Photo By Staff Sgt. Matthew Lang | German soldiers pull perimeter security while the rest of the paratroopers descend...... read more read more
Story and photos by 1st Lt. Veronica Saffo
Coalition Forces Land Component Command/114th Mobile Public Affairs Office
The stars in the Cairo skies were replaced by hundreds of paratroopers from Egypt, Germany, Holland and the United States, floating by parachute to the Egyptian desert at dawn.
This multinational airfield drop was one of many coalition-building exercises conducted as part of Central Command directed Bright Star exercise.
American paratroopers jumped with approximately 35 Egyptian paratroopers from the C-17 that flew in from Fort Bragg, N.C. These 35 Egyptians competed within their military to win the opportunity to train at Fort Bragg's Airborne School.
According to Sgt. 1st Class William Phelps, a master rated parachutist with the 82nd Airborne, 2nd Battalion of the 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, this was a welcomed first for him; he had never trained with Middle Eastern soldiers before and enjoyed it.
The Egyptians went through the Basic Airborne Refresher course to familiarize themselves with Airborne Standard Operating Procedures, then conducted several jumps, weapon training and Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) while at Bragg.
"The Egyptians were very well trained and prepared to perform as the Primary Jump Master on our sortie when we hit the DZ (Drop Zone)," said Phelps.
"Typically, airborne brethren are a cut above the rest: they operate with fewer vehicles and spend more time training. Soldiers choose to join airborne units because they want to jump. And it is always a big deal when they get the chance to earn foreign wings," said Maj. Brit Rosenberry, 82nd Airborne Operations Planner.
These Soldiers will have the opportunity to earn airborne wings from the Netherlands, Germany, Jordan, Egypt and the United States.
Rosenberry added that coalition training is to give the Soldiers an opportunity to develop an appreciation and understanding of how other nations are trained and formed. This is important because one day they may have the opportunity to work together again, and they will be able to recall this experience for reference in future operations.
"Once you have a positive relationship, it enhances the ability to cooperate in a combat situation," he said.
BS
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2005 19:09 |
| Story ID: | 3005 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 131 |
| Downloads: | 27 |
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