I was a tanker and my company commander was Ranger qualified. We had to repel down the tower and off the helicopter landing skid. I didn’t wanna do it and my CO said that I had to at least try it and if I didn’t like it then I didn’t have to do it again. I was hooked on repelling after my first time down the wall. He taught everybody how to make a swiss seat and that’s what we used. Shortly after that I applied for 101st Airborne school.
Hey my brother, thank you for you service, sacrifice shameless answer to a call of defending this country I love with all my being those colors mean to me what I 2ish they meant to everyone. I admire you brother and know I support you and I appreciate you boss 🇺🇸
@Andrew Bahr No they just wanted us to have the experience of making a Swiss seat. It was quite effective as we were all supervised and none of us were injured.
I’ll try to explain this so it makes sense, but you really have to see it to understand sometimes: when you pass the rope behind your back after going through your legs, if you push the ends down through the loop behind your back before pulling the ends back around to tie off the seat you’ll make two half hitches behind your back that lock the seat in better. It’s a bit more secure and more comfortable if you have to sit in it for longer than a couple of minutes.
Being a Rappel Master for many years in the Army, I’d advise anyone trying the Swiss seat to A) have half hitches in the back bisecting the pockets (that will keep the seat from moving during a rappel), B) also to squat and pull rope to tighten following the placement of half hitch (guys, you will thank me for this). C) Also correct placement of the carabiner and routing of the rappel rope is vital . Incorrect placement can cause a failure and possible death. 1,2 me to you; 3,4 out the door. Air Assault Men.
On point C - I had a carabiner open up learning rappelling in army infantry basic. It was the platform with no wall. I don’t remember if it was stuck and I stopped to look up or if someone told me to stop but I could see the gate open. It was boot camp so privates were standing at parade rest in the line up the stairs for their turn. I asked one of the guys who could see it from the stairs how bad it was and he got down on one knee and started to pray for me. Drill sergeant Williams rigged up and came down Aussie style in about 30 seconds…fing legend. They secured me and then swung me over to the stairs and pulled me in. They made me go right to the front of the line and go again which I’m grateful for because if I had to think about it for hours they would have had to chuck me over.
Thats the coolest !! I can see a few ways that could come in handy. A fireman friend taught me how to get of a building with balconies with a piece of 10' rope. Really cool knot that you can pop loose and retie as you go down. Aint nothing better than rope tricks.
My puter was down for 3 days and I thought I was going to loose my mind from not getting my daily fix of Pat Mac. I'm 74 and between your mini blogs and your Basic Dude Stuff, I'm now able to remember some of my youth and It helps me go from day to day. This daily routine of mine, comes after I spend time with my Savior . God Bless you and yours Pat Mac. Keep inspiring and motivating young men.
Super cool info and demonstration. Definitely going to teach the boys this since we live in central WA and spend all summer in the mountains. Thanks again this is why I love watching and listening to you. A encyclopedia of information for real life. Thanka again PM
I love all these “Safety Sallies” in the comments. What a bunch of Cucks! This is not your mommies sewing circle, this man is a Green Beret! So take you Munsoor Hitch, your locking carabiners and and get bent! This is about making a “FIELD EXPEDIENT’ climbing / rappel harness. No, you are not gonna be doing Everest in it you Cucks, but you could! Pat Mac, you the man!
Very nostalgic and old school, but there are much safer, not to mention less painful, ways to do this. Recommend mastering the Munter hitch and using a locking HMS carabiner instead of the oval non-locker. For rappelling (abseiling is the same thing; French vs. German word) static rope is fine as shock loads are minimal, but as mentioned dynamic rope is nice and can be used for protecting leads. The tied rope Swiss seat works but is not considered safe by modern standards, as it can be tied incorrectly in non-obvious ways, potentially leading to a fall even if checked by another before use. A sewn double-length spectra runner is far lighter and packs smaller than 10’ of thick rope, and won’t come untied. There is some great instruction available through the American Mountain Guides Association; recommend you update your technique to safe, modern standards!
This is how the Army has done it for decades! This how I did it in the 80s, and I was taught by Vietnam era guys. Pretty sure it’s still the same way, today. Civilian world is always different.
