Soldiers prepare foreign jumpmasters for Operation Toy Drop

Photo By Sgt. Kimber Huang | An Italian soldier is strapped into a simulator as part of military parachute familiarization training alongside U.S. Army and foreign jumpmasters held Dec. 1, 2014. Operation Toy Drop is the world’s largest combined airborne operation with seven allied partner nation paratroopers participating and allows Soldiers the opportunity to help children in need everywhere receive toys for the holidays. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kimber Gillus)  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

12.01.2014

Story by Spc. Kimber Huang 

U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne)

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Every year, thousands of paratroopers assemble here to participate in Operation Toy Drop, a joint airborne operation hosted by the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) that raises toys for families and children in need throughout the local community.

An Army Reserve and Airborne annual tradition since 1998, Operation Toy Drop is the largest airborne exercise of its kind and attracts jumpmasters from around the world. This year’s exercise will see U.S. paratroopers training alongside service members from eight countries, those countries are; Poland, Italy, Latvia, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and the Netherlands.

Before the jumps can happen, foreign jumpmasters must prepare themselves to conduct airborne operations with their U.S. counterparts.

One method of preparation is the MC-6 Simulator, which was designed to help familiarize paratroopers with the MC-6 parachute system, one type of parachute used during Operation Toy Drop. The simulator runs three scenarios that unfold exactly like a real-world jump minus the sensation of freefall. This training is required for all MC-6 parachute jumps.

“We conduct this training so that jumpmasters will be safe during Toy Drop, and so that they will know what they are doing for the exercise,” said Sgt. 1st Class Blake Simms, noncommissioned officer-in-charge at the Airborne Special Operation Test Directorate which runs the MC-6 Simulator.

Training, like the type seen with the simulator, is vital for exercises like Operation Toy Drop, an event that involves collaboration with jumpmasters from other nations, mixing different languages and cultures for one safe and successful mission.

Presented with an environment where basic communication is a challenge, it is important for Soldiers to leverage resources that all participants can understand, like visuals and active demonstrations.

“Even though the language barrier is there, they understand what you’re talking about, even if it’s with hand or arm signals,” said Simms.

With Operation Toy Drop, foreign jumpmasters are provided with the opportunity to sharpen their skills and gain invaluable experience. The exercise also enhances interoperability between the U.S. military and Allied Forces. For all airborne Soldiers, the chance to earn foreign jump wings is alluring and exciting.

But Simms, who has taken part in Operation Toy Drop as a jumper before, is looking forward to Operation Toy Drop for both the training experience and the joy it brings to children and their families during the holiday season.

“Not only do we get to jump with people from foreign countries, we also get to give back to the kids in the community,” said Simms.

• Date Taken: 12.01.2014
• Date Posted: 12.02.2014 19:08
• Story ID: 149229
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US