Leap Frogs Kick Off Wounded Warrior Warrior Relay

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Fletcher Gibson, U.S. Navy Parachute Team Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Members of the U.S. Navy Parachute Demonstration Team, the Leap Frogs, jumped into Rancho Bernardo High School May 20 to kick off a 12-hour relay marathon designed to raise awareness about wounded veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

The six-man Leap Frog jump team paraded the U.S. flag to the national anthem performed by the Rancho Bernardo Madrigals before touching down in the school's athletic field where the relay would take place.

"It was a great performance," said Paul Robinson, the school's principal. "It reminds us of the tremendous heart and skill of our armed forces."

The relay served as a focal point for the Rancho Bernardo community to come together and show their support for the nation's wounded warriors. Held in conjunction with "Team Red, White and Blue" and "Advocates in Action," the marathon featured athletic and educational teams from the school as well as members of the surrounding area going the distance for the injured veterans among them.

"When a soldier or sailor is wounded in action, they're returned to the States and separated from their unit or their ship," said Kathleen Kennedy, the event chairperson. "It's really hard for them to leave that brotherhood, and it's up to the community to provide what they're missing."

This was the inaugural event for what many are expecting to be an annual community tradition.

"Mark your calendars for next year," said Robinson to the Leap Frogs. "This will get better and better."

The Leap Frogs next scheduled performance is May 24 at Coney Island in New York.

The Leap Frogs are based in San Diego and perform aerial parachute demonstrations in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy recruiting.

Leap Frogs Perform Multiple Shows for Nashville Navy Week

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Fletcher Gibson, U.S. Navy Parachute Team Public Affairs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy Parachute Demonstration Team, the Leap Frogs, performed jumps at four different locations May 11-12 in support of the city's Navy Week celebration.

The team performed jumps at both Lavergne and Stratford High Schools, as well as a game-opening jump at Greer Stadium for the Nashville Sounds baseball team May 11. They performed two passes at The Great Tennessee Air Show in Smyrna, Tenn., May 12. Rainy weather May 13 prevented the Leap Frogs from performing on the second day of the air show.

Team members met and interacted with a wide-range of fans and audience members. At Stratford, the Leap Frogs enjoyed some one-on-one time with members of the local Sea Cadet unit, while the performance at Lavergne introduced them to a potential future member of the SEAL community.

"I've never met an active duty SEAL," said Ethan Vicars, a student at Middle Tennessee State University who had just been accepted into the SEAL training program. "They gave me a lot of good advice from their experiences."

"Just to be surrounded by men and women who have done something positive with their lives is important in our community and to our students," said Letoni Murry, the assistant principal at Lavergne High School.

Spectator Faye Lash was impressed with the team's opening jump during the national anthem.

"I've been coming to air shows since I was six years old, and I've never seen anything as awe-inspiring as that. To see an American flag fall out of the sky and be brought down by a Sailor...this is what it does," she said indicating her tears.

Deputy Chief, Medical Operations and Future Plans Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Rear Adm. Donald Gintzig, was also impressed.

"It's great to see them perform and really help inspire the next generation because I can guarantee you there were young men and women here looking up and saying 'I want to be doing that some day,'" Gintzig said.

The Leap Frogs are scheduled to perform May 15-16 at the Navy Week in Spokane, Wash.

The Leap Frogs are based in San Diego and perform aerial parachute demonstrations in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy recruiting.

For more information about the Leap Frogs, visit www.leapfrogs.navy.mil.

Leap Frogs Jump into Sound of Speed Air Show

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Fletcher Gibson, U.S. Navy Parachute Team Public Affairs

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (NNS) -- Members of the U.S. Navy Parachute Demonstration Team, the Leap Frogs, performed at the Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, Mo. as part of the annual "Sound of Speed" Air Show, May 5-6.

The team performed four jumps over both days, including one jump performed in conjunction with their Canadian skydiving team counterparts, the SkyHawks.

Between performances, the team members took time to meet with the crowd and give some hands-on presentations of some of their skydiving equipment.

"It was absolutely amazing," said Sam Buckley, who visited the air show from Savannah, Mo. "I saw the Leap Frogs a couple years ago, and this was even better."

This show was especially important to the team because St. Joseph is the hometown of the 139th Airlift Wing. This Air National Guard unit has an extended history of volunteering to assist the Leap Frogs with transportation and jump platforms.

"Our show season wouldn't be possible without the 139th's support," said Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st Class Thomas Kinn, the jumpmaster for this event. "They support over half of our shows."

"We're extremely proud of our relationship with the Leap Frogs," added Air Force Col. Mike Pankau, the wing commander for the 139th. "We're grateful to have them here to show the hometown what we do when we're out on the road supporting them."

