Bayonet Strike marks the return of the Sky Soldiers to Operation Atlantic Resolve

By Pfc. James Dutkavich, 24th Press Camp HeadquartersSeptember 11, 2016

Bayonet Strike marks the return of the Sky Soldiers to Operation Atlantic Resolve
1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Paratroopers assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, jump out of a C-17 Globemaster III at a drop zone near Nurmsi, Estonia for exercise Bayonet Strike September 10, 2016. The 173rd Airborne B... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bayonet Strike marks the return of the Sky Soldiers to Operation Atlantic Resolve
2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Paratroopers assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, jump out of a C-17 Globemaster III at a drop zone near Nurmsi, Estonia for exercise Bayonet Strike September 10, 2016. The 173rd Airborne B... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bayonet Strike marks the return of the Sky Soldiers to Operation Atlantic Resolve
3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Justin Hamelton, a native of Portland, Ore., paratrooper assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, repacks his parachute after landing at a drop zone near Nurmsi, Estonia for exercise Bayon... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bayonet Strike marks the return of the Sky Soldiers to Operation Atlantic Resolve
4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army paratrooper assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, landing on a drop zone near Nurmsi, Estonia for exercise Bayonet Strike September 10, 2016. The 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in V... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bayonet Strike marks the return of the Sky Soldiers to Operation Atlantic Resolve
5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Jeromy Spaan, a native of Phoenix, Ariz., paratrooper assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, lands at a drop zone near Nurmsi, Estonia for exercise Bayonet Strike September 10, 201... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bayonet Strike marks the return of the Sky Soldiers to Operation Atlantic Resolve
6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Jeromy Spaan, a native of Phoenix, Ariz., paratrooper assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, watching his Soldiers land on the drop zone shortly after landing himself at a drop zon... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bayonet Strike marks the return of the Sky Soldiers to Operation Atlantic Resolve
7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Chris Salisbury, commander of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, getting interviewed by local Estonian news crews at a drop zone near Nurmsi, Estonia for exercise Bayonet Strike September 10, 2... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bayonet Strike marks the return of the Sky Soldiers to Operation Atlantic Resolve
8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Chris Salisbury, commander of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, getting interviewed by local Estonian news crews at a drop zone near Nurmsi, Estonia for exercise Bayonet Strike September 10, 2... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

NURMSI, ESTONIA -After a two and a half hour flight from Italy on a C-17 Globemaster III Paratroopers assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, conduct an airborne insertion exercise onto a drop zone in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The next time their feet will touch the ground will be in Nurmsi, Estonia, September 10, 2016.

"Today we were conducting the first of four airborne insertions into Poland and the Baltic nations over the next 96 hours. Following the jump we established radio communication, and then we assembled in the wood line," Capt. Chris Salisbury, commander of Company B, 2nd Bn., 503rd Inf. Regt., 173rd Airborne, stated after the insertion, "Today was absolutely perfect, I don't think you could ask for better conditions."

"Readiness for ground combat is and always will remain the U.S. Army's number one priority," said by Gen. Mark Milley, 39th Chief of Staff of the Army.

"Readiness is one of the priorities of Company B, as with most companies in the U.S. Army." Salisbury said after the insertion. "As an airborne company we need to be able to rapidly mobilize and deploy within 18 hours, that's part of our mission set."

Only moments after landing on the drop zone Staff Sgt. Jeromy Spaan, a squad leader assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Inf., Regt., 173rd Airborne, said, "You can't beat a drop like this."

When it was all over, approximately 100 U.S. Paratroopers had jumped onto the drop zone. After the completion of the exercise, the Paratroopers will be located at Tapa Military Base, Estonia, for the next six months.

The next jump for Bayonet Strike will be in Adazi, Latvia on August 12, 2016.

The 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy, is the Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, and is capable of projecting forces to conduct a full range of military operations across the United States European, Central and Africa Commands areas of responsibility within 18 hours. Operation Atlantic Resolve is a U.S. led effort in Eastern Europe that demonstrates U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region.

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