Alabama Guard's Newest Air Benders Take First Jump as a Unit

Related Media

No description.

• No description.
• No description.

MONTGOMERY, AL (08/11/2010)(readMedia)-- From the corner of his eye, Sgt. Chad Edwards watched as three of his buddies scooted themselves out the broad doors of the humming UH60 Blackhawk helicopter. Seconds later, it was his turn. With one tap on the head from the jump master, Edwards was airborne. Minutes later, Edwards and 13 of his fellow Soldiers were safe on the ground celebrating their unit's first official jump.

The unit is the Alabama Army National Guard's high-speed Long Range Surveillance (LRS) unit, Charlie Company, 1st Squadron, 131st Cavalry. June 19, the company was christened when 14 Soldiers from the unit jumped from the belly of a UH60 Blackhawk some 1500 feet above the ground into the Keystone Short Drop Zone just outside Camp Blanding, Fla. It was the company's first jump as a unit, recognizing it as one of only two airborne units in the Alabama National Guard.

The jump took place during the Company's annual training at Camp Blanding. According to Charlie Company Commander, Capt. Pattrick Ladner, many long hours of grueling training went into making this historic occasion possible. "This annual training has been one of the biggest milestones we've had as a company. This jump is a big mark on our calendar," said Ladner.

For one Charlie Company Soldier, the day was full of excitement and pride. Spc. Adam Kelley reenlisted for six years while in the air. He was the first Soldier in the unit to reenlist while airborne. Ladner performed the oath of enlistment while fellow Soldier, Sgt. James Winters held up an American flag patch – giving Kelley a tangible symbol to recite the oath to.

"It was a great feeling to be able to reenlist in the air," said Kelley. "I hope it will inspire and motivate other Soldiers to do the same thing."

Immediately after the jump, a formation was held in which Charlie Company troops donned their maroon berets. Only airborne units are authorized to wear the maroon beret. This special headgear makes Charlie Company Soldiers stand out wherever they go.

It was a proud moment for Charlie Company said Lt. Col. Michael A. Mitchell, squadron commanding officer for 1st Squadron, 131st Cavalry. "Today's successful jump is an important milestone for Charlie Company, but it represents only a small part of the unit's overall capabilities. The LRS Company is an elite unit that is expected to conduct specialized missions deep in enemy territory with little support from higher," said Mitchell. "The airborne capability is just the start of the many challenges Charlie Company will face in the near term."

Since the unit's designation in September 2009, its Soldiers have been continuously gearing up for this event and any future real world missions. "A typical drill weekend consists of endurance physical training events like a fourteen mile road march and field training. We usually stay in the field every drill weekend. Members of this or any LRS unit are the most physically fit, mentally tough, and highly trained Infantry Soldiers there are," said Ladner.

The standards and qualifications are high for an LRS Soldier. This is due to their unique mission of going where no one else wants to go…behind enemy lines. "Our soldiers are expected to go as far behind enemy lines as needed to gather intelligence for higher headquarters. Missions could last for as long as seven days under the worst weather conditions," explained Ladner.

"We're able to get in to those areas where a typical cavalry scout cannot; dropping in by static line parachute, high altitude low opening jumps, small boats, SCUBA divers and fast rope insertions from helicopters," said Ladner.

Because of their special mission, Soldiers assigned to the LRS are given training opportunities most Guard Soldiers never receive. Training such as HALO (high altitude low opening) school, Scuba school, Ranger School, Pathfinder School, Jumpmaster School and the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader's Course at Fort Benning are offered to these elite Soldiers. Soldiers in the company are expected to acquire all of these special skill identifiers before they become Team Leaders. Officers and NCOs in the Company are expected, at a minimum, to be Airborne Ranger qualified.

"The maturity level we require of our Soldiers is higher than those of a typical unit by necessity," said Ladner. "Missions are typically conducted as six-man teams operating independently behind enemy lines. This requires very responsible, mature noncommissioned officers and Soldiers to perform these types of missions."

Photo0082 / 1st Lt. Joseph Sparks pushes himself out the doors of a UH60 Blackhawk helicopter some 1500 feet above the Keystone Short Drop Zone just outside Camp Blanding, Fla., June 19. Sparks is a member of Charlie Company, 1st and the 131st Cavalry; it was the company's first official jump as a unit.

Photo 0036 / Capt. Pattrick Ladner (right) performs a reenlistment ceremony for Spc. Adam Kelley (middle) while Sgt. James Winters holds up an American flag patch for Kelley to recite the oath to. Kelley is the first Soldier from Charlie Company, 1st Squardon, 131st Cavalry to reenlist while in the air. Moments after the ceremony, Kelley, Ladner and Winters jumped out of the belly of the UH60 Blackhawk helicopter some 1500 feet above the Keystone Short Drop Zone just outside Camp Blanding, Fla. It was the company's first official jump as a unit.

Photo 0161 / Spc. Brandon Thompson dons his maroon beret during a beret donning ceremony for Charlie Company, 1st Squadron, 131st Cavalry, June19. The ceremony took place moments after Thompson and 13 other Charlie Company Soldiers jumped from the belly of a UH60 Blackhawk helicopter some 1500 feet just outside Camp Blanding, Fla. Only airborne units are authorized to wear the maroon beret.

Photo0757 / Staff Sgt. Timothy Nalley helps Pfc. Mykel Wooten secure his parachute gear prior to Wooten and Nalley jumping from a UH60 Blackhawk helicopter during their annual training at Camp Blanding, Fla., June 19. Wooten and Nalley are members of Charlie Company, 1st Squadron, 131st Cavalry.