In addition to the skydiving demonstrations, Sound of Speed also featured both military and civilian aircraft demonstrations and static displays. The show featured aircraft from one-seater stunt planes to Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft, and from WWI-era bi-planes to the ultra-modern F-22 Raptor fighter.

The Leap Frogs next scheduled performance is May 11-13 at the Nashville Navy Week in Nashville, Tenn.

The Leap Frogs are based in San Diego and perform aerial parachute demonstrations in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy recruiting.

Leap Frogs Perform at Lauderdale Air Show

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Luke Eastman, U.S Navy Parachute Team Public Affairs

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy parachute demonstration team, the Leap Frogs, performed at the 14th Lauderdale Air Show, April 27-28.

The Leap Frogs performed three of five scheduled jumps but had to cancel two jumps due to inclement weather.

The team jumped with members of the Army 101st Airborne Division parachute demonstration team, the Screaming Eagles. The Leap Frogs and the Screaming Eagles jumped from a CASA HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft, flown by members of Coast Guard Air Station Miami.

More than 2,000 spectators watched the practice jump during the air show rehearsal on Friday. The Leap Frogs performed a second jump for more than 3,000 people at the air show take-off event later that evening.

"It was the most impressive thing I've ever witnessed," said Dan Dees, a spectator at the take-off event. "What I found most exciting was the speed at which they came down. I couldn't believe they jumped with this wind and were able to make such pinpoint landings."

The Leap Frogs were scheduled to jump during the national anthem to start the air show on Saturday, but they had to cancel the performance due to high winds and low cloud cover. After a few hours, the weather cleared up and the team was able to jump outside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for a crowd of more than 500 people.

"The most exciting part was seeing the two guys tangle up together and do those tricks in the air," said Rafael Nieves, a spectator at the event. "This is the first time my kids have seen this and they're actually helping the SEALs pack their parachutes right now. It's a very cool experience. My son is only four years old but after seeing this today he told me it's something he wants to do when he gets older."

After the performance, members of the team showed spectators how to pack their parachutes. The Leap Frogs were also available to answer questions, sign autographs and pose for photographs.

"It's a great community event and a great way to bring the community together," said Jack Seiler, mayor of Fort Lauderdale. "More importantly it's a way for our community to show our admiration and appreciation for the men and women who serve this country. It's just fantastic and we thank all the men and women who sacrifice to serve this country; we really admire what they do."

Lauderdale Air Show is one of 35 major events on the Leap Frogs' schedule this year. The team is based in San Diego and performs aerial parachute demonstrations across America in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy recruiting.

For more information about the Leap Frogs, visit www.leapfrogs.navy.mil.

For more information about NSW programs and opportunities, visit www.sealswcc.com. For more news from U.S. Navy Parachute Team, visit www.navy.mil/local/usnpt/.

Leap Frogs Participate in Phillies Home Opener

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Luke Eastman, U.S. Navy Parachute Team Public Affairs

PHILADELPHIA (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, presented the first pitch baseballs during the pre-game ceremony of the 2012 Philadelphia Phillies home-opener game at Citizens Bank Park, April 9.

The Leap Frogs were schedule to jump into the stadium from a C-130 Hercules aircraft flown by members of the 139th Airlift Wing from Missouri Air National Guard, but were unable to perform due to unsafe weather conditions.

The crew did perform a flyover for the more than 45,000 people in attendance immediately following the national anthem.

"It was a great event," said Joseph Pinkerton, a spectator at the game. "When the C-130 flew over after the national anthem, it was just perfect timing."

Service members from every military branch displayed an American flag that covered half the field during the national anthem. The crowd clapped and cheered and fireworks went off as the C-130 flew over the stadium.

Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Hareso, 11th Fighter Wing of Pennsylvania Air National Guard, was in charge of the flag detail during the ceremony.

"The most impressive part of this is that it's multi-service," said Hareso. "We have Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. There's about 140 people presenting the flag, then we all get to celebrate and watch the Phillies play."

The Leap Frogs and the aircrew also made an appearance on top of the Phillies dugout for a brief introduction during the seventh-inning stretch.

"This is an annual event for the Leap Frogs and even though we weren't able to jump today, we're always happy to be here and support the Phillies," said Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Brad Woodard, the Leap Frogs' team chief. "We're here in support of Naval Special Warfare, and the people in Philadelphia always give us such a warm welcome."

The performance at Citizens Bank Park is one of 35 major events on the Leap Frogs' schedule this year. The team is based in San Diego and performs aerial parachute demonstrations across America in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy recruiting.