173rd Airborne paratroopers conducts rapid deployment exercise into Germany

Photo By Sgt. David Nye | Staff Sgt. Justin Austin, a section sergeant with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne) based at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, secures a door bundle at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, March 24 as part of an emergency deployment readiness exercise. The EDRE tests the ability of the warfighters to rapidly deploy, a key component of their mission as part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Army contingency response force for Europe, which requires the paratroopers be able to conduct a full range of military operations across the U.S. European, Central and Africa Commands areas of responsibility. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David L. Nye)  

GRAFENWOEHR, BY, GERMANY

03.24.2015

Story by Sgt. David Nye 

204th Public Affairs Detachment

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - Paratroopers with the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), based in Vicenza, Italy, conducted an airborne operation into Grafenwoehr, Germany, March 24 as part of an emergency deployment readiness exercise.

The 2nd Bn., 503rd Inf. Regt. is part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing ready forces to deploy anywhere in the U.S. European, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibility within hours of alert.

“The emergency deployment exercise tests how we get ready, get all of our equipment together, and deploy within 18 hours of notification,” said 1st Lt. John Fernandes, the 2nd platoon leader for Charlie Company, 2nd Bn.

The company was originally scheduled to move by bus to Grafenwoehr, but came into work the morning of to find they were re-routed to Aviano with a new mission and method of travel.

“After we got the call, we were on a bird coming here the next day,” said Pfc. Bryan K. Keefe, an infantryman in Charlie Company, who was glad to finally get back to the ground.

“I’m quite relieved when I jump,” he said. “There is lots of weight on my shoulders and I’m just relieved to get it off.”

The insertion at Bunker Drop Zone was just the start of training. Paratroopers immediately ruck marched off of the drop zone on their way to training events throughout the post, all facilitated by the Joint Multi-national Training Command. One event, a fires walk and shoot, trained platoon leaders on engaging targets with different fires assets including mortars, howitzers, close combat attack and close air support assets.

“We have lots of new Soldiers in the unit,” said Fernandes. “We’re focusing on basic Soldier skills and getting these guys fully integrated into the unit.”

The paratroopers are sure of their ability to perform during the exercise.

“I was pretty confident about the EDRE,” said Keefe. “They train us well here.”

The exercise was the latest in a series of international EDREs conducted by the brigade as part of U.S. Army Europe’s ‘Freedom Shock’ series of no-notice exercises, designed to improve readiness throughout units in theatre. The brigade kicked off this effort back in October, with an EDRE from Grafenwoehr into Romania, and has conducted similar exercises into Slovenia as well.

• Date Taken: 03.24.2015
• Date Posted: 03.30.2015 06:23
• Story ID: 158516
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, BY, DE