NATO countries land successful jump week

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katherine Holt
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --  More than 200 paratroopers from six NATO countries participated in airborne jump operations during International Jump Week Aug. 8 through 11.

Paratroopers from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands and the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Army jumped out of aircraft from Papa Air Base, Hungary; Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.; and the 37th Airlift Squadron here.

Service members got the chance to jump under the command of foreign jumpmasters and guided their chutes toward a small drop zone in southwestern Germany.

Although earning foreign wings is an accomplishment in itself, the event allows each of the nation's service members to take away new capabilities and experiences.

"It was a great day for international parachuting and the weather was very accommodating," said Maj. Jason Medsger, the 435th Security Forces Squadron commander and primary jumpmaster for the annual event. "It's great to build partnership capacity with jumpers from other countries; this is great for camaraderie."

For one Airman, the opportunity to experience jump week is one he will never forget.

"It seems as the airborne community is the same everywhere; gung-ho, ready to get the job done - whatever the mission," said Airman 1st Class Hutch Stilgenbauer, 2nd Air Support Operations Squadron tactical air control party specialist.

The 26-year-old Houston, Texas, native jumped for the first time since airborne school this week. "Everything was exactly the same as jump school, it was a good jump," he added. "It was awesome for them (the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing) to invite us out here to jump and it was great to get so many countries and specialties from all over the world together."

This year is the third annual and successful jump week hosted by the 435th Contingency Response Group under the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing.

"Building these partnerships with our allies is just as important as jumping," said Col. John Shapalnd 435th AGOW commander. "It's great because jumpers from all over get to share experiences, [tactics, techniques and procedures], jumps and war stories with each other; that bond is resilient and lasting."

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A U.S. military member parachutes from a C-17 Globemaster III, toward a drop zone during International Jump Week, Aug. 10, 2011 in Marnheim, Germany. Six NATO countries participated in the annual event to support one of United States Air Forces in Europe's top priorities; building partnership capacity. More than 200 U.S. and NATO service memebers participated in the week-long training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Kendra Alba)

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Tech. Sgt Shane McGee, a radio frequency transmission systems specialists from Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, pulls his parachute in to pack it away after making a static-line jump from 12,500 feet in the air. More than 200 U.S. and NATO service memebers participated in the week-long training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards)

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Gear used by U.S. and NATO service members lay near the designated drop zone during International Jump Week in Marnheim, Germany, Aug. 10, 2011. Six NATO countries participated in the annual event to support one of U.S. Air Forces in Europe's top priorities; building partnership capacity. More than 200 U.S. and NATO jumpers participated in the week-long training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Kendra Alba)

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A U.S. military member parachutes from a C-130 Hercules, toward a designated drop zone during International Jump Week, Aug. 10, 2011 in Marnheim, Germany. Six NATO countries participated in the annual event to support one of U.S. Air Forces in Europe's top priorities; building partnership capacity. More than 200 U.S. and NATO service memebers participated in the week-long training, which included four Airmen who jumped for the first time since airborne school. "It seems as the airborne community is the same everywhere; gung-ho, ready to get the job done, whatever the mission," said Airman 1st Class Hutch Stilgenbauer, 2nd Air Support Operations Squadron tactical air control party specialist. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Kendra Alba)

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U.S. military members along with soldiers from six NATO nations parachute off a C-130 Hercules over a drop zone during International Jump Week in Marnheim, Germany, Aug. 10, 2011. Six NATO countries participated in the annual event to support one of U.S. Air Forces in Europe's top priorities; building partnership capacity. More than 200 U.S. and NATO service members participated in the week-long training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Kendra Alba)