@@MrMojo271 exactly the point! It’s how I did it 25 years ago in the Army, and it was unnecessarily dangerous and outdated technology then. Rappelling already is one of the most dangerous components of climbing due to the full reliance on safety equipment (as opposed to only using the equipment as a backup), so adding extra risk should be avoided whenever possible. And it’s worth noting that the most elite units today tend heavily to using civilian technology when it is superior, because they have a choice. And everyone watching this video has a choice, and deserves to know that there is a better, safer way.
@@MrMojo271 It is still taught as of 2018. It's safe enough, but it's not really made for the most ideal conditions. In an ideal condition, you'll have all the best and safest gear. In the worst situation, maybe all you have is the rope itself. That's when you need to know how to do this.
Thank you for sharing Pat. As a young member of my unit I was fortunate enough to learn these skills early on. A big shout out to Capt Portante for all the buddy repels with gear. Again Pat I thank you for sharing and teaching. Much respect and admiration.
Very good and practical, refresh training is very important to stay updated!!! You’ll never know when you gonna need to use this. Good video Mr.Pat Mac you’re the man 🇺🇸🇽🇰
I will never forget air assault school, repelling out of the black hawk for the first time was so awesome and I felt like I executed the perfect rappel. Fast forward to my second rappel with all the gear. After I get into position breaking while standing on the ledge hanging out the bird back facing out. When I released I hauled so much ass on the way down. I remember smelling my gloves and feeling that rope burning the hell out of my side. Lmao!!!! A little more weight than I was expecting lmao!!! That was so much fun!!!
This is how I learned rappelling almost 20 yrs ago... Back then I thought a prefab harness would be better... Then I wore one, and went immediately to my Swiss seat again.. The only difference is I learned it using tubular lashing instead. But this is right on spot. Gonna take my girls to the park and show them how to do this.
Tubular webbing is definitely preferred for the Swiss seat, but there's no way of take a seat over a harness. They make some real Cadillac harnesses nowadays; very comfortable!
I was career FD also. I carried two (2) 12 foot pieces of webbing. One already tied in a loop and one straight for all kinds of uses like: Swiss Seat, hasty victim harness, improvised hose straps, securing ladders to railings/fire escapes, securing hose lines to railings/fire escapes, tying doors open, holding the roof of a car back after you flap it open during an extrication with big rigs whizzing by on the freeway, etc. Tons of great, practical uses for webbing.
Love this guy. I went to his Sentinel course last year. Fantastic instructor. Hilarious character. Hope to take another class asap. Thank you for all the fantastic free knowledge you put on here.
My Scoutmasters back in Washington, D.C. were a Ranger and 2 Marines. We would backpack into areas with big granite rocks and spend the weekend rappelling with the Swiss seat.
Thanks for sharing, Pat. I've never repelled, not for necessity or otherwise but it's been more of an interest the last few years. No idea if I'd ever have to use this skill, but still interesting to learn it.
I vaguely remember repelling probably once in my life, probably boot camp, but I'm not sure. I remember losing footing and flopping against the wooden structure. I also remember thinking, I need more guidance on this stuff if I am ever really going to use it. Bottom line is I moved on and never got the clarification of the way to do this, until today with this video. I have no idea where I would go to practice this at this ancient point in my life but I am grateful for the video. Thank's Pat for all your video's. Semper Fi.
My God, I haven't tied a Swiss seat since the NTA, Okinawa in 87! Cool man! I forgot how easy it was to do that. I think maybe you should have been our instructor and I would have remembered better.
After I retired I thought I would never do this again but it became Part of my basic dude stuff when I work on my steel Roof, Exactly like. You’re video,
I love how simple this setup is. Took a rock climbing class, and they were a little shocked when I told them what I rappelled out of helicopters with! Thanks for the refresher... I do have a question, tho. Clipping into that carabiner. Must be the anchored end of the rope to do the second loop? Does it work with the free end, also? Its been a few years!
Pat, have you used the diaper seat? 10' piece of rope, tied so it makes a loop, and the carabiner in the front? One of the things taught in both Boy Scouts and MWTC Bridgeport (High Altitude Med and Cold Weather Med Classes there were awesome).
