Polish-US paratroopers jump together during Av-Det rotation

by Tech. Sgt. Daylena S. Ricks
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

4/8/2014 - POWIDZ AIR BASE, Poland -- U.S service members and Polish armed forces will continue to train together as combined paratrooper forces jump out of U.S. C-130J Super Hercules over Poland during an aircraft rotation at the U.S. Air Force Aviation Detachment, which ends April 12.

Polish armed forces train with U.S. Air Force paratroopers, along with a small contingent of U.S. Army paratroopers and a U.S. Navy freefall jumpmaster to build partnership capacity for real-world situations.

Polish land and special operations forces are able to jump from U.S. aircraft, as a result of training with a joint team of U.S. jumpmasters, or trained experts in parachuting from aircraft.

"Jumping with the Polish gave us insight on how they jump and on how they respond to our commands," said U.S. Army Specialist Estevan Gonzales, 5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Deliver Company. "It builds a great service partnership."

United States and Polish service members will conduct static-line and high altitude, low-opening, or HALO, jumps together. During static-line jumps, the parachute is immediately opened when the paratrooper exits the aircraft; these jumps are used to deliver personnel at very low altitudes. During HALO jumps, the paratrooper opens the parachute at a low altitude after free-falling for some time; HALO is used to deliver equipment, supplies and personnel.

Amongst other things, military paratroopers are used to establish landing sites for aircraft and conduct drop zones for fuel and supplies in areas that may not be safe for an aircraft to land.

The U.S personnel are deployed to Poland March 31 through April 12, to strengthen bilateral defense ties with Polish armed forces.

"This aviation rotation is great because we can conduct our training under the supervision of the U.S., and learn better techniques and tactics to build partnership," said Polish air force Lt. Col. Kyrsztof Szymaniec, 33rd Air Base C-130 squadron commander.

These combined training rotations increase cooperation between the U.S and Polish armed forces and strengthen interoperability as NATO allies, as a result of an agreement between U.S. President Barack Obama and Polish President Bronisław Komorowski.

There are two more scheduled Av-Det rotations this fiscal year.