Photo By Staff Sgt. Gin-Sophie De Bellotte | Two local leaders from the Leadership Bragg tour interacts with a Paratrooper on their...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. – 30 members from the Fort Bragg community, were hosted and given a tour by Paratroopers and volunteers of Fort Bragg, N.C., Nov. 1, 2019.
First, they were greeted in the morning by Lt. Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the commanding general, XVIII Airborne Corps, at Fort Bragg’s infamous Iron Mike statue monument.
The leadership Bragg, event is something hosted each year on Fort Bragg for community leaders and partners to witness the kind of work Paratroopers do on Fort Bragg. It highlights the services available for troops, their families, retirees and the indelible human cost of the global war on terror.
After a group photo at the iconic Iron Mike statue, the group made their way to the Corps headquarters where they received major command briefings from the Corps, Garrison, 82nd Airborne Division, United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group and WOMACK, a medical hospital here on Fort Bragg.
Ben Hughes, the manager of Marketing and Communications for the Fayetteville, N.C. Woodpeckers, attended the day’s events and was moved by the diversity of those who serve.
“Seeing the professional Soldier in their element and learning that they came from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and their own specific reasons for joining, was a great eye-opening takeaway,” said Hughes.
As someone who oversees advertising and public awareness for baseball within the community, its only right to be affiliated with Fort Bragg as there is such a density of military connected families, enlisted Soldiers, veteran and community members, said Hughes.
“When crafting our brand, it was imperative that we honor this unique aspect of our population while giving them a beautiful place to escape their career responsibilities,” said Hughes.
After the command briefs at the Corps Headquarters, the group moved on to Simmons Army Airfield where they were greeted by Pat Trotter, the supervisor of the Flight Simulation Section. Pat briefed the visitors about the different type of aviator simulation equipment they use to train and equip Soldiers, wanting to become pilots and those who already are. Members of the party were able to experience the simulators and ask questions.
They were able to fly and shoot out of UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters and CH-47 Chinook simulators. These simulators showcased that of a virtual reality mode with all the controls and handling that would be in an actual cockpit of these aircrafts.
Following this exciting experience, members attended lunch at one of Fort Bragg’s Dining Facilities then bused to the Survivor Outreach Services (SOS). They were able to meet with a Gold Star Family member that spoke with the group about their experiences and the supportive services offered at SOS.
American Gold Star families are immediate relatives of members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have been killed in combat or in support of certain military activities. The U.S. Department of Defense, issues Gold Star Lapel Buttons to immediate family members of a fallen member of the military.
The mission of SOS is to advocate on behalf of all Families who have suffered the loss of a Soldier and to educate the community about the SOS Program.
The program strives to build a unified support program, which embraces and reassures Survivors that they are continually linked to the Army Family for as long as they desire.
They provide an avenue of resources to include support groups, bi-monthly newsletters, information briefs, and social activities.
“Learning the demographic information about just how many military related citizens locally are tied to Fort Bragg, including those who live off-post within the civilian community, was eye opening and appreciated,” said Hughes.
When coming to Fort Bragg, there’s no way one can leave without seeing something about the airborne community. Members were taken to the U.S. Army Advanced Airborne School where they watched a demo of how a parachute is deployed. They were able to see what Paratroopers look like in full gear when preparing to jump in full combat.
“In my experience, most civilians want to know what the average day of a Paratrooper entails,” said Sfc. Jonathan Reed, the Tower Committee Chief at the United States Advanced Airborne School.
All questions and concerns were addressed by the airborne officials, leaving the group with a lot more knowledge than when they first got to the USAAAS. The school has four committees. The Jumpmaster Committee, Movement Committee, Support and Evaluation Committee and Tower Committee.
These services provided at the school, enable Paratroopers to get trained and conduct responsible jumpmaster duties for the safety of personnel during an airborne operation. Training is also provided for the loading and unloading of equipment onto an aircraft, oversight of airborne operations and lastly airborne sustainment training for doctrinal development and revision efforts.
“I have never been on a plane until I attended the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, GA, said Sfc. Reed. “With my experience and training, I have a large part to play in the development of doctrine and standards that governs static line Airborne operations.”
After a successful demonstration and block of instruction given by the USAAAS, the party was transported to Hammond Hills Community Center where they received certificates and spoke on the day’s activity.
In the end, the group was able to gain valuable insight into the Paratroopers, the Division and Fort Bragg.
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2019 17:47 |
| Story ID: | 352893 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 102 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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