I learned the Swiss seat and then was taught what the guy called a German Diaper seat, which I found a little more comfortable to use. Sometimes I wonder how we didn't kill ourselves when I think of the places we rappelled. Then there was the time we bet a guy he couldn't rappel using 550 cord......he won the bet. Just because he could do it, I wouldn't try it - he was a little guy.
@PatMac the MIL is kicking in on this one. Not 15 ft? I know things have changed, but during all my time in it was a 15 ft length of rope. So when you did the wrap around and down and under you can bring it up over your shoulders and then you would squat to cinch it into the crotch so you didn't endanger the twigs and berries.
CAG must do Swiss seats differently than 11B. Pat didn’t tighten, looked like he went under instead of over and didn’t leave enough rope for the two safety knots on each side of the square knot.
Thanks, Mac! Every bit of Operational Training Info helps! Keep the Training Rockin' and Rollin'! Some of us Military Brats didn't get a chance to get into the Service, yet we're still out here working the best we can, and learning EVERYWHERE we can from the Legendary Operator Dudes and Dudettes that did Serve! 💪🐺🇺🇸
I always forget how to do the Swiss seat, thanks. I've got a 200m 10mm static rope for rappelling. Don't you want static for vertical rappel? School me Mac.
Not a fan of using rope for a swiss seat. Tubular webbing is the way to go. Unfortunately, that shit is usually used for anchor points. If nothing else improvise! Great video! 👍🏽👍🏽
I was a tanker and my company commander was Ranger qualified. We had to repel down the tower and off the helicopter landing skid. I didn’t wanna do it and my CO said that I had to at least try it and if I didn’t like it then I didn’t have to do it again. I was hooked on repelling after my first time down the wall. He taught everybody how to make a swiss seat and that’s what we used. Shortly after that I applied for 101st Airborne school.
@The guerillas' Hide.......Nice catch and observation Bro!! ......Maybe he was in the elite POG Army🤣
Hey my brother, thank you for you service, sacrifice shameless answer to a call of defending this country I love with all my being those colors mean to me what I 2ish they meant to everyone. I admire you brother and know I support you and I appreciate you boss 🇺🇸
they didnt just have a like a sewn webbing harness for you guys?
@Andrew Bahr No they just wanted us to have the experience of making a Swiss seat. It was quite effective as we were all supervised and none of us were injured.
101st airborne school is not a thing.
Quick, informative, and still entertaining. Perfect.
I’ll try to explain this so it makes sense, but you really have to see it to understand sometimes: when you pass the rope behind your back after going through your legs, if you push the ends down through the loop behind your back before pulling the ends back around to tie off the seat you’ll make two half hitches behind your back that lock the seat in better. It’s a bit more secure and more comfortable if you have to sit in it for longer than a couple of minutes.
Being a Rappel Master for many years in the Army, I’d advise anyone trying the Swiss seat to A) have half hitches in the back bisecting the pockets (that will keep the seat from moving during a rappel), B) also to squat and pull rope to tighten following the placement of half hitch (guys, you will thank me for this). C) Also correct placement of the carabiner and routing of the rappel rope is vital . Incorrect placement can cause a failure and possible death. 1,2 me to you; 3,4 out the door. Air Assault Men.
That’s how the Marines teach it too. Or did. I’ve been out a while.👍
Do it exactly like Pat does... Avoid all imitations ☝️ especially internet commentators with "good ideas"
i agree on half hitches...so you don't become a she male.
Air Assault! Definitely can confirm on the half-hitches.
On point C - I had a carabiner open up learning rappelling in army infantry basic. It was the platform with no wall. I don’t remember if it was stuck and I stopped to look up or if someone told me to stop but I could see the gate open. It was boot camp so privates were standing at parade rest in the line up the stairs for their turn. I asked one of the guys who could see it from the stairs how bad it was and he got down on one knee and started to pray for me. Drill sergeant Williams rigged up and came down Aussie style in about 30 seconds…fing legend. They secured me and then swung me over to the stairs and pulled me in. They made me go right to the front of the line and go again which I’m grateful for because if I had to think about it for hours they would have had to chuck me over.
Learned this in 1972 at Benning, great little refresher,
taught many a cadet at summer camp at West Point…
Thanks for the memories!
Ha! They taught us this back in the 1980's 6th Infantry Division (Light). Great memories.
