Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Litchfield | Brig. Gen. Brandi Peasley, U.S. Army Reserve Command Chief of Staff (center), greets...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Brig. Gen. Brandi Peasley, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Reserve, stepped out of the office today, traded her desk for the flight line to participate in crucial joint training at the Randy Oler Memorial Toy Drop.
The event, which doubles as an international cooperative training activity, is coordinated and ran by the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne). Designed to enhance joint interoperability and strengthen allied ties, the event also includes a toy donation collection that gives back to the community.
Peasley immersed herself in the airborne environment, rigging up in a T-11 parachute system with help from Master Sgt. Michael Sharp and Capt. Evan Smith, Air Division, USACAPOC(A). Though she did not execute a jump, her sustained airborne training focused on vital safety precautions and emergency procedures, including how to rapidly jettison the parachute in the event of an emergency water landing.
Peasley’s participation underscored the cooperative nature of Toy Drop. Several partner nations were on hand to pose for photos and recognize USARC support for this critical mission. These international allies also presented the general with unique patches from their uniforms, and in the case of Ecuador, pinned her with a pair of ceremonial jump wings as a symbol of shared partnership.
With training complete and new wings secured, Peasley shifted focus to the mission itself, received a tour of the C-130 aircraft before moving to the ramp and personally greeting each Soldier as they boarded with a friendly greeting and a fist bump. Peasley flew with the Paratroopers and observed their exit over Luzon Drop Zone before returning to Green Ramp for final farewells.
During Operation Toy Drop, thousands of toys are collected and distributed to the community through The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. This legacy, first created by the late Randy Oler in 1998, not only allows Soldiers the opportunity to jump under the supervision of partner nation Jumpmasters and earn foreign jump wings, it is a critical link to our community at large.
Peasley ended her visit much like she started, with a bright smile and encouraging words to the Soldiers and staff alike. Her insistence on being treated as a Soldier and not a VIP as well as her obvious enthusiasm made her a welcome addition to the mission.
“It was a genuine pleasure to host the (USARC) Chief of Staff” said Smith, “her enthusiasm and interest in total Army and Reserve airborne mission were evident, and we welcome her to spend out of office breaks with us anytime.”
| Date Taken: | 12.10.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2025 15:28 |
| Story ID: | 553863 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 52 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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