Jump for Valor's Newest Board Member: Kevin Petit
Jump for Valor is honored to announce the appointment of its newest Board Member, Kevin Petit.
Petit spent over 24 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a LTC. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Petit commissioned in the infantry. He is a veteran of Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. Petit has served in the 82nd Airborne, 173rd Airborne, 75th Ranger Regiment, the US Army Airborne School, and commanded a 101st Airborne cavalry squadron during the surge in Iraq, 2007-2008. He is an assistant professor in a defense university teaching international relations and intelligence topics. Petit is a USPA D-licensed skydiver, holds a coach/AFFI rating, and is a FAA senior rigger.
Tell Us About Your Military Background
I served 24 Years in the Army, retiring in 2012 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. I served in the infantry, in the 82d Airborne, 101st Airborne, 173d Airborne, and 3d Ranger Battalion. Loved it, best job I’ve ever had.
How Long Have You Been Skydiving?
My first Army static line jump was in 1989, and 100 more over the course of my career – 101 to be exact. A nod to the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne! My wife bought me a tandem jump in 2016, about 4 years after I retired and I though “oh, I got this, I’ve done this” but I had forgotten the thrill of peering out an open door of the aircraft, LOVE leaving the safety of the aircraft and passing the threshold of the open door (NEVER gets old), the free fall was magnificent. I was not even on the ground from that first tandem and I was trying to sign up to pull my own pilot chute, pilot my own canopy. Magnificent! I have done 560 jumps since that day, about four years ago.
I became a rigger because I wanted to know everything about the parachute system and to help people. The training/certification is long and rigorous, but I enjoyed being tutored and mentored under phenomenal professionals who drive exacting standards. I like to help people, whether they need a short education about their equipment or if they are buying gear and do not know “what right looks like.”
What Do You Love About Skydiving?
The people are the best. The activity is extremely social. We are a group that might not come together under any other circumstances, all demographics, education levels, backgrounds, histories, and geographies. Everyone is unique, has a story I’m interested in, and we are all in this together. Skydiving is a meritocracy so people who strive, desire, achieve, practice – those people have no limits.
How Would You Describe Your Transition from the Military to the Civilian World?
I served in combat theaters overseas for 4 ½ years and came to transition to civilian life with the “basic load” of problems, troubles, anxiety, and fear. Skydiving helped sort that. I tried other activities, recreations, and sports. Skydiving did it. I’d love to help pay that forward.
What Interested You Most About Jump for Valor?
Jump for Valor propagates the same things I loved about the Army: camaraderie, brother/sisterhood, training and teaching, achieving, being of service, and helping others. There aren’t that many outlets that permit giving back this directly, in real time, and personally.
How Can Skydiving Help Struggling Veterans?
For me, I left the service and immediately stared at the void. I lost friendships, small unit camaraderie, leadership, purpose, all the things a profession and vocation give you in terms of self-worth and identity. When I left the service, I felt like I lost that identity and everything else. I searched a bit to self-actualize and it took some experimenting – but found a home and family. I embarked on a course of depression, self-wallowing, comparing-out, loss – and skydiving turned all that around to positive expressions. I cannot cheerlead loud enough! It is a special activity with spectacular people, and it saved my life. I am convinced it can save others.
Why Do You Believe in the Jump for Valor Mission?
I believe in this mission for 2 reasons: First, in my time in the service, especially my time overseas, periodically I was charged with immense responsibility – more than I deserved or my skill warranted but that happens and it’s beautiful experience rising to the occasion. Second, while in the service (and especially overseas) the consequences of decisions were high. Upon returning, I found daily, quotidian decisions are inconsequential, reversable, without great risk or reward. Skydiving brings back these dynamics. You are you are in charge of your buddy’s gear when you check it, and your own when you don your rig; you plan a jump, you have to stay within your capabilities but get to stretch and experience and risk a little. Then, you must pull to save your own life. I have found skydiving thrills and excites and keeps me focused and present better than any other activity.
What Is Your Vision for Jump for Valor?
I’m excited about the network and the movement. Creating a network of like-minded people, some with shared experiences but all with shared aspirations to grow a community of vets. In the future, I hope we become a recognized place where veterans can come to the DZ and hang out in the nice weather, to get a tandem if they haven’t done one, or start progression towards a license if that’s something that interests them. To meet others, laugh, and share.
Why Should People Support This Organization?
Think people should care about any activity, whether its triathlon, weightlifting, yoga, journaling- anything that get kid’s out of their heads, beats isolation, and provides an alternative to defeatism, depression, and turning to medicinal numbing. Jump for Valor is the opposite – this is a dose of Life at 120 mph which is FOOLPROOF in getting you out of your own head. Once you jump out of an airplane, what CAN’T you do? There is NOTHING you cannot conquer after you’ve done this.
What are you most excited about seeing Duane go through the AFF program?
Duane Mcghghy is a perfect example of the Jump for Valor community supporting a deserving veteran. Duane’s a self-starter, motivated, clever, and busting with potential that is not being realized in day-to-day life. I’m excited for him because he has no idea how much fun he’ll have, how much this will become part of his life, and how much he will be able to pass it on. The only guy more excited than Duane is me!
How Can People Support Jump for Valor?
Let’s not dismiss donating! it is the worst moment of my day when we get a Vet who is motivated, can benefit from the community, camaraderie, and activity – and we can’t follow through because we do not have the resources. That is tragic. That said, folks should stay tuned to events and J4V sponsored athletes happening in drop zones near them. Hit up the DZ, speak to the Vets, listen to them talk about their fears, trepidations, and uncertainty—then hear them after their event and watch the transformation. It is magic! You’ll get a therapeutic dividend you didn’t know you needed!
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