Thats the coolest !! I can see a few ways that could come in handy. A fireman friend taught me how to get of a building with balconies with a piece of 10' rope. Really cool knot that you can pop loose and retie as you go down. Aint nothing better than rope tricks.
Awesome old school. That is how I learned to repel. Thanks!
Hanging upside down on the repel tower at Ft Lewis 😬
My puter was down for 3 days and I thought I was going to loose my mind from not getting my daily fix of Pat Mac. I'm 74 and between your mini blogs and your Basic Dude Stuff, I'm now able to remember some of my youth and It helps me go from day to day. This daily routine of mine, comes after I spend time with my Savior . God Bless you and yours Pat Mac. Keep inspiring and motivating young men.
My go to video for a remind and revise of rope skills. Thank you 🙏
Passing on knowledge. Basic dude stuff. Make it habitual.🤘🏼
Super cool info and demonstration. Definitely going to teach the boys this since we live in central WA and spend all summer in the mountains. Thanks again this is why I love watching and listening to you. A encyclopedia of information for real life.
Thanka again PM
I love all these “Safety Sallies” in the comments. What a bunch of Cucks! This is not your mommies sewing circle, this man is a Green Beret! So take you Munsoor Hitch, your locking carabiners and and get bent! This is about making a “FIELD EXPEDIENT’ climbing / rappel harness. No, you are not gonna be doing Everest in it you Cucks, but you could! Pat Mac, you the man!
I learned to rappel with the Swiss seat you tied. I loved it.
I repelled once at USMC boot camp. That was enough for me.
Tottaly awesome instructions ,as always !!!!
Great instruction, made easy to understand with no fluff - amazing work as always Mac!
Very nostalgic and old school, but there are much safer, not to mention less painful, ways to do this. Recommend mastering the Munter hitch and using a locking HMS carabiner instead of the oval non-locker. For rappelling (abseiling is the same thing; French vs. German word) static rope is fine as shock loads are minimal, but as mentioned dynamic rope is nice and can be used for protecting leads. The tied rope Swiss seat works but is not considered safe by modern standards, as it can be tied incorrectly in non-obvious ways, potentially leading to a fall even if checked by another before use. A sewn double-length spectra runner is far lighter and packs smaller than 10’ of thick rope, and won’t come untied. There is some great instruction available through the American Mountain Guides Association; recommend you update your technique to safe, modern standards!
This is how the Army has done it for decades! This how I did it in the 80s, and I was taught by Vietnam era guys. Pretty sure it’s still the same way, today. Civilian world is always different.
I was going to suggest an Italian hitch, but thought I'd better check what a Munter hitch was first, and it turns out they're one and the same!
@@MrMojo271 exactly the point! It’s how I did it 25 years ago in the Army, and it was unnecessarily dangerous and outdated technology then. Rappelling already is one of the most dangerous components of climbing due to the full reliance on safety equipment (as opposed to only using the equipment as a backup), so adding extra risk should be avoided whenever possible. And it’s worth noting that the most elite units today tend heavily to using civilian technology when it is superior, because they have a choice. And everyone watching this video has a choice, and deserves to know that there is a better, safer way.
@@MrMojo271 It is still taught as of 2018. It's safe enough, but it's not really made for the most ideal conditions. In an ideal condition, you'll have all the best and safest gear. In the worst situation, maybe all you have is the rope itself. That's when you need to know how to do this.
Literally had to do rappelling today. Perfect timing
Thank you, Sir!
Thank you for sharing Pat. As a young member of my unit I was fortunate enough to learn these skills early on. A big shout out to Capt Portante for all the buddy repels with gear. Again Pat I thank you for sharing and teaching.
Much respect and admiration.
Very good and practical, refresh training is very important to stay updated!!! You’ll never know when you gonna need to use this. Good video Mr.Pat Mac you’re the man 🇺🇸🇽🇰
That was great - Don't know if they still do it but when I was in boot camp at P.I. in '85 we made our own Swiss Seats from rope, too....
As a former 2/75 Ranger, this brings back memories!!
Rock n' roll Pat Mac. Love the videos. Have a great week!
Love the Swiss seat learned it 30 years ago. Having been a climbing instructor ideally use static rope for rapelling and dynamic for climbing.
