Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Smith | Spc. Timothy J. Flournoy, with the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Aboard a C-23 Sherpa, loaded down with The Army’s premiere parachute demonstration team, Spc. Timothy J. Flournoy stood brave and proud near the plane’s opened exit door and was sworn in by the brigade’s rear detachment commander, Maj. Daniel C. Enslen, just before the Golden Knights leaped out over Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, during the Arctic Thunder Open House event, July 28, 2012.
Flying 12,500 foot high in a plane full of U.S. Army Golden Knights skydivers is a unique experience, but flying 12,500 foot high in a plane full of U.S. Army Golden Knights while reenlisting is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
This was true for one lucky paratrooper with the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, July 28, 2012.
Aboard a C-23 Sherpa, loaded down with The Army’s premiere parachute demonstration team, Spc. Timothy J. Flournoy stood brave and proud near the plane’s opened exit door and was sworn in by the brigade’s rear detachment commander, Maj. Daniel C. Enslen, just before the Golden Knights leaped out over JBER during the 2012 Arctic Thunder Open House.
Supporting his family, love for his job, and defending his nation are his main reasons for service, according to Flournoy, and the reenlistment ceremony with the Golden Knights was a fun incentive.
He said he loves the fact he can provide for his wife and baby while serving as an infantryman in the Army and defending his country.
“The Army has always taken care of me and my family,” Flournoy said.
From a paratrooper’s perspective, according to Flournoy, the 12,500-foot high ceremony is the perfect place for such a milestone in his military career
“I’m a paratrooper and those guys are top notch,” he said. “I can’t think of a better place to reenlist.”
Flournoy’s wife, Marlena Rae Flournoy, said she is very proud of her husband and thanks God for everything her husband does for his family and nation.
She described the reenlistment ceremony as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“It was really great for him to be able to go up in the airplane and have the ceremony around all of the things that he loves to do,” she said.
Second Lt. Alfred Gee, an operations officer with the 4-25th, who was instrumental in coordinating the event said reenlistment is a significant event.
“Every reenlistment should be special,” Gee said. “It should be a moment in time that is recognized.”
Gee described Flournoy as a hardworking member of the brigade’s operations center. He said Flournoy was “pumped-up” about reenlisting with the Golden Knights and that Flournoy called him several times to thank him for coordinating the event.
“His words to me were: ‘Sir. That was wicked!’ ” Gee said.
“He is taking years out of his life to be a soldier and to serve his country,” Gee said. “It’s amazing and special.”
Before leaping out, each member of the Golden Knights took time to shake Flournoy’s hand and congratulate him on his reenlistment.
Gee credited the 4-25’s S-3 air noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Staff Sgt. Jorge M. Osorio, with doing a great job in contacting the Sherpa C-23 pilots to get the ceremony participants permission to fly on their aircraft as well as coordinating with the Golden Knights.
Flournoy said he was a little nervous about standing near the open exit door 12,500 feet in the sky, but that it was definitely a fun experience, and he was thankful for the moment.
| Date Taken: | 07.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.11.2012 15:55 |
| Story ID: | 94521 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 214 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Alaska paratrooper re-ups on Golden Knights flight, by SFC Jeffrey Smith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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