Spartan paratroopers jump in arctic gear

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Smith | Spc. William Baker (left), an infantryman with Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 1-40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, works to secure his equipment in preparation for follow-on movement after successfully exiting a C-130 Hercules Alaska Air National Guard aircraft Dec. 12, 2013 at the Malemute Drop Zone at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Baker and his unit exited the aircraft from the tailgate with a full arctic combat load, demonstrating their unique ability to rapidly deploy troops into arctic environments in response to a variety of contingencies. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Smith/Released)  

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, UNITED STATES

12.12.2013

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ELMDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - For the first time since returning from Afghanistan last year, U.S. Army Alaska’s 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division conducted an arctic airborne operation Dec. 12 from a C-130 aircraft onto JBER’s Malemute Drop Zone.

Paratroopers conducted a unique “tailgate” jump, donning the complete arctic over-white winter uniform with ski equipment and the arctic sustainment packing list as a rehearsal for upcoming airborne operations in northern Alaska next year.

The purpose for conducting arctic airborne training events is to maintain mission readiness for operating in arctic conditions, whether in conflict, humanitarian support or military support to civil authorities mission sets.

Army Staff Sgt. Bruce Henderson, an infantry paratrooper assigned to Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne), said the Soldiers are getting a feel for jumping with the equipment.

“We are testing out jumping with the skis and the capabilities to see if we can start implementing it in our training,” Henderson, a native of Keystone Heights, Fla., said. “The skis would give us a lot more mobility on the battlefield.”

Once on the ground, the jumpers de-rigged their equipment and skied to the rally point on the drop zone.

Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Richard M. Scott said this jump would give his paratroopers a new experience and prepare them future arctic training events.

“We need to have the arctic equipment that includes our skis and poles,” Scott said. “We are evaluating and rehearsing how we fight in our skis and how we move in them.”

Despite the weather, no one was feeling it, according to Scott.

“This just validates to all of our paratroopers that you can give any challenge or task to a paratrooper and we can come out here and do it and get the job done in these types of conditions,” Scott said.

• Date Taken: 12.12.2013
• Date Posted: 12.12.2013 22:32
• Story ID: 118168
• Location: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US
• Hometown: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, US