The winner of the Jumpmaster of the Year Competition hosted by the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team is slated to compete in the All American Division's competition at Fort Bragg, N.C., April 8-11.
Staff Sgt. Rick Niemi, a cannon crewmember with 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 1st BCT, said he is excited to compete at a higher level and to continue to learn some new things along the way.
Niemi said competing in the brigade-level competition in March meant a lot to him and that he wanted to show everyone his level of dedication to the jumpmaster craft.
"I wanted to win," said Niemi. "It was important for me to compete and be the best."
During the brigade's competition the paratrooper completed an Army Physical Fitness Test to assess his overall fitness, as well as a nomenclature test, a pre-jump exam, and a jumpmaster personnel inspection test. He was also tested on rigging special items and equipment, and conducting procedures while in the aircraft.
The jumpmaster said he is ready for the challenges the next competition will present.
"I'm definitely going to hit the books hard," he said. "I'm excited to represent 1BCT in the division competition."
The Prescott, Mich., native has been with the 82nd Abn. Div. since September of 2011. Five months after arriving to his unit he attended jumpmaster school and passed on his first attempt.
Niemi said he believes being a jumpmaster is an important skill to have and that as a paratrooper it should be of high priority to attend jumpmaster school.
"Why wouldn't you want to know everything about your craft," said Niemi. "I think every paratrooper should try to do it."
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