ABO: 20th Anniversary of Operation Northern Delay [Image 6 of 10]

AVIANO AIR BASE, ITALY

03.22.2023

Photo by Spc. Alisha Grezlik 

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade board a C-17 aircraft in preparation for an airborne operation in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Operation Northern Delay at Aviano Air Base, Italy on March 22, 2023.
Operation Northern Delay occurred on 26 March 2003 as part of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It involved dropping 1,000 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade into Northern Iraq. It was the last large-scale combat parachute operation conducted by the U.S. military since Operation
Just Cause. The operation was the first strategic brigade airdrop using C-17 aircraft in formation, integrating a conventional Army airborne brigade within the 10th Special Forces Group, and integrating an armored battalion into an airborne operation. The 62d Airlift Wing, 315th Airlift Wing, 437th Airlift Wing, and 446th Airlift Wing provided aircraft and crew to fly the Mission.
The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the Alliance.

• Date Taken: 03.22.2023
• Date Posted: 03.23.2023 11:32
• Photo ID: 7696862
• VIRIN: 230322-A-UI440-109
• Resolution: 6591x4394
• Size: 1.16 MB
• Location: AVIANO AIR BASE, IT