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    Paratroopers conduct 'Air University’

    Paratroopers conduct 'Air University’

    Photo By Sgt. David Nye | Sgt. 1st Class Ralph Darland, an infantryman and jumpmaster with the 173rd Airborne...... read more read more

    GRAFENWOEHR, BY, GERMANY

    03.20.2015

    Story by Sgt. David Nye 

    204th Public Affairs Detachment

    The 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, held a training course here March 19-20 to discuss the best practices for planning and conducting airborne operations in Europe.

    Called “Air University,” the training focused on teaching new battalion and squadron planning teams within the 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment and the 1st Battalion, 91st Cavalry Regiment for planning, executing and learning from airborne operations. Both battalions are based here, and as airborne units have “Air” teams within their operations staff dedicated to planning, resourcing and conducting airborne operations

    “The training is aimed at battalion leaders who work on airborne operations,” said Capt. Mackenzie S. Colella, the 173rd Airborne S-3 Air Officer.

    Subjects in the two-day class included resourcing of airborne operations, parachute capabilities and rotary wing operations, among others.

    Conducting airborne operations across multiple national borders on a routine basis is a unique feature of the 173rd Airborne’s mission, both as an Army Contingency Response Force and in multinational training exercises with NATO allies and partners.

    “The topics focused on best practices we’ve identified that aren’t standard across the brigade right now,” said Colella.

    Much of the information for the class will be included in an updated 173rd Airborne Standard Operating Procedure, a guide to airborne operations in the brigade, said Colella. The class allowed brigade leaders to push key changes to airborne operations ahead of the ASOP update, increasing safety.

    The second day of the class, leaders were given a demonstration at an aircraft mockup in the 4th Bn., 319th AFAR motor pool. The demonstration showed how the new standards play out inside an aircraft. With hands on training at the Nuremberg Airport, the class showed how to configure an aircraft for future airborne exercises.

    Students in the class walked away with a better understanding of the planning requirements for airborne exercises.

    “I recently became a jumpmaster, so the class showed a lot of planning and operational stuff I hadn’t worked with yet,” said Sgt. Michael J. Faranda, a cavalryman and jumpmaster with 1st Sqdn., 91st Cav. Regt. “It was good to see what the latest guidance is on airborne operations, on the safety and procedures.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.20.2015
    Date Posted: 03.24.2015 15:24
    Story ID: 157914
    Location: GRAFENWOEHR, BY, DE

    Web Views: 537
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN