The 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, in a partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps, turned a July 25, 2024, exercise in static line parachuting into an opportunity for paratroopers to give back to the community while working to improve proficiency and sister service interoperability.
The event, “Operation Pencils for Parachutes,” encouraged participants to collect supplies for local schools to support their upcoming academic year. In exchange for donations, paratroopers had the opportunity to jump from an USMC MV-22 Osprey — a tilt-rotator aircraft which the Marines provided two of for the event — an extremely unique opportunity within the Airborne community.
“This was an excellent opportunity for us to work with a sister service and train in airborne operations,” said Marine Capt. Mike “Eggs” Laundry, an MV-22 pilot.
Operation Pencils for Parachutes was open to all Fort Moore parachutists and highlighted the training interoperability regularly exercised across post. Soldiers from across ARTB and the 75th Ranger Regiment participated in this event, which was supported by the 263rd Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron based in Marine Corps Air Station, New River, North Carolina.
“We were able to receive a wonderful collection of school supplies this year in our continued support for Smiths Station High and our Partners in Education,” said U.S. Army Capt. Maximilian Hill, 1-507th PIR operations officer.
“We offer our thanks both to the [Marines] for their support of our operation and all the Fort Moore parachutists who were able to donate,” Hill said.
The 1-507th PIR conducts the U.S. Army Basic Airborne Course, which produces the next generation of parachutists for the Department of Defense. Soldiers who are qualified parachutists — graduates of the Basic Airborne Course — are afforded these unique opportunities by volunteering to attend the Airborne Course and serve in an airborne unit.
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