FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Canadian jumpmasters joined U.S. paratroopers to participate in airborne operations as part of Operation Toy Drop here Dec. 2, 2017.
“It’s another great chance to work with our allies,” said Sam Newton, a jumpmaster with the 3rd Royal Canadian Regiment. “You just have to be well organized, make sure your ducks are all in a row, make sure the equipment is all good to go, making sure everyone has done their rehearsals and everything else mostly sorts itself out.”
Staff Sgt. Christopher Coleman, an Army Reserve jumpmaster from the 325th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (Airborne) based in Nashville, Tenn., helped lead a team of paratroopers who won a lottery for a chance to jump with foreign jumpmasters.
“As much time as I can get in terms of getting practice or meeting new people so I can get different insights, I jump on that opportunity,” Coleman exclaims.
One of many visiting Soldiers, Coleman volunteered to serve as a jumpmaster for Operation Toy Drop, not just for valuable experience but from a sense of duty.
“Our values in the U.S. Army include duty, and if they need a volunteer and they ask me, if I get inserted into that mix, it’s going to get done and it’s going to get done right,” Coleman said. “I’m going to network and get insights. That’s how bonds start to build.”
Despite earning the title of jumpmaster less than a year ago, Coleman has been building bonds with allied nations for years.
“This is my very first Toy Drop,” Coleman said. “I have three foreign jump wings already – Polish, British, German – and now I have Canadian jumpmasters.”
Working alongside jumpmasters from foreign nations at Operation Toy Drop has offered U.S. jumpmasters like Coleman the opportunity to see nuances of allies’ procedures that may mesh with or improve airborne doctrine.
“There are conferences every year where the airborne community comes together and we put into writing and doctrine the new standard,” Coleman explained. “When we do things like this, we see difference units have different nuances. Foreign jumpmasters may have different ways of doing things, but some may be practical, a good thing that we could add.”
Despite the nuances, Newton finds a refreshing number of similarities between their airborne procedures.
“Everyone’s got their own drills and little differences, but for the most part, Soldiers and paratroopers are the same all the world over,” Newton said. “Everyone gets up and you watch everyone get excited as they get out the door. Standing out the open door, that’s one of the best jobs in the world.”