WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – More than 60 Army and Marine Corps Reservists parachuted from an altitude of about 1,250 feet through a crisp, blue, late-winter sky from two C-130 aircraft to a drop zone established on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Area A March 11.
The event was part of quarterly jump qualification training for the soldiers, primarily from the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion and the 346th Psychological Operations Company, based in Whitehall, Ohio, while a few other Soldiers and Marines from other commands also participated in the joint exercise that included both day and night jump operations.
The airlift support for the exercise was provided by the Marine Corp’s 252 Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aerial Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, North Carolina and from the Kentucky Air National Guard unit in Louisville.
One by one, the paratroops jumped out of the aircraft with 100 pounds of equipment strapped to them as they descended back toward the drop zone. Personnel from Wright-Patterson directed support for the exercise, and conditions were perfect.
Wright-Patterson personnel who provided direct support to the exercise included members of the 88th Operations Support Squadron, 88th Security Forces Squadron, 788th Civil Engineer Squadron and 88th Medical Operations Squadron.
As the soldiers were preparing their equipment to jump and checking each other for safety, their focus was on the mission at hand.
“We’re about to jump out of a perfectly good airplane with combat equipment and this will help us increase our readiness – the number one thing in the Army, and for anything we might encounter if we’re called to duty,” said Master Sgt. Paloma Rodgers, Brigade S1, from the 350th Civil Affairs Brigade in South Carolina, and who was on her seventh jump.
For many people, jumping out of a perfectly good airplane isn’t something they want to do, but making his 100th military jump was Maj. Christopher Schond, a jumpmaster and executive officer with the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion.
"Our partnership with Wright-Patt provides an immediate enhancement in our ability to successfully carry-out joint day or night tactical training by implementing realistic scenarios, resources, and infrastructure, which will pay enormous dividends in both near and long-term operations," said Schond, who is also an Air Force civilian employee at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center here.
Paratroopers in Saturday afternoon's jump escaped unhurt for the most part, although at least one paratrooper was treated for a shoulder injury.
The soldiers said the biggest difference between day jumps and night jumps is the issue of depth perception due to low light conditions. At night, they drop their equipment about 15 feet below them so when they hear it hit, they know when they're about to hit the ground shortly thereafter.
"It's still routine, but it's still pretty scary," said Lt. Col. James Sanders, commander of the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion. "We jump just like we do in war. You look at some of these soldiers, they got their reserve, they got their main, they got their combat equipment and they got their weapon in the weapon's case. They're carrying their basic load, they're carrying stuff to live on, their sleeping bag, things to eat with, so it's about 100 pounds total with the gear, the reserve and the main," Sanders said.
The 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) mobilizes, deploys, plans and conducts civil affairs operations with an orientation to the theater commander, the unit fact sheet says. Their soldiers provide support to shape and influence the actions of regional civilian populations by acting as a liaison between the local populace and the military commander in theater.