Photo By Cpl. Matt Myers | Cpl. Nicolas R. Gula descends toward the ground following a 1,250-foot low-level...... read more read more
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IE SHIMA AIRFIELD, OKINAWA, Japan – Military leaders may owe French inventor Louis-Sébastien Lenormand for the distinct tactical advantage of parachuting. He made history with the first recorded parachute jump in 1783. In October of 1940, Marines first began training for parachute operations. Today, Marines are able to couple their airborne skills with the capability to air deliver essential supplies to remote areas of the battlefield or during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, executed multiple 1,250-foot low-level static-line jumps from an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft Aug. 26 at Ie Shima Airfield, Okinawa, Japan.
The training recertified the Marines’ capabilities as airborne and air delivery specialists, also known as parachute riggers, and simulated jumping into a combat zone while weighed down with tactical equipment.
“All the Marines jumping are parachute riggers,” said 2nd Lt. Daniel D. MoralesDelacruz, a logistics officer with CLR-3, 3rd MLG, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “We will be dropping air container delivery systems then have our Marines jump onto the field.”
For the training jumps, each Marine carried approximately 150 pounds of equipment, which has the potential to affect the flight path of their descent after the parachute canopy opens.
“Knowing when to release the equipment during their descent is crucial,” said MoralesDelacruz, an Ontario, California, native. “If they drop the equipment too high it could miss the drop zone, but if they drop it too low they can injure themselves during landing or get tangled in it. The optimal height is about 250 feet.”
Each Marine was responsible for packing their parachute for the jumps.
“As riggers it is absolutely important that we instill confidence in everyone that we give a parachute to,” said Cpl. Cesar D. Estevezreyes, an airborne and air delivery specialist with CLR-3. “We show others by jumping with our own parachutes that we have the utmost confidence our parachutes will open no matter what.”
It is important for a Marine to follow precise instructions when preparing to jump because small mistakes can magnify during the decent, according to Cpl. Nicolas R. Gula, an airborne and air delivery specialist with CLR-3.
“Sometimes you can feel like you have the tightest body position possible and still get twisted mid-air,” said Gula. “Making sure you exit with the proper form is crucial.”
Moments before the jump, the reality of the 1,250-foot drop was visible on the Marines’ faces. They sat focused, ready to complete the training and land safely.
“You get the immediate jitters as soon as they tell you to get up and start walking toward the door,” said Gula, from San Diego, California. “But as soon as you are out the door and you are falling, it is all smiles because everyone is having a great time. I would describe it as pure freedom.”
After the Marines completed their jumps, they gathered to talk about the experience and how it relates to their jobs as parachute riggers.
“This was a great experience and great training,” said Estevezreyes, from Almond, New York. “It is not every day you get to jump out of an Osprey, get paid for it, and do it in service to your country. For me, that is what makes this great.”
| Date Taken: | 08.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.09.2014 02:34 |
| Story ID: | 141505 |
| Location: | IE SHIMA AIRFIELD, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | ALMOND, NEW YORK, US |
| Hometown: | ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 456 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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