NURMSI, Estonia (Aug. 17, 2015) -- The blades of the helicopter roared to life as the Soldiers filed into the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, anxious expressions mixed with smiles of excitement on their faces.
Despite the unknown factors that may impact the jump and landing ahead, the hours of preparation devoted from all involved led to the confidence of the jumpers while bonds of allies were forged and strengthened.
Soldiers, with Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, joined their Estonian Defense League allies during a combined training airborne jump, near Nurmsi, Estonia, as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, Aug. 16. The exercise provided the U.S. and Estonian counterparts with an opportunity to learn from one another while overcoming challenges.
"We jumped from 1,500 feet with our rucks and weapons on us," said Pvt. Robert E. Covey, a radio telephone operator for Destined Company, and a native of Bloomington, Illinois. "It was challenging, but it helped to have our Estonian friends that we'd jumped with before by our side jumping with us again today."
While some of the aspects of the exercise were new or unfamiliar to some of the Estonian jumpers, such as the UH-60 Black Hawk, not used by the Estonian Defense Land Forces, and the types of parachutes used by the Americans, the U.S. Soldiers explained the differences to their curious counterparts.
"I believe that working together enables us to learn one another's procedures while making new friends as well," said Kristel Kok, a teacher with the Estonian Defense League, and a native of Saue, Estonia. "We learned how to put our knowledge and skills together so we can work and train together as a team."
The dedication devoted to explaining the unfamiliar aspects helped to further strengthen the alliance between the two teams working and training together to ensure the peace and stability of the region.
"The Estonians who had never jumped with American parachutes before had a lot of questions about the parachutes," said Maj. Shannon R. Worthan, operations officer for 2nd Battalion, and a native of Storm Lake, Iowa. "As our Soldiers saw the Estonians' curiosity, they were excited to interact more with them and teach them what they know."
The eagerness to learn from one another while sharing new experiences together bridged the cultural and language barriers of the NATO allies, as each side combined their desire to work together as one united front.
"It was great because we were able to see our partnership growing before our eyes through our interaction and the breaking down of language barriers and differences," Worthan said.
As the Soldiers glided to the ground, then walked back to the starting point, they ensured that their new friends had landed safely as well, symbolizing the connections and bonds forged through the combined-training experience.
"There were two Estonians on the other side of the aircraft from me whose parachutes I'd inspected before the jump," Worthan said. "We felt a connection, a unique bond, so we checked on each other after we landed at the drop zone."
As parachutes were re-packed and Soldiers filed onto buses to go home, Soldiers from both sides congratulated their allies, reflecting on the valuable training experience, forming shared memories and skills gained from their brothers-and-sisters-in-arms.
Social Sharing