Photo By Lance Cpl. Preston McDonald | Sgt. Kurt Custerbeck, a jumpmaster with 2nd Radio Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary...... read more read more
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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The light has just turned green. A big metal door slowly opens. A Marine is 1,500 feet in the air, but in a matter of minutes, he’ll be on the ground. He starts to weigh all the possibilities of things that could happen in those few moments. He stands up and inches his way to the door where the air is violently gusting. Another Marine yells “GO” in his ear and before he knows it, the only thing that’s keeping him from a freefall to earth is a harness attached to a piece of cloth. That’s just some of the things that a jumper from 2nd Radio Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, experiences in their time with the unit.
“It’s an adrenaline rush,” said Pfc. Ismael Guzman, a parachute rigger with 2nd Radio Bn.
Approximately 20 Marines from the battalion conducted low flying static jumps from a C-130 Hercules aboard Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, March 9, 2015.
While at the airfield, the Marines performed static jumps during daytime and nighttime operations. Static jumps involve a cable that is attached from the aircraft to the parachute. When the jumper leaves the aircraft, the cable pulls on the chute and deploys it.
Guzman said there is no freefalling involved during a static jump. The chute opens the second a jumper leaves the plane until they reach the ground.
Before the Marines jump from the aircraft they check each other over and are inspected by a jump master. They then go through a checklist on procedures and how to safely and efficiently conduct the jump.
“This training keeps the jumpers proficient and up to date with their qualifications,” said Sgt. Kurt Custerbeck, a jumpmaster with the battalion.
Custerbeck said the Marines have to jump a minimum of every six months to stay current.
If the Marines do not jump within six months of their last jump, they must go through a refresher course before they are eligible to jump again. 2nd Radio Bn. is one of few units along the East coast that has a jump program. Custerbeck, a veteran jumpmaster, was recruited to the unit to help revamp the program.
Custerbeck says that when he arrived at the unit, there wasn’t much of a jump program and that it lacked attention. He says that he plans to overhaul it and give it the light that it deserves.
“I want to get the program back on track and where it’s supposed to be,” said Custerbeck, “When I am no longer with the unit, I want to know that it’s in good hands.”
Custerbeck says that the Marine Corps is always changing and is working away from the global war on terrorism in the Middle East and going into other theatres.
He also said that the training promotes the overall readiness of the unit, and ultimately II MEF.
“When they go out on the Marine Expeditionary Units or a detachment of the Special Marine Air Ground Task Force, they can say ‘Hey, if we need to, these Marines are good to go’.” said Custerbeck, “They can jump in safely and proficiently and land where they need to land with the gear they need.”
| Date Taken: | 03.09.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.18.2015 16:31 |
| Story ID: | 157411 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 110 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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