air Show, and must have at least 35 round canopy jumps with their last jump with their last jump within 90 days from October 12, 2024 (July 15, 2024). Jumpers can be approved by the RCPT-USA Airborne Commander, JM team and or RCPT-USA's Training and Safety officer to participate in an Airshow. Uniform will be M42's, brown boots, and M1C WW2 Steel Helmet (no D-bale) with liner, rigged for jumping, with added shock padding.. If jumping your own equipment, the MIRPS-SLCP must have an FAA rated rigger packing with a date not earlier than April 16, 2024. Airshow jumpers are required to have a RCPT-USA medical certificate signed by your primary care manager / or physician within 24 months of 11 Oct 25.(https://www.rcptusa.org/resources/Documents/Member%20Documents/Medical%20Clearance%20Form.pdf)Jumpers MAY NOT jump any additional equipment.

Hotel lodging is available to team members and is double occupancy rooms in the city of Victorville, California. Rooms are reserved for team members only (no family members not working the airshow). Jumpers are responsible for your own transportation to and from the Airshow. Hotel details will be released as soon as they are available. Arrangements for family and friends will be made at the cost of the team member.

A WhatsApp Chat will be set up in the weeks preceding the event for focused communication.

Operation Black Cat X 2026 (19 Oct 2026)

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Operation Black Cat X

Main Aircraft: TBD

Guest Speaker: TBD

Freefall: There will be freefall opportunities with Skydive Palatka.

Schedule of Event:

19 October 2026 (Monday) – Jumpmaster refresher by invitation only.
20 October 2026 (Tuesday) - BPC and EAR course begins (0730hrs).
23 October - 25 October 2026 (Friday-Sunday) - Open jump operations.
23 October 2026 (Saturday evening) - Dinner and awards ceremony.
25 October 2026 (Sunday morning) - Water jump into the St. John's River.

Online registration for OBC X will close 12 October 2026 and in-person registration will be available during the event.

Straphangers:

Are expected to register for the event. The $60 registration fee includes Saturday night dinner and award ceremony at the hangar, event logistics, and a t-shirt. Jump opportunities will be available Friday through Sunday, with multiple round canopy jumps each day. Parachute rental through RCPT-USA is $50 for the entire event, and repacks are $30 each. If you plan to bring your own parachute and make multiple jumps daily, we strongly recommend also renting one to avoid packing delays. Please note that our students have priority, and Straphanger jumps will not begin before noon on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

Jumpmaster Refresher (JMR):

This is by invitation only and individuals are expected to arrive NLT 0730 Monday, 19 October 2026. There will be no student or straphanger walk-ons authorized Monday.

Basic Parachuting Course (BPC):

Students must arrive no later than 07:30 on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, ready to train with all required documentation (including medical forms if applicable). This 5-day course provides instruction on round canopy static line parachuting using the SF-10A and MC1-1C parachutes. Training covers equipment familiarization, aircraft procedures, descent and landing techniques, canopy control, and emergency procedures. Students will complete three jumps from a Caravan or Cessna 182 and two from our special event aircraft. The course fee includes professional instruction, jump fees, parachutes and packing, helmet, and lunches. After five (5) jumps BPC graduates will earn their RCPT-USA wings and become straphangers, with BPC fees covering registration for OBC X (excluding additional jumps and packing). Dinners down at the drop zone each evening allow you to spend time with new friends and are a big part of what makes RCPT-USA “More Than Just a Jump.”

Extended Airborne Refresher (EAR):

Students are expected to arrive no later than 07:30 Tuesday, 20 October 2026, ready to train with all required documentation (proof of parachute training, jump logs, and medical forms if required, etc.). The EAR training course is available to members only and you must join the team prior to registering for course. The EAR course is a two (2) jump refresher for jumpers who have already attended a Basic Airborne Course, and the following applies: have not jumped a round static line canopy within the last two years, or, are not experienced with steerable round canopies, or, have not jumped a round static line canopy with RCPT or another recognized organization (NATO military, ADT, LJT, X-35, etc.) within the last 5 years.

The EAR course is also suitable for qualified freefall jumpers wishing to transition to round static line steerable canopies. The EAR course runs concurrently with the BPC and will update the jumper on current SF-10A and MC1-1C parachute systems, jump procedures, and prepares students for two (2) jumps from a Caravan or Cessna 182. The course price includes professional instruction, all jump fees, parachute and parachute packing tickets, helmet, and lunches during training. At the conclusion of the EAR course you automatically become a straphanger and your EAR course fees cover OBC X event registration, but not additional jumps and packing. Dinners down at the drop zone each evening allow you to spend time with new friends and are a big part of what makes RCPT-USA “More Than Just a Jump.”

Basic Airborne Refresher (BAR):

BAR is offered to already qualified round static line canopy jumpers who are either current military round static line canopy jumpers who need to be trained on the MIRPS-SLCP Reserve, or who have not jumped within 240 days and ALL of the following applies:

Have jumped round static line canopy within the last two years, and
Are experienced with steerable canopies, and
Have jumped with RCPT or another RCPT recognized organization (NATO military, ADT, LJT, X-35, etc.) within the last 5 years.

This brief course updates jumpers on the current SF-10A canopy and jump procedures and the MIRPS-SLCP Reserve to prepare them for jump operations (no jumps are included with BAR). BAR Jumpers are still responsible for the straphanger event fee.

NOTE: Current round static line canopy jumpers do not need to join the team in order to be Straphangers at an RCPT-USA event, however, anybody desiring to attend the BPC or EAR courses must join prior to attendance. Please join the team prior to attempting to register for a course. You must pay for the event at time of registration or your registration will be cancelled after 15 minutes. In order to guarantee your slot in a course you must pay the registration fee. If the course you need is full, please register on the waitlist; if someone drops out and cannot attend we will add new registrants from the waitlist.

LOGISTICS:

There are multiple lodging options in Palatka, Florida. Camping is authorized at the Skydive Palatka drop zone (DZ) and there is space for tents and RVs for $5.00 nightly fee. Lodging options also include the Holiday Inn Express Palatka, PH# (386) 325-2500 (if available ask for the skydiver discount); the Hampton Inn (by Hilton), PH# (386) 530-2420; the Best Western, PH# (386) 325-7800; the Quality Inn and Suites, PH# (386) 328-3481; Crystal Cove Resort, PH# (386) 325-1055; and options from VRBO/Airbnb include houses around Palatka at great prices for the week. If we do not list a hotel, our members have determined that hotel is not recommended for lodging.

Arrivals: the nearest airports are Gainesville (GNV) and Jacksonville (JAX). Let us know your flight plans, so we can help link up travelers for car-pooling to and from the airport.

Homework: If you are interested in looking over RCPT-USA documents and SOPs they can be found on the website in the Member Documents area https://rcptusa.org/members.

Clothing or Uniform: Any style military field uniform is appropriate for jumping with RCPT-USA. But you must wear long sleeves, full-length pants, and over the ankle boots while training and jumping. Participants typically wear service specific ACU/OCP/BDU uniforms, WWII style M42/M43 uniforms, and flight suits. Suitable helmets include the Pro-Tec, Crye, Ops-Core FAST (ballistic and bump), Team Wendy, PT Alpha/Bravo; RCPT has a limited number of helmets for use. Airsoft helmets and magnetic chin-straps are not suitable for parachuting.

ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST COMPLETE THE RCPT-USA AND SKYDIVE PALATKA JUMPER PARTICIPATION WAIVER and EQUIPMENT USE POLICY. A LINK WILL BE IN YOUR CONFIRMATION EMAIL ONCE YOU REGISTSTER. FOLLOW THE LINK, READ CAREFULLY, AND COMPLETE. INCORRECT WAIVERS WILL NEED TO BE REDONE.

RCPT-USA reserves the right to refuse service to any person, Member or Non-Member at any RCPT-USA event.

Stuart Air Show 2026 (13 Nov 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMT

SAVE THE DATE

RCPT-USA is planning to return to the Stuart Air Show in 2025 (https://stuartairshow.com/). The Stuart Air Show is a 3 day event from Friday, November 13, 2026 to Sunday, November 15, 2026. Members are to arrive NLT 2200hrs (10:00pm November 12, 2026). All participants must commit to support the entire event.

RCPT-USA wishes to represent paratroopers past and present. We encourage participants to wear a uniform representative of the different generations of paratrooper (M42, OG107s/Tiger Stripes, BDUs, ACUs etc). If a member has equipment specific to military parachuting we would encourage you to bring it to the show.

Lodging TBD, Friday, and Saturday night- there will be a few hold over rooms if you are traveling on Monday night if needed) and some food is provided by the Airshow, you are responsible for your own transportation to and from the Airshow. Rooms are double occupancy and reserved for team members only. Arraignments for family and friends will be made at the cost of the team member.

Jumpers must be airshow qualified jumpers per RCPT-USA Policy.

Current RCPT-USA FAA LOA states 180 days currency required.

Requirements:

1.⁠ ⁠35+ controllable round jumps

2. Completed Accuracy/Competency jump at an RCPT-USA Event

2.⁠ ⁠Paid up dues member in good standing

3.⁠ ⁠Valid RCPT medical form (this is all jumpers who are jumping at airshows regardless of age)

4.⁠ ⁠Last jump no older than 12 May