5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Co. builds alliances at International Jump Week

By 1st Lt. Daniel ChiversSeptember 1, 2015

5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Co. builds alliances at International Jump Week
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- Paratroopers from ten countries conduct pre-jump refreshers during International Jump Week to make sure they know proper aircraft exit procedures July 7 at Rhine Ordnance Barracks. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Veronica Garza, 5... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Co. builds alliances at International Jump Week
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- A Polish paratrooper draws a parachute from the 5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Company rigger shed July 7, during International Jump Week at Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Germany. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Veronica Gar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Co. builds alliances at International Jump Week
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Co. builds alliances at International Jump Week
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ALZEY, Germany -- A paratrooper glides under a Maneuverable Canopy 6 parachute, which is steerable and not used during large airborne operations due to the risk of paratroopers colliding with each other or "stealing" the air needed for a paratrooper ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

RHINE ORDNANCE BARRACKS, Germany -- Soldiers of the 5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Company and Airmen of the 435th Contingency Response Group hosted International Jump Week 2015 at Rhine Ordnance Barracks in Kaiserslautern July 7-9. The skies were filled with 200 paratroopers from ten countries gaining knowledge of techniques, procedures, and equipment used by partner nations and building relationships within the international airborne community.

"During International Jump Week, I built partnerships with our NATO allies and earned British wings," said Air Force Master Sgt. Stephen Nelson, a Contingency Air Traffic Controller from the 435th Contingency Response Group.

The week was an opportunity for the airborne community to jump with maneuverable canopies. Most nations, including the United States, use non-maneuverable canopies during static line operations, in which the jumper attaches his parachute to the aircraft so that it pulls automatically when he exits. Static line jumps are customary when dropping many paratroopers at once and they run the risk of colliding. For some paratroopers this was their first opportunity to jump with the Maneuverable Canopy 6 parachute.

International Jump Week concluded with a formal wing exchange ceremony in which the jumpmasters of each country awarded airborne wings to paratroopers from partner nations. Poland, France, Estonia, Greece, Germany, Britain, Czech Republic, Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United States awarded wings to foreign paratroopers.

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