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Fort Hood Press Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: June 24, 2013 4:52:00 PM CDT

Hood Paratroopers complete jump as Families look on

Article and Photos by Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 504th BFSB PAO

             Blowing imaginary dust from his palm immediately before showing two open hands to the Paratroopers diligently watching, the jumpmaster calls out in voice barley heard over the whirring turbines of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

            “10 minutes,” he yelled. 

            What followed was a series of hand gestures and signals that culminated in a static line jump for 74 Paratroopers assigned to C Company, 2nd Squadron, 38th U.S. Cavalry Regiment throughout the day June 19 on Fort Hood as Family members looked on from Rapido Drop Zone.

            “It’s good the Families see this,” said 2nd squadron, 38th U.S. Cavalry Regiment commander Lt. Col. John P. Cogbill.  “They may hear a lot about what happens at work, but this gives them the opportunity to see what happens—seeing is believing.”

            Kayla Good, Spouse of Spc. Robert Good of C Co., 2-38 Cavalry, was seeing her husband jump for the first time.  She is supportive of his decision to become Airborne, but admits the act of Robert jumping out of planes makes her nervous.

            “He likes the excitement of being Airborne, but it makes me nervous.  The danger of breaking a limb worries me,” said Mrs. Good.

            Charlie Company is the only Army Airborne unit on Fort Hood and the training requirements remain the same as other Airborne units.  To maintain proficiency, the Soldiers are required to jump at least once a quarter.  At Fort Hood, wind and unpredictable weather can prove challenging.

            “Minimum requirements have Soldiers jumping once a quarter,” said Lt. Col. Cogbill. “Here in Central Texas, wind can become an issue; there is a higher possibility that the jumps will be cancelled, so we have to take every training opportunity possible, which is why we try to get one to two jumps in per month.”

            Proficiency jumps usually follow a training method that builds from simple concepts to more complex as the training progresses. This particular jump, typically called “Hollywood”, does not require the same equipment load as a combat jump.

            “We do these types of jumps during the day and with little equipment because it allows new guys to get comfortable jumping with the unit, while fulfilling the training requirement,” said Lt. Col. Cogbill.

            Sergeant Emilian Firan, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear NCO with C. Company, 2-38 Cavalry was appreciative of the Family participation.

            “Today was a beautiful day to jump,” Firan said. “It’s a good idea to have the Families out here so they can see what we do; it is motivating.”

 

Loading up

Paratroopers make their way to a CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Rapido Drop Zone prior to a “Hollywood” proficiency jump.  The Paratroopers, assigned to C Co, 2-38 Cavalry, 504th BFSB, take part in a static line jump June 19 at Fort Hood. The jump was part of an annual requirement for all Paratroopers to maintain a minimum proficiency of at least one jump per quarter. Families were on hand to get a first hand glimpse of an Airborne operation. (Photos by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 504th BFSB PAO)

Filming the load-up

Kayla Good tries to grab video as her husband, Spc. Robert Good, approaches a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to complete a static line jump at Rapido Drop Zone. This was the first opportunity Families had to see first-hand what their Paratroopers do when they jump.  Specialist Good, as well as other Paratroopers assigned to C Co. 2nd Squadron, 38th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 504th BFSB, conducted a static line Airborne operation June 19.  (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 504th BFSB PAO)

stepping off

A Paratrooper follows others out of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter as it flies over Rapido Drop Zone.  Paratroopers assigned to C Co, 2-38 Cavalry, 504th BFSB, take part in a static line jump June 19 at Fort Hood. The jump was part of an annual requirement for all Paratroopers to maintain a minimum proficiency of at least one jump per quarter. Families were on hand to get a first hand glimpse of an Airborne operation. (Photos by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 504th BFSB PAO)

Packing up

Sergeant Emilian Firan, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear NCO with C. Company, 2-38 Cavalry 504th BFSB, works to repack his chute following his successful completion of a static line jump June 19 at Fort Hood.  (Photos by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 504th BFSB PAO)

Demonstration

Warrant Officer 1 Brandon Barger, an insertion and extraction officer with 2nd Squadron, 38th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, provides a demonstration between jumps to Soldiers and Families June 19 at Fort Hood.  The demonstration was used to illustrate the force required to open a Paratrooper’s chute during static line Airborne operations.  (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 504th BFSB PAO)

 

 

For more information contact:
504th Battlefield Survellience Brigade Public Affairs
BLDG 91016 Station Ave
Fort Hood, TX 76544
[email protected]