Leap Frogs Rally Students For New School Year

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (PJ) Michelle Turner, U.S. Navy Parachute Team Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy parachute demonstration team, the Leap Frogs, gave an aerial parachute demonstration to students at Westview High School in San Diego Aug. 24.

The team jumped from an SH-60F Seahawk helicopter from 6,000 feet above the school during a pep rally on the first day of school as a special treat for students.

Student leaders kicked off the event, which featured the school band, cheerleaders and dancers. The school's Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Crops (NJROTC) honor guard marched out to present the colors just in time for the jump.

The Seahawk helicopter, from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 10 at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, made several passes over the school before a trail of smoke from one of the jumpers let the crowd know the performance was about to begin. The students rose to their feet to get a better view. Seconds later all seven jumpers were in the air and had deployed their distinctive, blue and gold canopies.

Several jumpers trailed colored smoke across the sky, while others flew flags. Special Warfare Operator 1st Class (SEAL) Justin Gonzales trailed a "hanging smoke" as he spiraled down leaving an enormous wave of smoke in his wake. Gonzales wore a Westview "Wolverines" football jersey to the delight of students.

"It was flat out amazing!" said Todd Cassen, Westview High School principal. "What a treat for our entire community. To see people who put [their life] on the line every day to protect our country, serve our country - they're the ones who allow us to be able to do what we do here. For them to come here and honor our students like this and give our students a chance to see this is what other people do with their time, this is what [they] could do... it's just a real treat for us."

The entire student body clapped and cheered as each member of the team landed. The school choir sang the national anthem as Chief Warrant Officer (SEAL) Keith Pritchett flew a large American flag high above the school.

Pritchett presented Cassen with a signed photograph of the team after the jump. Members of the school's NJROTC helped jumpers pack their parachutes - a unique opportunity for students with aspirations of joining the military to meet the team and ask questions about military life.

"It showed the U.S. military and represented them really well," said Francis Garcia, a third-year NJROTC cadet. "It got our school pumped up. It was a great performance."

The Leap Frogs are based in San Diego and perform aerial parachute demonstrations across America in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy Recruiting as a global force for good. The team is composed of parachuting experts from Naval Special Warfare including Navy SEALs, special warfare combatant-craft crewmen, a Navy diver and an Naval Special Warfare parachute rigger, in addition to support personnel.