There are 8 categories to progress through in the system.

Cat 1 & 2  Your First Jump Course.  6 hours of ground training with practical and written test.  A static line descent demonstrating a stable falling position.  (see our First Jump Course page).

Cat 3  "Dummy Pulls".  You practice deploying your own parachute while still using static line parachutes which open automatically.  You must do 3 consecutive "DPs" and a total of 5 static line jumps before moving on to freefall.

Cat 4  Freefall.  2 consecutive controlled freefall descents of 3-5 seconds delay before deploying your own parachute.

Cat 5  2 consecutive 10 second delays counting and maintaining a heading.

Cat 6  2 consecutive 15 second delays using the above skills plus an altimeter.

Cat 7  360 degree turns while using the above skills.

Cat 8  5 jumps demonstrating: an unstable exit, a dive exit, back loops, tracks and a combination of all.

Canopy Handling Level 1 (CH1)  A briefing and test on canopy skills.

You have achieved your A Licence and are qualified to skydive solo from maximum altitude and to continue with more advanced training.

To answer all your questions about the Category System and jumping at the Army Parachute Association, click here.