GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - "The process of getting ready for this day, believe me, it takes a few days," said Staff Sgt. Alaster M. Anderson, a jumpmaster with 1st Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment.
He spoke near the assembled troops of 1st Battalion as, rigged in parachutes, they waited to climb into helicopters to conduct airborne operations March 18 at Grafenwohr Training Area, Germany.
Soldiers waiting their turn to jump appreciated the hard work leaders like Anderson put into organizing jumps.
"They get a lot done before we even get there," said Pfc. Justin Millard, an infantryman with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. "So, when we get there, we can get our stuff on in 15 to 20 minutes."
The training is part of the battalion's mission to maintain airborne proficiency so it can reinforce allies in Europe if the need arises.
"We have to partner in a quick, timely fashion," said Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Cashman, the operations sergeant major for 1-503rd, "have to support each other."
Paratroopers don't commonly jump from UH-60 helicopters, but practicing exits from different aircrafts means the unit can be more flexible if it has to deploy.
"We have to be ready to ride any aircraft the Army uses," said Cashman.
Safety is paramount when Soldiers jump, regardless of aircraft used.
"Jumpmasters control the jumpers to make sure they know what to do, because we all know jumping out of an aircraft is a dangerous activity," said Anderson, who led the training to refresh the jumpers on how to safely jump from a helicopter.
All personnel scheduled for the jump were graduates of the U.S. Army's Airborne School, a three-week course at Fort Benning, Ga.
"They start on the ground, then work their way to the tower, and finally they jump," said Anderson. "They learn to trust their equipment. By the time you jump outside an aircraft, you trust your equipment."
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