Photo By Cpl. Paul S. Martinez | Critical skills operators with Marine Raider Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps Forces,...... read more read more
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NEW RIVER, N.C. - Due to its incredible effectiveness and versatility, the MV-22 Osprey is the platform of choice for all missions requiring tactical troop inserts.
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, supported multiple para-operations for critical skills operators with Marine Raider Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, in the skies above Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., July 29, 2015.
The first team of Marines to jump utilized a static-line jump technique at an altitude of 1,500 feet, all whilst carrying between 35 and 80 pounds of equipment. The target landing site was their starting point at on Marine Corps Outlying Field Camp Davis, N.C.
“Coordination [with the Regiment] helps us get what we need for the mission,” said Capt. Jason A. Nance, an MV-22 Osprey pilot with VMM-263. “We do everything we can to ensure their training is completed to the highest extent possible.”
After the last static-line jumper exited the aircraft, the jumpmaster and his assistant quickly retrieved the deployment bag attached to the end of the static line, often wrestling the high-speed atmosphere winds in the process.
After five more teams of jumpers successfully executed their jumps, it was time to kick off military freefall jumps.
Marines boarded the Osprey equipped with 80 pound rucks before executing high-altitude low-opening jumps and one high-altitude high-opening jump, dropping from significantly higher altitudes between 8,000 and 13,000 feet.
“The MV-22 Osprey is the aircraft of choice due to its capability to land almost anywhere, combined with a strong altitude and speed range,” Nance said. “With supplemental oxygen, it is capable of executing military freefalls up to 25,000 feet.”
The Marines, given the importance of having such critical skills for their specialty in various types of operations, felt confident that their training contributed to that foundation.
“Every time we conduct jumps, we are helping to build capabilities to insert into an area,” said the team’s jumpmaster. “We are also required to stay current with our jumps every three months.”
The completion of the operation proved to be mutually rewarding to both the squadron and the jumpers.
“[These] guys are always highly professional,” Nance said. “It’s always good working with them because it helps both of us. It enables us as a squadron and them as a special operations force to increase our readiness and be better prepared to head out into the fight, wherever that may be.”
| Date Taken: | 07.29.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.31.2015 11:25 |
| Story ID: | 171741 |
| Location: | NEW RIVER, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 306 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Skyfall: VMM-263 supports MARSOC para-operations, by Cpl Paul S. Martinez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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