CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - Children from around local villages smiled and pointed as they crowded around the drop zone to watch the paratroopers fall from the sky.
Around 150 U.S., German, and Hungarian paratroopers assigned to Multinational Battle Group- East safely exited out of two UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters onto a drop zone near Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, April 23.
Once the Paratroopers exited the aircraft they loaded their rucksacks on their back and their parachutes in front and walked to the drop off point. The children were standing in line waiting to wave or high five the paratroopers as they made their way to the assembly area.
The drop zone was located on a plot of land just outside of Camp Bondsteel.
“The drop zone area was utilized for a shooting range in the past and one of our soldiers, Sgt. Bajrami, grew up in Kosovo and told us about the possibility of us being able to perform airborne operations there,” said U.S. Army Capt. Mike Smolucha, assistant brigade air officer with MNBG- E and a battle group engineer with 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. “We went out to take a look at the land and to ensure it would be a safe landing zone to jump on. Once we established the safety we did the rest of the coordination through Bajrami and the locals in the area.”
U.S. Army Sgt. Bajram Bajrami, a cavalry scout with 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, and a native of Ramjan, Kosovo, helped the team with organizing the drop zone.
“The paratroopers usually jump at a landing zone at Camp Bondsteel,” said Smolucha. “The Bondsteel landing zone is too small for the operation we wanted. This landing zone was more ideal for amount of paratroopers we wanted to jump.”
The paratroopers execute airborne operations in Kosovo monthly to remain mission ready and each jump the multinational soldiers have been invited to jump.
“We have to stay proficient in our airborne operations and being able to jump in Kosovo allows us to do that,” said Smolucha. “Being able to include other nations in the jump gives everyone involved a unique experience and a chance to earn foreign jump wings.”
The multinational airborne operation was safe and successful.
“There was plenty of space to jump and no paratroopers were injured from the jump,” said Smolucha. “It was great weather and a great landing zone. We will definitely jump here again.”