Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Hull | Paratroopers from across Fort Bragg, N.C., jump from a C-130J Hercules aircraft over...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. — “I’ll be nervous up there, but I’ll be ready when the green light comes on,” said the youthful paratrooper as he waited for his jumpmaster team to gain accountability of his chalk during initial manifest for February’s Saturday Proficiency Jump Program.
“I’m excited and ready to get to see how things really work,” said Pvt. Kyle Kleinert, a rigger assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division’s Sustainment Brigade.
After landing safely on Sicily Drop Zone, he recalled how quickly things happened inside the aircraft and as he floated to the ground, citing the training and rehearsals as critical to a successful jump.
“During pre-jump, you have to redo what you mess up,” he said. “They won’t let you jump if you’re messing up.”
This month, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Abn. Div. hosted the jump. Unlike typical airborne operations conducted on Fort Bragg, family readiness groups set up fundraising stands with food and drinks as spouses, children, and veterans show up to watch the paratroopers jump from high-performance aircraft at the SPJP.
Although some might refer to them unofficially as “Saturday fun jumps,” paratroopers across the installation consider it important training. The SPJP builds the proficiency, experience, and confidence of individual paratroopers, ensuring the XVIII Airborne Corps and 82nd Abn. Div. remains ever-ready for contingency response missions.
Like many of his peers scattered throughout the 10 chalks, Kleinert was manifested to make his first static line parachute jump outside of initial entry training. The “Hollywood jump,” so nicknamed for it’s unrealistic lack of combat equipment and weapon, is mandatory for all personnel straight out of the U.S. Army Airborne School, as well as for those who fall out of currency.
Per policy, the first jump must also occur in broad daylight, and is an important step in the progression of jumper experiences.
“It’s an awesome opportunity,” said Capt. Matthew B. Krembel, an infantry officer assigned to the 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. “I need jumps for jumpmaster school and it also just makes you more comfortable.”
Krembel used this month’s SPJP as an opportunity to get his second jump with the Division after being off of jump status for almost three years. Having recently arrived at Fort Bragg, and currently settling into his job as a brigade plans officer, Krembel stated that being on staff can make it difficult to lose a workday to an airborne operation. The SPJP gives him an opportunity to jump “off of the Army clock.”
“Since it’s been awhile, I’d like to gain some more jump proficiency,” he said. “You have to first lead yourself to be able to lead others.”
The XVIII Abn. Corps’ subordinate 82nd Abn. Div. provides the nation with the joint forcible entry component of the Global Response Force, a rotational mission to keep a scalable battalion-sized task force ready to go anywhere in the world in only 18 hours. An infantry brigade stands ready to go in 96 hours and a host of enablers ensure a tailorable force is able to accomplish a wide-range of missions, combat or humanitarian.
That means the call to deploy can come anytime.
“Always, and every time we train, it’s readiness,” said Col. Joseph Ryan, commander of the 2nd BCT. “Readiness is our watchword here in the 82nd Abn. Div. We have to be prepared to go at a moment’s notice.”
Of course the paratroopers need a way to get over a drop zone anywhere in the world, and the SPJP provides another joint training opportunity for safe parachute operations. The Air Force, which provides the nation’s strategic projection of military force, regularly trains their aircraft crews and must certify high performance airframes for airborne operations.
“Our most critical enabling support element is our Air Force brothers and sisters who provide the transportation to allow us to do what we do,” stated Command Sgt. Maj. Mitchell Rucker, the senior noncommissioned officer of the 2nd BCT.
Citing the evolution of the modern battlefield, many 82nd Abn. Div., paratroopers say they do not expect to jump as an entire Division behind enemy lines as their predecessors did in World War II. The need for a rapid response and airborne-capable force became apparent in 1989 however, as the Division jumped into Panama for Operation Just Cause to secure American citizens and national interests in the country. Paratroopers contributed to the removal of Dictator Manuel Noriega and the reestablishment of democracy.
With historical missions and current priorities in mind, the SPJP supports the Division’s mantra of readiness.
“It’s an uncertain world,” said Rucker. “So where we’ll be a month from now, or two months from now, no one really knows.”
Division paratroopers Pvt. Kleinert and Capt. Krembel could deploy as part of a future joint and coalition force and believe that mission success can hinge on their individual ability to jump, fight, and win under any condition.
“I’m ready to do whatever the Army tells me to do, said Kleinert. “The SPJP is good for readiness, so we can hit the ground safely and running, and prepared to fight.”
| Date Taken: | 02.20.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.22.2016 16:46 |
| Story ID: | 189687 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 103 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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