Photo By Cpl. Mark Stroud | Marines with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, Ground Combat Element, 3rd Marine...... read more read more
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UTAPAO, Thailand - Marines with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, Ground Combat Element, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward, III Marine Expeditionary Force, conducted high-altitude, low-opening parachute training here Feb. 9, during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011.
During the training, the Marines exited a KC-130 Hercules Aircraft at 18,000 feet and glided down to their target landing zone from approximately a mile away, according to a reconnaissance Marine from 3rd Recon Bn., 3rd MEB (Fwd). The Marines completed a three-week Multi-Mission Parachute Course prior to conducting the HALO training.
“They learned how to pack their own chutes as well as received instructions on how to exit the aircraft,” said the Marine. “As far as gliding is concerned [controlling their body in the air] that is just something that they need to come out here and practice.”
The multi-mission parachute systems used by the Marines are similar to civilian tandem system parachutes, allowing the Marines to carry more weight.
“The gear they carry makes up the weight that would normally be taken up by the other person in the tandem,” said the Marine. “They can carry up to 100 pounds of gear.”
The HALO training will take two weeks and consist of 14 jumps, with the degree of difficulty increasing with each jump until the Marines are able to complete a HALO jump at night as a unit, with combat gear and no marked landing zone.
“Right now they are training without a full combat load, in daylight with a marked landing zone,” said the Marine. “As they get more experience in the system they will start to get closer to combat conditions.”
The training will allow the Marines to land within meters of each other and work together to provide security and secure the parachutes.
“Two teams will land together, very close to each other and one will set up security while the other teams breaks down and stows away their parachute and then they will switch,” said a Marine from 3rd Recon Bn.
For more information about Cobra Gold 2011, visit www.marines.mil/cobragold2011 or www.facebokk.com/exercisecobragold.
| Date Taken: | 02.08.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.14.2011 01:56 |
| Story ID: | 65388 |
| Location: | UTAPAO, TH |
| Web Views: | 136 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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