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.

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.

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.

Awesome old school. That is how I learned to repel. Thanks!

Passing on knowledge. Basic dude stuff. Make it habitual.🤘🏼

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.

I repelled once at USMC boot camp. That was enough for me.

I was waiting for the “AIR ASSAULT!!” At the end 🤣

“RocknRoll”! I say that all the time too!LOL Also “LocknLoad”!lol

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!

Ha! Didn’t think anyone remembered how to tie a Swiss seat. Repelling 101 back in the day. Old Soldiers….

John Stryker Meyer’s favorite piece of furniture. ✊

I tried this and totally crushed my beanbag (my fault) because I wasn’t paying attention. Awesome video as always.

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

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....

Hatchet Brewing Co.! I'm all about supporting the local businesses and this is no different. 🤙🏼

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.

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.

My go to video for a remind and revise of rope skills. Thank you 🙏

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 🇺🇸🇽🇰

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

Great instruction, made easy to understand with no fluff - amazing work as always Mac!

Awesome thank you for these videos,me and my friends watch them over and over again.Thank You for your service Sir 🇺🇸

Literally had to do rappelling today. Perfect timing

Thanks Pat, helpful, informative, useful & clear instruction. Keep'em comin.

Love the Swiss seat learned it 30 years ago. Having been a climbing instructor ideally use static rope for rapelling and dynamic for climbing.

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.

Thank you, Sir!

As a former 2/75 Ranger, this brings back memories!!

Rock n' roll Pat Mac. Love the videos. Have a great week!

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!

I learned to rappel with the Swiss seat you tied. I loved it.

I laughed so hard at the catching stuff part

Very cool and infinitely useful.

It's been a hot minute since last i had to do any repelling, but one can never lack in a refresher course.

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.

Great stuff as usual, didn’t expect anything less from Pat 👍🏼

We got taught the Swiss seat in the fire service and was incouraged to keep a length of rope or nylon webbing.

Thank ya mucho ☘️

Takes me back to the 80's, good times.

Excellent!!

First try from a 5 ft height before repelling seriously :D

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 content Boss. I’ve started to study and practice more climbing and rope work lately. Good timing. Thanks as always! -Spent Brass Casing-

Thank you.

Thank You!

Great stuff Mr. Mac. Really enjoy your channel and content. Rock on!

Outstanding

Good video Try the Munter hitch on the line for more control. That’s how my guys exit trees and definitely a locking carabiner

Tottaly awesome instructions ,as always !!!!

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.

Like many of us here, just another Bragg baby staying sharp. Thanks for sharing, Pat. AATW

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.

Thank you Pat.... Love your stuff.

Thanks this was great!

Lots of cool stuff

Haven't done this in a while, great overview man!

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.

We did swiss seats back in high school jrotc for the one rope bridge

Very useful info thank you .keep them coming Pat

Used the swiss seat once. Gotta say not comfortable, but definitely works. 👍🏻 Loving these videos Mac.

Always a pleasure sir

Pat Mac is the real life MacGyver.

Cool stuff!

Brings back a lot of memories from Boy Scouts

Good explanation. A figure eight would be worth gold if you needed it.

Haha. This is perfect..I was practicing this last week. Good content. 👍

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,

That's the stuff!

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).

Roger that, thank you

VERY, VERY COOL SGM.- SALAMAT PARE

70’s we used only the Swiss seat. 1/75 and 101st.

Getchu sum!

Spent alot of time in a Swiss seat!

Amazing stuff as usual. Just one question thought, how would this emergency "harness" interact with a tactical belt setup ?

also a good way to tie in & take your truck for a run... 💪

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 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.

Nice - no Italian Hitch for the latter belay?

Man, your hair was on point.

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.

We use static to rappel- NOT dynamic. You don’t want to jump with dynamic rope.

I wonder if Pat Mac knows JD Potynsky from northern red? I'd dig a podcast with those guys chopping it up about their time in SF, arms/kit and training and what not

Mac Attack.....

Badass. ❤️🇺🇸

Dude abbing off Scottish cliffs 80's 90's 45Cdo RM spliced 1 inch manilla strop and a Krab, 50kg bergan at night Gnarly !!!!

I learned this stuff in the infantry almost 20 years ago but had forgotten about 15 years ago so thanks for the refresher 🤘

Fun.

Phew Pat that harness was really squeezing ya but hey it'll do in a "pinch"

Pat Mac could replace Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones when he retires

Noticed your hair also brought its A game on this vid.

Those were some sort of torture device for the guys.

Badass

Basically just taught Air Assault School in 3:40.