State Partnership Program

Video by Luis Delgadillo

244th CAB Soldiers Help Force Recon Marines Maintain Paradrop Proficiency

244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade

July 24, 2019 | 1:04

Soldiers of Task Force Warhawk's Task Force Tiger, which currently supports air operations for Operation Spartan Shield from Camp Buehring, Kuwait, had a unique opportunity to support paradrop and military free fall currency for Marines of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion Force Detachment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit during two different training iterations, July 23-25 and Aug. 2-4, 2019. While the Marines secured annual currency on their paradrop skills, crew members like Spc. Reggie West, a crew chief with A Co., 5th General Support Aviation Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, completed certifications for the paradrop and military freefall aviation operations. While it is uncommon for Marines to conduct such operations from U.S. Army helicopters, by taking advantage of opportunities to work together, the units improved their interoperability and readiness.