173rd Airborne paratroopers conduct rapid deployment exercise into Germany

By Sgt. David L. NyeApril 7, 2015

173rd Airborne paratroopers conduct rapid deployment exercise into Germany
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Paratroopers with Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne) based at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, jump into Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany March 24 as part of an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise. The EDRE tests... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
173rd Airborne paratroopers conduct rapid deployment exercise into Germany
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A paratrooper with Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne) based at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, lowers his rucksack and weapon while jumping into Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany March 24 as part of an Emergency Depl... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
173rd Airborne paratroopers conduct rapid deployment exercise into Germany
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Nicholis Couture, a squad leader with Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne) based at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, recovers his parachute at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, March 24, during an emergency deploy... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
173rd Airborne paratroopers conduct rapid deployment exercise into Germany
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Justin Austin, a section sergeant with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne) based at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, secures a door bundle at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, March 24... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - Paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, conducted an airborne operation here March 24 as part of an emergency deployment readiness exercise.

The 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Army's contingency response force in Europe, providing ready forces to deploy anywhere in the U.S. European, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibility within hours of alert

"The emergency deployment exercise tests how we get ready, get all of our equipment together, and deploy within 18 hours of notification," said 1st Lt. John Fernandes, the 2nd Platoon leader for Company C, 2nd Battalion. "We flew from Aviano, Italy, and jumped into our training here at Grafenwoehr.

"After we got the call, we were on a [airplane] coming here the next day," said Pfc. Bryan K. Keefe, a paratrooper from Company C. "I'm quite relieved when I jump...there is lots of weight on my shoulders and I'm just relieved to get it off."

The parachute operation at Bunker Drop Zone was just the start of training and paratroopers immediately marched onward to other training events throughout the post, all facilitated by the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command.

"We have lots of new Soldiers in the unit," said Fernandes. "We're focusing on basic Soldier skills and getting these guys fully integrated into the unit."

The paratroopers are sure of their ability to perform during the exercise.

"I was pretty confident about the EDRE," said Keefe. "Our leaders train us well at this unit."

The exercise was the latest in a series of international EDREs conducted by the brigade as part of the U.S. Army Europe's "Freedom Shock" series of no-notice exercises, designed to improve readiness amongst the units based in Europe. The brigade kicked off this effort back in October, with an EDRE from Grafenwoehr into Romania, and has conducted similar exercises into Slovenia as well.

Related Links:

173 ABN facebook

173 ABN flickr