USPA Structure & Rating Renewal

USPA Structure & Rating Renewal

by Mel Schock

Multiple Choice

Who governs the USPA?

• A Board of Directors appointed by a hired USPA Staff

• A Board of Directors elected by the USPA membership

• The USPA staff members

• It is a collaboration between the FAA, an elected Board of Directors, and the National Transportation and Safety Board.

​The USPA Board of Directors

​The United States Parachute Association is governed by an elected Board of Directors. All members in good standing are eligible to vote for the Regional Director from their region and the National Directors.

Multiple Choice

How many regional directors are on the board?

• 8

• 10

• 12

• 14

​Regional Directors

​There are 14 Regions. Each of these regions elects a jumper from that geographical area to represent their interests on the board.

Multiple Choice

How many National Directors are there?

• 2

• 4

• 6

• 8

​National Directors

​There are also 8 National Directors. These directors are elected from the USPA membership at large.

Multiple Select

The USPA Board makes policies and procedures through a committee system.  The Executive Committee  is comprised of (select all that apply)

• President & Vice President

• Secretary

• Treasurer

• Chairman of the Board

• Member at Large

​Committees

​Additional committees include:

​* Safety and Training

​* Governance

​* Membership

​* Group Members

​* Constitution & By-Laws

​* Competition

​* Finance

Multiple Choice

How long is a term on the USPA Board of Directors?

• One year

• Two years

• Three Years

• Four Years

​Terms

​Each board member is elected for a three year term. Ray Lallo is our current Regional Director.

Multiple Choice

Who attends the USPA Board meetings, which are held twice per year?

• Only the elected board

• Any interested USPA member

• The elected board and any previous board members who are supporting transitions between board members

• Board members and staff

​Meetings

​That's right! You, as a USPA member, are not only welcome at board meetings, you are wanted! The dates and times of the meetings are published in Parachutist and online at the USPA.org.

​

​Anyone who attends may speak and have their voice heard on nearly all subjects (except closed door disciplinary actions).

​

​At each meeting the minutes of the previous meeting are approved and published on the USPA website.

Multiple Choice

USPA Staff members are hired by the Board of Directors to develop rules and regulations to keep skydivers safe.

• True

• False

​USPA Staff

​The USPA Staff members are hired by the Board of Directors to carry out the policies the board has voted on. The staff serves the members on a daily basis, maintains resources and print publications and publishes Parachutist. They are NOT able to create policy.

Multiple Choice

What are Safety & Training Advisors?

• A local jumper, appointed by a Regional Director, who serves as the direct link between dropzones and the Regional Director.

• Local jumpers selected by each Dropzone Owner to enforce BSRs at their individual dropzones.

• Staff members hired by the USPA to visit individual dropzones and ensure compliance to the BSRs.

• Angry people who don't jump much anymore and take joy from grounding fun loving skydivers.

​Safety & Training Advisors

​There are two types of S&TAs. S&TAs can be either appointed by the Regional Director to support an individual dropzone or appointed, as S&TA At Large. S&TAs At Large are considered S&TAs wherever they jump within the region to which they are appointed.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a duty of an S&TA

• Observe skydiving operations to verify compliance with BSRs.

• Verify candidates meet requirements for D license applications and rating renewals.

• Review plans for exhibition jumps and verify compliance of minimum requirements.

• To represent the interests of their dropzone with the USPA.

• Investigate incidents and submit reports.

​S&TA Duties

​The S&TAs are representatives of the USPA, NOT the dropzone. Official duties include:

Observes skydiving operations to verify compliance with the Basic Safety Requirements

• Informs the regional director of any flagrant or recurring safety violations and, in severe cases, takes disciplinary action under Section 1-6 of the USPA Governance Manual

• Provides safety and training advice to skydivers, the drop zone operator and rating holders

• Reviews plans for exhibition jumps and verifies that the locations meet minimum requirements

• Provides advice and assistance with extraordinary skydive operations (e.g., night jumps, water jumps, jumps from above 15,000 feet MSL, exhibition jumps and preplanned breakaway jumps)

• Investigates incidents and submits reports

• Verifies that candidates meet requirements on D-license applications and rating renewals

• Promotes USPA policies and programs (e.g., USPA Safety Day)

• Completes other tasks upon request of the regional director

​

​https://uspa.org/p/Article/safety-check-your-safety-and-training-advisors-role

Multiple Choice

The Coach Rating is the first instructional rating that a member earns.

• True

• False

​

​

Multiple Choice

The Compliance Group is a body formed to investigate incidents of misconduct and violations of BSRs & FARs. This group has the authority to suspend or revoke ratings or revoke a membership if a serious complaint is founded.

• True

• False

​Governance Group

​A Governance Group is made up of the Director of Safety and Training (staff), members of the board, Safety and Training Committee Chair, the Group Member Committee Chairman, a National Director, and the Regional Director of the region where the incident may have occurred.

​

​

​This group may bring disciplinary action against a rating holder if they are found to have violated a BSR, FAR, or other major infraction.

​

​To learn more about your rights and the governance process, review Governance Manual 1-6 available at USPA.org.

Multiple Choice

Just like regular skydiving, your rating has currency requirements. Which of the following is NOT a requirement:

• A yearly ratings renewal seminar

• 15 student jumps per year

• Pack a minimum of four student rigs per year

• Assist or teach the general portions of the FJC yearly

​Currency

​You are required to:

#1 - Make at least 15 coaching jumps in the last 12 months

​OR

​ The rating was initially earned within the previous 12 months

​OR

​ Make at least one satisfactory USPA Coach Rating Course evaluation

jump with a USPA Instructor or Examiner who has served as a USPA

Coach Course Evaluator AND pass the Coach Course written exam

with a score of at least 80%.

​#2 - Teach or assist with the general portion of at least one First Jump course.

​#3 - Participate in an annual rating renewal seminar

​Ratings Renewal

​Included in the "Coach Courses Resources" folder I have shared with you is a short video on how to renew your coach rating.

​

​Please watch this video before answering the last few questions.

Multiple Choice

After I assist with or teach the general portions of the USPA First Jump Course, I should ask my supervising instructor to mark those items completed online.

• True

• False

​Requirements

​It is MUCH easier to check items off as you go.

Multiple Choice

If your membership and ratings expire in June of 2022, you need to wait until June 1st to renew your ratings.

• True

• False

​Timing

​You may renew your ratings and membership up to 60 days in advance. If your membership expires at the end of June 2022, and you renew in April of 2022, your new date will be June 2023. So, you don't lose any time on your membership by renewing your ratings early.

Multiple Select

If you forget how to renew your ratings before your renewal, how can you get help? (Select all that apply)

• Ask your S&TA

• Contact your previous examiner for help

• Look it up on the USPA website

• Just let them expire

Expired Ratings

​If you do not renew your ratings before your expiration date, there is a $45 additional fee. Avoid that fee by renewing on time.

​

​If your rating is less than two years expired, you will need to pay the fee AND complete both the evaluation jump and pass the exam to fulfill renewal requirement #1.

​

​If your rating expires by more than two years, you will need to audit the ground training portion of the Coach Course, satisfactorily complete at least one ground training session, complete two satisfactory air evaluation jumps, complete one satisfactory debrief, attend a USPA ratings renewal seminar, adn pass the Coach Course written exam with a score of at least an 80%.

​

​IT IS MUCH EASIER AND LESS EXPENSIVE TO KEEP YOUR RATING CURRENT THAN TO RENEW AN EXPIRED RATING.