GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- Soldiers from 5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Company, 39th Transportation Battalion, conducted expeditionary airborne operations during 'Exercise Riggerous Assault' Sept. 8 - 21.
The exercise was a culmination of the unit's convoy training and covered over 480 miles with more than 25 Soldiers and 12 vehicles.
"The convoy was great training for 5th Quartermaster Soldiers," said 1st Lt. Rickie Sallie Jr., platoon leader, 5th QM TADC. "It reestablished the confidence of the Soldiers to deploy."
In addition to the convoy operations the unit established and prepared to defend an assembly area and drop zone.
"The unit rapidly deployed and executed its mission essential warfighting tasks in an austere environment," said 2nd Lt. Sophia Rickard, aerial delivery platoon leader,5th QM TADC. "Our Soldiers exceeded our mission standards as a junior leader it makes me feel like we knocked it out of the park."
The operation involved aerial delivery of supplies, essential equipment, and 49 paratroopers.
"The major advantage to aerial resupply is that supplies are delivered in a ready-to-use configuration on the battlefield, reducing the need for a material handling equipment, or requiring units to move to a port or station for pick-up," said Capt. James Arthur, commander, 5th QM TADC. "Often we can't use trucks as a means of transportation to move supplies to a certain area due to road conditions, so with aerial delivery, we can rapidly drop what the warfighter needs."
In two weeks, the unit executed airborne operations from a two types of helicopters, sling load operations, a German army marksmanship competition (Schützenschnur), a grenade launcher and rifle qualification range, land navigation, and convoy fire operations via virtual trainer.
"My goal is develop, empower, and build confidence in our junior leaders and the goal was accomplished during Riggerous Assault," said Arthur.
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