Where did you have your best experience conducting airborne operations and why?

2013-10-25T21:23:18-04:00

Scenery, weather, unit operating procedures?

Response by MAJ Joseph Parker made Nov 1 at 2013 7:51 PM

2013-11-01T19:51:14-04:00

1990 in Niamey, Niger with the Niger Army 2d Para Company. Jumped at 0630 out of a C-130 with 2 pathfinders just ahead of the main company. The wind picked up as the sun rose and carried us away from the DZ and toward the Niger River. We tried to ride with the wind to get over a large wind break of trees in order to land in rice paddies before the river, but we couldn't make it. Instead, we pulled full slip into the wind and looked for a place to land in an acacia forest (acacia trees are FULL of very large thorns). Luckily I saw a postage stamped-sized clearing and steered like a fool to get to it. Years of training and metric boatloads of adrenaline got me to the clearing; only to see it was full of African cattle, which have huge, sharp, upturned, meter-long horns. Too-late to do anything but keep feet and knees REALLY TIGHT together; I went in, expecting the worst. Missed the horns! Slapped my chest as the PLF ended and the chute became unattached and quietly settled over the cattle. No stampede. Safe? No. Cattle are never unattended. Some guy in a corner of the clearing woke up, saw me, and charged with his very large machete; clearly thinking his country was under invasion. Naturally he spoke no French, English or any language known to this 48J. Do I shoot the poor guy and cause an international incident or let him chop me up into little pieces and take one for the flag? We'll never know. At that moment the 2 Niger Pathfinders that had jumped with me came leaping into the clearing, bloodied by their landings in the acacia trees, yelling in whatever local dialect was spoken there, something to the effect "Don't kill him, he's one of us"! The 2 C-130's following us circled, dropped wind dummies and adjusted the drop point, and the company all landed in the DZ. Was it the smoothest jump? Heck no. Best Experience? You bet.

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 24 at 2013 9:59 PM

2013-12-24T21:59:47-05:00

Jumping into Panama during Operation Just Cause, to me no other operation, training, or field operation compares to the ease or enjoyment I had during that time of operational duties and experiences.

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2013 10:47 PM

2013-12-24T22:47:27-05:00

Anything H2O, but especially Australia.

Response by CPT Chase Sanger made Feb 28 at 2014 7:32 AM

2014-02-28T07:32:12-05:00

Normandy DZ, Fort Bragg. It's my favorite DZ on Ft. Bragg.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2014 7:38 AM

2014-02-28T07:38:17-05:00

Luzon baby! Because the pre-jump took like thirty minutes, the jmpi was quick because we were only jumping like twenty people at a time, and they let eat dorrito's in the tiny shack that served as green ramp!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2014 3:28 PM

2014-02-28T15:28:26-05:00

I would have to say that one of my fondest jump memories was at White Lake, NC. It was one of the last jumps for the students of a JM course we were running, the weather was awesome, the water was just cool enough to feel good but not give you hypothermia. Jumping in shorts, instructor shirt, and dive booties, just an all around awesome time.

Response by SFC Aaron Calmes made Feb 28 at 2014 10:58 PM

2014-02-28T22:58:13-05:00

Leap fest in Rhode Island. Awesome view of the Ocean and the craziest stuff you'll ever see after soldiers do their PLFs.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2014 6:12 PM

2014-03-01T18:12:38-05:00

Operation Golden Pheasant, and Operation Just Cause are two great jumps. Being the Primary JM on the jump into Gettysburg, a few times, that was cool. But, many of the Demo jumps into various stadiums and events across the country, are great memories too.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2014 10:53 PM

2014-03-02T22:53:42-05:00

Sicily Drop Zone, Fort Bragg North Carolina.. My 10th jump in the Army and I was selected because I had won the 27th Engineer Battalion Sapper Stakes Squad Competition as Squad Leader so I was afforded the opportunity to jump with the Germans. It was a many a first for me.... 1st time earning foreign wings, first time being picked as 1st jumper, and 1st time I had ever jumped out of a C-160. Something about jumping with the Germans, and looking back in history to the days of WW2 I couldn't help but wonder if my ancestors and there ancestors had ever meet up on a battlefield some where in Europe... my only hope is that my son can one day jump with the Iraqi or Afghan Paratroopers.... hey you never know!! :)

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2014 2:51 PM

2014-03-08T14:51:08-05:00

Had to include the "Kiwi Assist" for no apparent reason:

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2014 8:33 PM

2014-08-25T20:33:21-04:00

In to the inter-coastal waterway, off Hurburt Air Force Base (AFSOC), Okalossa Island Florida with 6th Ranger Training Battalion.

It was devastatingly beautiful day and few things are cooler than jumping in shorts and t shirts into sapphire blue water to be picked up by your buddies zipping around in zodiacs.

It was also pretty cool parachuting in Jordan near the syrian border. The desert can be beautiful as well.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 6:17 PM

2015-02-17T18:17:51-05:00

My two favorite jumps were in Panama and Alaska. In Panama we jumped into some wicked tall grass ... must have been 8 or 10 feet tall. And in Alaska we jumped onto a frozen DZ. Opposite extremes weather-wise, but both jumps were exciting and fun.

Response by SSG Selwyn Bodley made Feb 17 at 2015 6:47 PM

2015-02-17T18:47:07-05:00

I enjoyed jumping into Peurto Rico, landed on the Tarmac, but had the softest landing due to the heat rising off the paving. The other great jump was into rice fields in South Korea. We flew from Alaska, had to endure In flight rigging, which was a pain, but exciting the aircraft in the midst of these amazing mountains was awesome. Of course landing in wet " muddy" (well fertilized) fields was not great. Both awesome experiences! I appreciate the question, brought back good memories.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 9:24 PM

2015-02-17T21:24:31-05:00

Most favorite...water jumps in Antiqua....shorts t-shirt, main/reserve, life vest! Weather-the best; Scenery-amazing........ Also some great weekends spent on the beaches.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 8:10 PM

2015-04-03T20:10:24-04:00

Next to a White Lake UH-60 jump in PT's, I would have to say a jump in 2009 for an exercise in FT AP Hill VA. We jumped out of a Sherpa when there was a foot of snow on the ground. It was also memorable since I was my first time as the #1 jumper (no jumping jumpmaster) with combat equipment.

Response by SSG Joseph Dowell made May 19 at 2015 1:38 AM

2015-05-19T01:38:15-04:00

Had to be Baumholder in 1991, was a PFC medic for D Co. 319 FA and we were tailgating from a Chinook. the original plan was to have the whole aircraft stand up and jump, I was to be the second out the door, but the plan changed in mid flight and the JM's side went first. He was supposed to remain in the aircraft and go out on the second pass. needless to say the JM Called out "follow me" and jumped. After the stick went out the Safety asked me were the JM was all I could do was point out the ramp.

To make a not so long story even shorter, PFC, first man out the ramp in a Chinook on a Hollywood fun jump.

Response by SGT Drew Clark made Jan 27 at 2017 1:43 AM

2017-01-27T01:43:14-05:00

First Benning, the introduction to the types of jumps, the night and day ops, and the understanding. Then Bragg, I have jumped out every aircraft you are allowed to jump. From Little Birds, to C-4 and everything between!