Distinguished visitors experience behind-the-scenes of an airborne operation

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Matthew | Paratroopers assigned to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, help distinguished visitors don the Improved Outer Tactical Vest and other military gear that paratroopers assigned to 2BCT, wear when conducting missions, June 4. The visitors observed as Paratroopers in the 2BCT conducted a Joint Operational Access Demonstration, June 4-5, on Fort Bragg. The operation was a chance for paratroopers in the Brigade to demonstrate their readiness and capabilities for rapid deployment. This JOAD allowed civilians to gain an insight into what paratroopers go through in order to deploy anywhere in the world on short notice. The operation is a series of events leading up to an airdrop of military vehicles and equipment, and hundreds of 2BCT paratroopers exiting a high performance aircraft. Upon reaching the ground, the troopers seized the airfield and secured the area for follow on missions.  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

06.04.2012

Story by Sgt. Ryan Matthew 

82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — The 82nd Airborne Division is known for being America’s Guard of Honor and the All Americans, but what does it take to get nicknames like these? It takes being the tip of the spear in battle, and always being ready to deploy anywhere in the world on short notice. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, continues to sharpen that tip with perpetual training like conducting airborne operations to test their preparedness for when our nation calls.

The 2nd BCT “Falcon brigade” participated in a Joint Operational Access Demonstration on Sicily Drop Zone, June 4-5, with distinguished visitors from around the country to witness paratroopers in action. The DVs ranged from senior military leaders, legislative assistants to local and state honored guests.

For many of the visitors who participated in the demonstration, this was their first time seeing an airborne operation. They were able to see paratroopers throughout different steps of a deployment timeline and get hands-on experience with military equipment.

The JOAD is a joint operation with multiple units conducting an airborne operation that follows a rapid timeline to deploy troops and equipment. The timeline consists of packing equipment to be parachuted from an aircraft, packing all sustainable items in a rucksack, receiving ammunition, then bused to Pope Army Airfield to be issued their parachutes. Then they don their parachutes, perform sustained airborne training and wait to board aircraft. Once in flight the paratroopers wait for the 20-minute warning to begin the procedures of exiting the high performance aircraft.

The JOAD is a way for paratroopers in the 2BCT to measure the readiness of the unit, and in this case be able to have the distinguished visitors take part in an airborne operation to gain insight to the capabilities of paratroopers assigned to the brigade.

“I never knew how the Army got trucks, and other equipment on the ground,” said Katharine Southard, a commercial real estate agent from Charlotte, N.C. “I was very impressed on all the commands and work that went on in the aircraft,” she said describing how the DVs were able to ride in the aircraft and witness first hand paratroopers exiting from the aircraft.

She said how impressive it was to see the military equipment the brigade had on display. The 2BCT had several stations to show the DVs the different types of equipment the brigade has for completing any mission. Some of the stations included an infantry squad with full combat equipment, a sniper station to show the different weapons systems used on the battlefield and an artillery station to show the capabilities of the 105mm howitzer system.

“This has been very educational and a one of a kind experience,” said William King, legislative assistant for a congressman from California. “I have always wanted to know what it was like to jump from a plane.” He said if he were a younger man, he would have been a paratrooper. King is from the District of Columbia.

The visitors finished with observing an airborne operation at night with the use of night vision optics. The optics allowed them to see military vehicles and artillery being airdropped out of the back of a high performance aircraft, followed by hundreds of paratroopers assigned to the Falcon brigade securing the airfield, permitting other troops and equipment to land safely for future operations.

The Falcon brigade has a long history of conducting difficult operations on short notice, and needs to be ready at all times to continue the 237-year tradition of answering our nations call. The JOAD is one of the many ways the paratroopers within the brigade are able to train the unique and critical skills to maintain their edge.

• Date Taken: 06.04.2012
• Date Posted: 06.08.2012 15:28
• Story ID: 89677
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US
• Hometown: CHARLOTTE, NC, US
• Hometown: FAYETTEVILLE, NC, US
• Hometown: WASHINGTON, DC, US