Preparing Straps [Image 11 of 12]

GERMANY

09.07.2019

Photo by Spc. Ryan Lucas 

173rd Airborne Brigade

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade prepare to rig heavy equipment, including Ground Mobility Vehicles, for the upcoming airborne operations in Hohenfels Training Area during Saber Junction 2019.

Riggers serve a foundational and critical role for all U.S. Army airborne operations. Responsible for packing every parachute, they ensure soldiers and equipment successfully descend to the drop zone. “The riggers contribute to SJ19 [Saber Junction 19] by providing the airborne insertion and the aerial re-supply,” said Sgt. 1st Class Erick Griego, the aerial delivery platoon sergeant, “we have ten days to execute normally what takes two weeks to do… We’re on a tight schedule. We’re up early, we’re working late.” Saber Junction’s airborne operation will take place on Sept. 18, 2019.

Saber Junction 2019 (SJ19) is an exercise involving nearly 5,400 participants from 16 ally and partner nations at the U.S. Army’s Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas, Sept. 3 to Sept. 30, 2019. SJ19 is designed to assess the readiness of the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade to execute land operations in a joint, combined environment and to promote interoperability with participating allies and partner nations.

• Date Taken: 09.07.2019
• Date Posted: 09.10.2019 06:07
• Photo ID: 5733023
• VIRIN: 190907-A-BT239-543
• Resolution: 4951x3301
• Size: 7.71 MB
• Location: DE