Just so you know, not every story in the Army Times is all military, all the time.

DALLAS, Texas (Army News Service, June 12, 2007) - It was the surprise and challenge of a lifetime rolled-up into one big package for several women training to be members of one of the nation's premiere cheerleading squads.

Thirteen Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were surprised after their Monday night rehearsal to discover they were being challenged with the opportunity to do a tandem jump with the U.S. Army Golden Knights June 4.

After hours of practice the girls thought the night was over, but their athletic trainer, Jay Johnson, a retired Army master sergeant, had a final mental drill to run the ladies through.

"The U.S. Army and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders demonstrate many of the same core values," said Mr. Johnson. "You have to have integrity, loyalty, honor, pride and be willing to work together as team."

After pumping up the team with one of his traditional Army drill sergeant motivational speeches, he introduced them to several of his friends - the Golden Knights.

As the Knights walked into the rehearsal hall, the team was still uncertain about what was going on. Then Sgt. 1st Class Billy Vansolen, the tandem team leader, explained. "Ladies you are being challenged to go to an altitude of 13,500 feet, jump out of an airplane and experience 60 seconds of freefall."

There’s been a great deal of concern recently about NCO erosion in the Army. This program is one way to solve it. We just need to expand the Golden Knights to about 51,000 members.