I will never forget air assault school, repelling out of the black hawk for the first time was so awesome and I felt like I executed the perfect rappel. Fast forward to my second rappel with all the gear. After I get into position breaking while standing on the ledge hanging out the bird back facing out. When I released I hauled so much ass on the way down. I remember smelling my gloves and feeling that rope burning the hell out of my side. Lmao!!!! A little more weight than I was expecting lmao!!! That was so much fun!!!
Awesome thank you for these videos,me and my friends watch them over and over again.Thank You for your service Sir 🇺🇸
Always a pleasure sir
Thank ya mucho ☘️
This is how I learned rappelling almost 20 yrs ago... Back then I thought a prefab harness would be better... Then I wore one, and went immediately to my Swiss seat again.. The only difference is I learned it using tubular lashing instead. But this is right on spot. Gonna take my girls to the park and show them how to do this.
Tubular webbing is definitely preferred for the Swiss seat, but there's no way of take a seat over a harness. They make some real Cadillac harnesses nowadays; very comfortable!
We got taught the Swiss seat in the fire service and was incouraged to keep a length of rope or nylon webbing.
I was career FD also. I carried two (2) 12 foot pieces of webbing. One already tied in a loop and one straight for all kinds of uses like: Swiss Seat, hasty victim harness, improvised hose straps, securing ladders to railings/fire escapes, securing hose lines to railings/fire escapes, tying doors open, holding the roof of a car back after you flap it open during an extrication with big rigs whizzing by on the freeway, etc. Tons of great, practical uses for webbing.
@@joshroten3997 I kept a 14' PC of 5/8" static line and a 25' section of webbing. Used it in many ways.
I was waiting for the “AIR ASSAULT!!”
At the end 🤣
Love this guy. I went to his Sentinel course last year. Fantastic instructor. Hilarious character. Hope to take another class asap. Thank you for all the fantastic free knowledge you put on here.
Takes me back to the 80's, good times.
Ha! Didn’t think anyone remembered how to tie a Swiss seat. Repelling 101 back in the day. Old Soldiers….
I was taught how to do Swiss seat when I attended the 1986 West Point Scout Camp-o-ree. That was an awesome (but wet and muddy) weekend!
My Scoutmasters back in Washington, D.C. were a Ranger and 2 Marines. We would backpack into areas with big granite rocks and spend the weekend rappelling with the Swiss seat.
Right on. Skids are for kids. Another old soldier. 82nd. 100 years ago I think. 🇺🇸
Rappelling 101….
Thank you.
Very cool and infinitely useful.
Excellent!!
Thank You!
We did swiss seats back in high school jrotc for the one rope bridge
Good, clear and concise review. The fancy rope gear is nice to have, but if all you have is “basic” 😂 stuff you can still make it work!
Thank you Pat.... Love your stuff.
Hatchet Brewing Co.! I'm all about supporting the local businesses and this is no different. 🤙🏼
“RocknRoll”! I say that all the time too!LOL
Also “LocknLoad”!lol
Learned both of them from a Ranger then I was in the boy scouts , thats then I knew I wanted to be a ranger my self . Thank for the reminders
Thanks for the dude stuff bro. Have a great day!
John Stryker Meyer’s favorite piece of furniture. ✊
Awesome content Boss. I’ve started to study and practice more climbing and rope work lately. Good timing. Thanks as always! -Spent Brass Casing-
Thanks for sharing, Pat.
I've never repelled, not for necessity or otherwise but it's been more of an interest the last few years.
No idea if I'd ever have to use this skill, but still interesting to learn it.
I vaguely remember repelling probably once in my life, probably boot camp, but I'm not sure. I remember losing footing and flopping against the wooden structure. I also remember thinking, I need more guidance on this stuff if I am ever really going to use it. Bottom line is I moved on and never got the clarification of the way to do this, until today with this video. I have no idea where I would go to practice this at this ancient point in my life but I am grateful for the video. Thank's Pat for all your video's. Semper Fi.
It's been a hot minute since last i had to do any repelling, but one can never lack in a refresher course.
Good video
Try the Munter hitch on the line for more control. That’s how my guys exit trees and definitely a locking carabiner
Outstanding
Great stuff Mr. Mac. Really enjoy your channel and content. Rock on!
