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5th QM Riggers educate, entertain Ramstein students

By Sgt. Frank SanchezMay 4, 2009

5th QM Riggers educate, entertain Ramstein students
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Cruz Celis, a parachute rigger with the 5th Quartermaster Company, demonstrates a suspension line separation technique on a T-10 Delta parachute during a parachute packing class for the Kids4Kids program at Ramstein Intermediate School April 24.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
5th QM Riggers educate, entertain Ramstein students
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Stanley Caldwell, the principal of Ramstein Intermediate School, and Sgt. Byron Harvin Jr., a parachute rigger with the 5th Quartermaster Company, demonstrate how much equipment is required in order for paratroopers to conduct combat airborne operati... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
5th QM Riggers educate, entertain Ramstein students
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Byron Harvin Jr. and Spc. Cruz Celis, who are both parachute riggers from the 5th Quartermaster Company, demonstrate packing procedures on a T-10 Delta parachute for the Kids4Kids program at Ramstein Intermediate School April 24. Kids4Kids is a ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany Aca,!" A couple of Army paratroopers dropped into the Ramstein Air Base Intermediate School in support of the Kids4Kids program April 24, and they brought their parachutes to prove it.

Soldiers from the 5th Quartermaster Company, 39th Transportation Battalion, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, gave a demonstration on the proper handling of the T-10 Delta parachute as part of Kids4Kids, a program that meets once a month for the benefit of those students from Ramstein\'s intermediate and middle schools who have at least one deployed parent.

One of the main priorities of the Ramstein parent-teacher association sponsored partnership program is to show kids they are not alone.

"I think the quartermaster (Soldiers) are wonderful, and the kids have really enjoyed it. They learn a lot and get to see the Army side of it," said Nhung Hamilton, the coordinator for the Kids4Kids program at Ramstein Middle School.

The riggers performed a pack demonstration on a T-10 Delta parachute to familiarize the children with the duties of an Army parachute rigger, and the students were also shown a video, which highlighted the day-to-day activities of a parachute rigger.

A parachute rigger's duties include everything from inventorying, cleaning, inspecting and packing parachutes as well as their associated equipment and more.

The students had many different questions to ask about what life is like for a parachute rigger.

Sgt. Byron Harvin Jr., one of the 5th QM Co. representatives at the school, was surprised at the level of knowledge some of the students already had about the duties of a parachute rigger.

"Some kids are very knowledgeable about what goes on. This was surprising to me. They were very appreciative and understanding of what we are doing," said Harvin.

The demonstration ended with the students trying on the parachutes and examining all the parachute equipment. "I like my job, and I like making kids happy too," said Spc. Cruz Celis, a parachute rigger with 5th QM Co., about taking part in the Kids4Kids program.

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