Photo By Sgt. Nicole Paese | Cpt. Patrick Toffler and Pvt. Manuel A. Sanchez are all smiles after their tickets...... read more read more
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - This year marked the 18th Annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop. The event started in 1998 with Staff Sgt. Randy Oler, who was assigned to U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations (Airborne).
Oler utilized a lot of his points of contact in the spec ops community to start the first Operation Toy Drop.
“Operation Toy Drop is a multifaceted training exercise, which also has an important community relations aspect to it,” said Maj. Andre A. Battiste, G-1 OIC for Operation Toy Drop. “In essence we are continuing the training opportunities for our airborne elements as well as those tenant organizations that support Ft. Bragg.”
Paratroopers can donate toys in hopes of receiving a winning lottery ticket for the opportunity to train with service members from allied nations and earn partner nation jump wings.
Pfc. Sharayne J. Stanford handed out registration forms and tickets during the lottery. Stanford, a logistics specialist with the 1006th Quartermaster Company, a reserve unit in Knightdale, N.C., enjoyed her first time at Operation Toy Drop.
“The event benefits everyone coming together for something that benefits children,“ said Stanford.
“I think its really good for the Fort Bragg community itself, especially with the toys for all the children, they will get a big Christmas hopefully,” said Spc. Jacob Vaughn, a paratrooper with the HHB 1-319th Field Artillery Regiment in Fort Bragg.
Vaughn, originally from Munfordville, Kentucky, had participated in the lottery four times and had not won a chance to jump with any allied nation, yet he continued to donate a toy each year. This year he donated a "Star Wars" lightsaber. He said he enjoyed how friendly all the other paratroopers were during the lottery and how everyone congratulated those who had a winning ticket.
“Everyone sits back and has a lot of laughs while they call out the tickets,” said Vaughn. “It brings everyone together.”
Some paratroopers even gave their tickets to other Soldiers in order to up that individual’s chance of earning a slot to jump. Soldiers who did not win a slot in the lottery showed up on ‘Jump Day’ to support their friends.
Lottery Day and Jump Day had more than just paratroopers in attendance. Other service members, family members and civilians from the local community came out in support of Operation Toy Drop.
“The type of people that come out are people who see the benefit of taking care of the community and those who love what we do as paratroopers,” said Battiste. “We got a number of different agencies here that have service members best interest in mind, so a lot of them are propelled to participate with this event anyway possible.”
One of those agencies, the USO, was in attendance handing out snacks and hot cocoa to paratroopers.
Karen Long, a volunteer with the USO who was once in the Air Force, took off work to volunteer at the Operation Toy Drop ‘lottery’.
“This is so much fun,” said Long. “It is a wonderful event that gets Soldiers engaged and benefits the children of the community. It’s a win-win.”
This was Long’s first time volunteering with Operation Toy Drop. She was surprised to find out that many paratroopers arrived in the early morning hours and some arrived the day before.
“It’s impressive,” said Long. “They truly care about the community they live in.”
Operation Toy Drop is an event that not only brings paratroopers of different nations together, but also the Fort Bragg community. Service members, family members and residents from surrounding towns give back by donating toys to benefit local charities. The various events during Operation Toy Drop build unit cohesion, strengthen bonds with foreign nations and bring the entire community together for a great cause during the holiday season.
| Date Taken: | 12.04.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.07.2015 11:01 |
| Story ID: | 183674 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Hometown: | KNIGHTDALE, NC, US |
| Hometown: | MUNFORDVILLE, KY, US |
| Web Views: | 220 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Operation Toy Drop: Bringing the community together, by SGT Nicole Paese, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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