Very useful info thank you .keep them coming Pat
Great stuff as usual, didn’t expect anything less from Pat 👍🏼
I laughed so hard at the catching stuff part
Thanks this was great!
Haven't done this in a while, great overview man!
Lots of cool stuff
Like many of us here, just another Bragg baby staying sharp. Thanks for sharing, Pat. AATW
Haha. This is perfect..I was practicing this last week. Good content. 👍
Nice - no Italian Hitch for the latter belay?
Used the swiss seat once. Gotta say not comfortable, but definitely works. 👍🏻 Loving these videos Mac.
My God, I haven't tied a Swiss seat since the NTA, Okinawa in 87! Cool man! I forgot how easy it was to do that. I think maybe you should have been our instructor and I would have remembered better.
Cool stuff!
Never used the body repel, but I've dropped off many ledges with the improvised Swiss seat. As always great info brother
After I retired I thought I would never do this again but it became Part of my basic dude stuff when I work on my steel Roof, Exactly like. You’re video,
Good explanation. A figure eight would be worth gold if you needed it.
Man, your hair was on point.
That's the stuff!
Roger that, thank you
also a good way to tie in & take your truck for a run... 💪
I love how simple this setup is. Took a rock climbing class, and they were a little shocked when I told them what I rappelled out of helicopters with! Thanks for the refresher... I do have a question, tho. Clipping into that carabiner. Must be the anchored end of the rope to do the second loop? Does it work with the free end, also? Its been a few years!
70’s we used only the Swiss seat. 1/75 and 101st.
Brings back a lot of memories from Boy Scouts
Getchu sum!
Amazing stuff as usual. Just one question thought, how would this emergency "harness" interact with a tactical belt setup ?
Good hair day 😎
VERY, VERY COOL SGM.- SALAMAT PARE
Pat, have you used the diaper seat? 10' piece of rope, tied so it makes a loop, and the carabiner in the front? One of the things taught in both Boy Scouts and MWTC Bridgeport (High Altitude Med and Cold Weather Med Classes there were awesome).
I learned the Swiss seat and then was taught what the guy called a German Diaper seat, which I found a little more comfortable to use. Sometimes I wonder how we didn't kill ourselves when I think of the places we rappelled. Then there was the time we bet a guy he couldn't rappel using 550 cord......he won the bet. Just because he could do it, I wouldn't try it - he was a little guy.
Spent alot of time in a Swiss seat!
Dude abbing off Scottish cliffs 80's 90's 45Cdo RM spliced 1 inch manilla strop and a Krab, 50kg bergan at night Gnarly !!!!
We use static to rappel- NOT dynamic. You don’t want to jump with dynamic rope.
Pat Mac is the real life MacGyver.
Way cool...thx
@PatMac the MIL is kicking in on this one. Not 15 ft? I know things have changed, but during all my time in it was a 15 ft length of rope. So when you did the wrap around and down and under you can bring it up over your shoulders and then you would squat to cinch it into the crotch so you didn't endanger the twigs and berries.
CAG must do Swiss seats differently than 11B. Pat didn’t tighten, looked like he went under instead of over and didn’t leave enough rope for the two safety knots on each side of the square knot.
We used the "Swiss Seat" all the time, as kids (12 yo.+), because who could afford a harness after buying the rope and carbineers?
Badass. ❤️🇺🇸
Thanks, Mac! Every bit of Operational Training Info helps!
Keep the Training Rockin' and Rollin'!
Some of us Military Brats didn't get a chance to get into the Service, yet we're still out here working the best we can, and learning EVERYWHERE we can from the Legendary Operator Dudes and Dudettes that did Serve!
💪🐺🇺🇸
I always forget how to do the Swiss seat, thanks. I've got a 200m 10mm static rope for rappelling. Don't you want static for vertical rappel? School me Mac.
Mac Attack.....
Can’t blow it up enough on my phone, are you building a Munter hitch, or just adding turns for friction?
Not a fan of using rope for a swiss seat. Tubular webbing is the way to go. Unfortunately, that shit is usually used for anchor points. If nothing else improvise! Great video! 👍🏽👍🏽
Fun.
Those were some sort of torture device for the guys.
Phew Pat that harness was really squeezing ya but hey it'll do in a "pinch"
Would you also use dynamic rope for the Swiss seat?