Ga. Guard hosts Airborne Safety Training, jumps for active, Guard and Reserve

Photo By Maj. William Carraway | Soldiers exit a Georgia Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook during the culminating phase of the Georgia Guard's Parachute Operations Mishap Prevention Orientation Course. More than 80 representatives from the active Army, Army Reserve, Army and Air National Guard participated in the training.  

SAVANNAH, GA, UNITED STATES

05.08.2015

Story by Capt. William Carraway 

Georgia National Guard

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Georgia Army National Guard hosted the Parachute Operations Mishap Prevention Orientation Course (POMPOC) at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, May 4-8, 2015. With representatives from 13 states encompassing active-Army, Army National Guard, Reserve, and Air National Guard personnel, POMPOC provided a unique learning forum for jumpmasters and airborne service members to train hands-on with new equipment, share techniques and hone their skills.

“We have a huge variety of participants,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Shirer, command sergeant major for Georgia Army National Guard operations. “We have representatives from Fort Bragg and Fort Benning’s Airborne School, as well as the Guard and Reserve sharing knowledge and practicing their craft. A key strength of the airborne community is our ability to communicate across the community.”

Conceived as a means of identifying common airborne mishaps and teaching the skills needed to prevent them, POMPOC incorporated instruction in the Airborne Accident Prevention Program, lessons learned from Airborne operations, new equipment fielding and jumpmaster personnel inspection techniques.

Experienced Georgia Guard NCOs facilitated lectures and group discussions. Shirer briefed POMPOC attendees on Georgia’s airborne operations planning process. Sgt. 1st Class Jose Caoili of the Marietta-based 165th Quartermaster Company provided insight on best management practices for arranging jump logistics and Sgt. Ray Novak of the Atlanta-based 3rd Squadron 108th Cavalry walked through a step-by-step process for coordination and planning. Participants shared from their wealth of experiences as aviators, jumpmasters and riggers.

From the perspective of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Rich, air operations officer for the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, the forum atmosphere of POMPOC was the most valuable aspect.

“I have had many good take-aways,” said Rich. He noted that POMPOC brought key decision makers into the same room, from the instructors at the Airborne School to commanders and equipment designers.

Sergeant 1st Class Paul Hart, a basic airborne course master trainer from the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning, demonstrated the modular airborne weapons case and fielded questions from jumpers.

“This is a good opportunity to come together to see what techniques units have developed so we can take them back to the Airborne school,” said Hart.

Following three days of classroom instruction and jumpmaster dress rehearsals, the 85 participants conducted Airborne jumps. The Savannah-based 1-169th General Support Aviation Battalion provided a CH-47 Chinook for the first two jumps. Dropping from an altitude of 1,500 feet at a speed of 90 knots, the jumpers were in the air for approximately 90 seconds, steering the MC-6 maneuverable troop parachute system before landing.

In the afternoon, jumpers conducted airborne operations from UH-60 Black Hawks flown by the Marietta-based 1-171 Aviation Regiment. Though wind cut short the Black Hawk jumps, participants provided positive feedback on the training experience.

“With the participation of Army Guard, Reserve, active duty and program managers, POMPOC exceeded our expectations,” said Lt. Col. John Till, safety director for the Georgia Army National Guard. “We already have requests for dates for next year’s POMPOC. Based on the feedback we have received, next year’s POMPOC will be two to three times larger."

• Date Taken: 05.08.2015
• Date Posted: 05.12.2015 15:41
• Story ID: 163054
• Location: SAVANNAH, GA, US