Joint Cargo Drop Mission

Photo By Staff Sgt. Kasie Faddis | U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Patrick Killian, a jump master and rigger for the 20th Special Forces Group, Alabama Army National Guard, looks out of the back of a C-130J Hercules prior to dropping cargo and practicing high-altitude jumps at Northeast Alabama Regional Airport, Gadsden, Alabama, May 4, 2024. The 20th SFG and 148AW successfully dropped Polaris RZR's from a Lockheed C-130J for training purposes followed by high altitude jumps. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Kasie Faddis)  

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, UNITED STATES

08.08.2024

Story by Senior Airman Kasie Faddis  

117th Air Refueling Wing

Sumpter Smith JNGB, Ala. – The Rhode Island Air National Guard’s 143rd Airlift Wing (143 AW), Alabama Air National Guard’s 117th Air Refueling Wing and Alabama Army National Guard’s 20th Special Forces Group (20SFG) loaded two Polaris RZRs onto a C-130J in preparation for a joint training mission the following day. The 143 AW secured the cargo for the training exercise that would be held in Gadsden, Alabama at the Northeast Alabama Regional Airport.

The 20 SFG were training on high altitude low opening jumps or HALO jumps, static line jumps and dropping large cargo for use in the field. The C-130J pilots performed combat maneuvers consisting of quick turns, changes in altitude, changes in airspeed, quick takeoffs and landings. Once the desired altitude was reached, the 20 SFG jumpmasters coordinated with the 143 AW loadmasters to release the cargo within the target area and perform their jumps.

• Date Taken: 08.08.2024
• Date Posted: 09.07.2024 11:10
• Story ID: 480318
• Location: BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, US