They were mere dots in the night sky, expelled from a passing aircraft and tethered to silken jellyfish that floated effortlessly through the warm, windless air. As the plane flew away, the figures descended silently to meet the ground -- armed, alert and ready for battle.
These were the paratroopers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, jumping into the Geronimo Drop Zone in the Joint Readiness Training Center's training area, or "the box." Their jump was part of an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise (EDRE) and Joint Forcible Entry (JFE) exercise, an integration of Army airborne and land operations to seize an operational initiative in a crisis, and to do so in a matter of hours from receiving the order.
Accomplishing a mission of this magnitude requires razor-sharp focus for leadership and the cooperation of several military components working together. Preparation is crucial, and rehearsal essential, and that's why the 82nd Airborne partnered with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard and other military assets to conduct training at the JRTC.
"This training mission is unique because we are partnering with a National Guard infantry battalion that is also going through training at JRTC, so we are working together to (fortify) each other's operations," said Col. Colin Tuley, brigade commander, 1st BCT, 82nd Abn Div.
For the 82nd, no-notice, short-term alerts are the norm because it is the unit tasked to respond quickly to global emergencies.
"There is no preparation required for training like this because we maintain a high level of readiness 24 hours a day, seven days a week to deploy anytime, anywhere in the world," said Tuley, adding that one brigade-sized element can be deployed within 18 hours of notification.
"Readiness is our No. 1 priority for paratroopers and equipment, but also for our families back home," he said. "They are just as important to us, and they have to stay ready too."
Lt.Col. Mark Ivezaj, battalion commander, 1st BCT, 82nd Abn Div, echoed the brigade commander's sentiment. "Our paratroopers and their families have to stay ready at all times, year-round, and they do an outstanding job."
That readiness was tested as the 82nd dropped into the training area and began their operations. "This scenario was designed for us to come in and secure the area ahead of the 27th IBCT. Because we are airborne, we had the capability to conduct a Joint Forcible Entry at night to seize key terrain and secure the civilian population," said Tuley. "Had we gone in over land, we would have been seen by the enemy."
The 82nd brings a specific skillset to the fight, said Tuley. "The airborne capability is unique because it brings lethality and the element of surprise in one (customizable) package designed for the mission requirement," he said. "For this package, we brought about 1,000 paratroopers for immediate operations."
During the exercise, Soldiers had a chance to practice and sharpen their basic warrior skills and gain experience in tactics.
"I think (the Soldiers) gain a higher level of confidence by going through another no-notice EDRE, jumping into a 'foreign' drop zone at night, and, as always, execute their mission to nothing short of excellence -- from the youngest paratroopers to the seasoned officers and NCOs that lead them," said Tuley.
For the leadership, it was an opportunity to observe the efficacy of their management decisions.
"This exercise has allowed me, as commander, to test my systems, explore any vulnerabilities, put an after action review into place and fix those problems. We've already solved some logistics issues and we are working on tactical proficiencies. The exercise shows if we've been doing the right things -- the right training -- to pull off the mission," said Ivazej.
As in any rotation, there are some challenges. Col. Joe Biehler, commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard, said challenges are what make units stronger.
"This training simulates as many of the challenges as you can replicate from real world missions. It stresses the system, staff and Soldiers to make them better. They learn from their mistakes," Biehler said. "The most challenging aspects of the rotation for me have been fighting enemy forces and fighting ourselves -- by that I mean, we have over 5,000 troops and need to get everyone synchronized under my guidance. But we get better at it every day."
The success or failure of any mission hinges on the cooperation of all elements involved, said Tuley, and this rotation is no exception. "This is a group effort, and (our jump) was one of the largest airborne operations conducted in recent history. It shows the interoperability of an airborne element, a mechanized element, Special Forces, National Guard and other conventional forces like the Air Force, who provided nine C-17 and six C-130 aircraft in support of the mission," he said. "It is a great demonstration of the Army's ability to insert forces that can quickly integrate and familiarize themselves with operations."
Ivazej agreed. "This exercise has allowed us to showcase our paratrooper capabilities and how well we can synchronize and coordinate our efforts with another element-- in this case, the 27th IBCT. Everything from video teleconferencing and reaching out to other units to defining the mission and working out the logistics required a coordinated effort."
Ivazaj added that while the 82nd Airborne is the nucleus of initial operations, it takes a concerted effort from everyone to achieve mission success. That includes the efforts of the JRTC.
"This is as real as it gets for us, and I am appreciative of the JRTC staff and roleplayers. It takes world-class leadership and talent to pull this off,"Ivazej said. "Those roleplayers live their roles and put a lot of effort into getting it right, and it shows."
Biehler also praised the work of the JRTC.
"The JTRC does a good job replicating infrastructure, host nation forces and governing forces, and the scenarios well replicate what we'll experience in other countries. For the Soldiers, it's the exposure -- touching, seeing, hearing these things gives them some exposure so when they deploy, they are knowledgeable and experienced," he said. "I couldn't ask for a better training opportunity. This experience will give the Soldiers a good foundation and better appreciation for what it means to serve their country."
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