Professional Soldiers ® - View Single Post

Radar Rider · 04-23-2004, 05:16

I wrote this tribute to SFC Oler on Paratrooper.net, and felt that it was important to share it here:

I owe most of my success as a Jumpmaster to Randy Oler. As an instuctor, he was the best. As a soldier, he was the most dedicated. And as a man, he was the finest. I was in the "big building" (USASOC, USASFC, USACAPOC) when he was there as the CAPOC training NCO. I was amazed at the hours he worked, because I saw him damn near everyday during the week, and he also ran the jumps and training on weekends for the Civil Affairs and Psyops reservists. I knew him first because he worked nearly every jump that USASOC put on, in addition to the CAPOC duties. I got to know him when he put on the Jumpmaster MTT to Hurlburt AFB (I say he put on, because he put in all of the work behind the scenes to make it happen). I walked into his training office, and said "Hi, SSG Oler. I'm going to the JM MTT and need to get the details before we roll out". The first thing he said was "Call me Randy". Throughout the course, he was the best instructor; not only did he know EVERYTHING, he also knew how to pound that knowledge into thickheads like me. Plus, he'd stay until midnight to help out those students that needed extra assistance. When I remember that course, and then multiply by about 1,000, I can only begin to conceptualize the amount of things he did that made training successful.

Not only was I impressed by his knowledge and professionalism, but by his good naturedness. He was always of good humor, and kept everybody else's spirits up around him. He would also go out of his way to help another soldier. When I needed a night JM to get my star, he hooked me up immediately. When I was chasing jumps for the wreath, he'd say "Sure, c'mon out; I've got a chute (or two) for ya". I also loved the way he carried himself in garrison. He was almost always in shorts and a t-shirt or sweat shirt; rarely did I see him in BDUs. Perhaps he was showing off his knees; he had them HUGE nasty scars that you could spot from 100 meters off. But even though you KNEW he was in pain, he never showed a bad side.

Finally, I was always impressed that he kept jumping. Yeah, he could only do water jumps, but I consider the circumstances. We were in Florida in February, and he jumped. When he got back, he was shivering but you could still tell that he loved jumping (with that sh1t eatin' grin on his face!).

I suppose I could go on and on, but I will end by saying that all who knew Randy Oler are better for having known him. I pray that God takes care of his family; I know that Heaven is a better place for Randy being there now.

04-23-2004, 05:16	#2
Radar Rider Guerrilla Chief Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fayetteville Posts: 797	I wrote this tribute to SFC Oler on Paratrooper.net, and felt that it was important to share it here: I owe most of my success as a Jumpmaster to Randy Oler. As an instuctor, he was the best. As a soldier, he was the most dedicated. And as a man, he was the finest. I was in the "big building" (USASOC, USASFC, USACAPOC) when he was there as the CAPOC training NCO. I was amazed at the hours he worked, because I saw him damn near everyday during the week, and he also ran the jumps and training on weekends for the Civil Affairs and Psyops reservists. I knew him first because he worked nearly every jump that USASOC put on, in addition to the CAPOC duties. I got to know him when he put on the Jumpmaster MTT to Hurlburt AFB (I say he put on, because he put in all of the work behind the scenes to make it happen). I walked into his training office, and said "Hi, SSG Oler. I'm going to the JM MTT and need to get the details before we roll out". The first thing he said was "Call me Randy". Throughout the course, he was the best instructor; not only did he know EVERYTHING, he also knew how to pound that knowledge into thickheads like me. Plus, he'd stay until midnight to help out those students that needed extra assistance. When I remember that course, and then multiply by about 1,000, I can only begin to conceptualize the amount of things he did that made training successful. Not only was I impressed by his knowledge and professionalism, but by his good naturedness. He was always of good humor, and kept everybody else's spirits up around him. He would also go out of his way to help another soldier. When I needed a night JM to get my star, he hooked me up immediately. When I was chasing jumps for the wreath, he'd say "Sure, c'mon out; I've got a chute (or two) for ya". I also loved the way he carried himself in garrison. He was almost always in shorts and a t-shirt or sweat shirt; rarely did I see him in BDUs. Perhaps he was showing off his knees; he had them HUGE nasty scars that you could spot from 100 meters off. But even though you KNEW he was in pain, he never showed a bad side. Finally, I was always impressed that he kept jumping. Yeah, he could only do water jumps, but I consider the circumstances. We were in Florida in February, and he jumped. When he got back, he was shivering but you could still tell that he loved jumping (with that sh1t eatin' grin on his face!). I suppose I could go on and on, but I will end by saying that all who knew Randy Oler are better for having known him. I pray that God takes care of his family; I know that Heaven is a better place for Randy being there now.
Radar Rider is offline