Small Air Terminal Riggers

Photo By Master Sgt. Scott Thompson | Tech. Sgt. Jesse Sorrell (left), Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Martinson and Tech. Sgt. Joshua Ellis ties up a G-12E Type V platform parachute after recovering it from the dropzone on June 6, 2015. The Airman from the 182d Airlift Wing, Small Air Terminal, Peoria, Ill. check and repack the parachute after it was used in a recent C-130 air drop training mission with heavy equipment at the dropzone.  

PEORIA, IL, UNITED STATES

06.07.2015

Story by Master Sgt. Scott Thompson 

182nd Airlift Wing

PEORIA, Ill. - When that resupply of cargo is welcomed by the troops on the ground downrange, it is not likely that they think about the Air Force rigger that packed the parachute. However, the rigger’s actions in turn helped train the aircrew on the C-130 that dropped it to them.

A 182d Airlift Wing, Small Air Terminal rigger is a member of a team of airmen that recover, inspect, repack and recertify training parachutes that are used on variety of training airdrops.

Technical Sgt. Jesse Sorrell, 182d Small Air Terminal, is one of those riggers with the 182d Airlift Wing that spends countless hours with his teammates supporting the mission.

“We just got done dropping our heavy equipment loads, as soon as they come out of the plane and hit the ground. We recover them, field pack them, bring them back to the shop to repack them,” said Sorrell.

Teamwork is a big component in order to successfully inspect and recertify a G-12E parachute. Without each other, one person could not accomplish the instructions from the technical order to achieve success.

Like Sorrell, Technical Sgt. Joshua Ellis is also a rigger with the 182d AW/LRS.

“On average it takes us about 45 minutes to inspect and repack a chute,” Ellis said. “It takes three of us to run air through the canopy and check for tears and holes,” he said

• Date Taken: 06.07.2015
• Date Posted: 06.08.2015 10:41
• Story ID: 165837
• Location: PEORIA, IL, US