Photo By Staff Sgt. Ariel Solomon | An airborne Jumpmaster safety aboard a C-23 Sherpa aircraft watches a cargo bundle...... read more read more
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Utah Army National Guard Soldiers with 197th Special Troops Company (Airborne), performed their first cargo drop training over Camp Williams April 11.
"(A cargo load) can be anything from food, to ammo, to a HMMWV," explained Pfc. Charles Parr, parachute rigger with the 197th STC(A).
This specific drop consisted of 300 pounds of military rations and water, wrapped in a canvas bundle and topped with a parachute.
The first bundle out of the aircraft was packed by Pfc. Britney Kinyon, parachute rigger with 197th STC(A) and one of the newest members of the team.
"She has the latest training to make her a valuable member of the United States Army Special Operations Command (Airborne) community," said Maj. Joaquin Mixco, commander of the 197th STC(A). "She has received training on the Joint Precision Airdrop System, which is a remote control device to guide high altitude air dropped bundles. She can rig and deliver the most advanced equipment to some of the most restrictive areas."
The 197th STC(A), established in 2008, is rapid-deployable unit that provides multi-functional combat service support to the United States Army Special Operations Command (Airborne) units that are deployed throughout the world.
The unit consists of airborne qualified Soldiers trained in over 50 different occupations to include logistical, medical, dental, engineering, mortuary, laundry, food-service, maintenance, and administrative specialties.
"This allows us to support a variety of missions and units depending on the need at the time," explained Warrant Officer Michael Dunn, the unit's airdrop systems technician.
The 197th STC(A) is the only unit capable of heavy-drop operations for USASOC(A), but due to a shortage of indispensable equipment, the 197th STC(A) Rigger Section is currently unable to successfully perform its heavy-drop support missions at this time, Mixco added.
South Dakota National Guard 641st Aviation Regiment helped make this air cargo-drop training possible by providing a C-23 Sherpa as well as trained Crew Engineer Instructors.
"This is our third time in Utah (assisting with airborne missions)," said Sgt. Mathew Dan, a member of the SDNG air crew who helped accomplish the airdrop.
"We want to use every (aircraft) platform in the inventory, so it's not unusual to see planes from all over the country supporting us," said Mixco. "It's more realistic to have these fixed-wing aircraft."
Mixco said he and the 197th STC(A) look forward to being able to train on even more complicated drops, heavy loads and joint precision aerial deliveries, as they hope to acquire the equipment necessary for such missions.
Since the unit was founded, they have deployed several individual augmentees to support Special Forces Groups and Joint Special Operations units in the Global War on Terror.
"That's what support we've been asked to provide so far, but we're moving away from that method in favor of deploying as a unit," added Dunn. "The bottom line is we want to provide who and what the community needs."
| Date Taken: | 04.11.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 05.19.2010 18:50 |
| Story ID: | 49971 |
| Location: | CAMP WILLIAMS, UT, US |
| Web Views: | 821 |
| Downloads: | 186 |
This work, The 197th STC(A) trains to air-drop cargo, by SSG Lyndsey Prax and SSG Ariel Solomon, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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