CityView Magazine

Golden History • The Golden Knights are stationed at Fort Bragg and they celebrated their 50th birthday last year. • The team traces its roots to 1959, when soldiers from various military units formed the Strategic Army Command Parachute Team to compete during the Cold War, sweeping the international competition circuit in what was then the Soviet-dominated sport of skydiving. The team was recognized as the U.S. Army Parachute Team in 1961, and one year later earned the nickname “The Golden Knights.” • The team has performed more than 15,000 shows in all 50 states. “I was hooked after my first jump and knew that was the career path for me within the Army.” minimum of 150 free-fall parachute jumps, flawless military and civilian records and be willing to attend the U.S. Army Airborne School. In the end, she was one of very few Golden Knight hopefuls to be selected on her first try. Although team members from the Golden Knights do not face deployments, between demonstrations and competitions, they spend a lot of time away from their families. Tennyson is married, but her 15-year-old son stays in Cherry Point, NC with her husband. She said the family tries to squeeze in as much time together as possible and that they tackle home projects on the weekends. While she doesn’t have much time for hobbies, Tennyson said she has recently taken up gardening. In 2009 Tennyson was forced to take time off to recuperate from a training accident that left both of her legs broken. The accident, which occurred because the predicted winds aloft were incorrectly calculated, proves that there are many factors that go into keeping the jumpers safe. Tennyson’s accident also proves that even though the Golden Knights do not experience combat deployment, it’s a dangerous job nonetheless. Members of the Golden Knights have to fulfill the same commitments and are held to the same standards as other soldiers in the Army. They have to attend the same • During the team’s 51-year history, members have jumped at the Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Rushmore, the Pen- tagon, the St. Louis Gateway Arch and the Statue of Liberty. The team also per- formed at the Olympics in Seoul, South Korea in 1988 and Atlanta in 1996. • Tandem Team members have famous- ly jumped with President George H.W. Bush, golfer Tiger Woods and actors Bill Murray, Dennis Haysbert and Chuck Norris. • In competition, the team has won 450 national championships, 91 world cham- pionships, 20 national and 10 world team titles. In the last three years, the soldiers of the Golden Knights have earned 17 gold, 80 silver and 61 bronze medals, making them the most successful De- partment of Defense sports team and the most successful parachute team in the world. CityViewNC.com | 61

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