Wounded Warrior Earns Jump Qualification

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1 Public Affairs

June 11, 2010 - SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- A wounded warrior earned his naval parachutist qualification upon completing his final jumps at Brown Field in San Diego June 9.

While the qualification is difficult to obtain and uncommon in the Navy, Lt. John Pucillo had a particularly unique challenge to overcome to earn his jump wings - his left leg is amputated above the knee.

"The fact that the Navy allowed me to go to jump school with my amputated leg and then continue on to get this final parachutist qualification is amazing,"said Pucillo. "I hope that other Sailors and other military members take this to heart…you can come back from an injury."

Pucillo, an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) officer, lost his leg after his patrol was attacked and a roadside improvised explosive device blew apart his vehicle while on a routine mission in Baghdad, Iraq May 19, 2006. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

To earn his jump qualification, Pucillo attended the three-week Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, Ga. with a prosthetic limb. He was resolute that he wanted no special treatment while at school; if he was going to pass, it was going to be under the same conditions as every other student there.

"They didn't cut anything out of the school, I made sure of that," said Pucillo. "I told them if I don't pass, you don't pass me."

While at Jump School, he learned everything about his parachute; how to wear it, adjust it and use it. He learned all the techniques needed to accomplish his mission with absolute confidence, including a very important lesson in parachuting: how to land.

After completing the school, Pucillo had a number of tasks to complete, including 10 static line jumps from aircraft.

"I told the guys today, if I don't get out of this plane today, I'm not getting these wings. Don't give them to me, I want to earn them, and that's what I did," said Pucillo.

Upon touching the ground on his 10th jump, Pucillo was pinned with his Navy-Marine Corps parachutist wings by Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposalman Nicholas Kush, assigned to EOD Training and Evaluation Unit 1.

"He's an example for us in the EOD community," said Kush. "To go through jump school and earn his gold wings as an amputee is definitely impressive and it was an honor for me and our team to be a part of it. That guy is definitely gung ho and he sets a great example for the rest of us in the EOD community."

After recovering from his injuries in Iraq, Pucillo returned to active EOD service in August 2007, at which time he became aware of the prospect of becoming a paralympic athlete. He set out to join the U.S. Paralympics Sailing National Team, another goal he succeeded in accomplishing.

Pucillo then went on to earn his master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. He is currently serving as the flag aide to Rear Adm. Donald P. Quinn, deputy chief of naval personnel at Navy Personnel Command.

"I am a firm believer that you lead from the front," said Pucillo. "If I'm going to be a real XO, a real CO, this shouldn't stop me. I'm proud that I was able to do it and go to my next mobile unit and lead from the front."