Page 12 - Desert Lightning News August 2016

12 August 5, 2016 Desert Lightning News
www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb

Mastering the jump Facebook.com/DesertLightningNews

Airman Nathan H. Barbour

355th Fighter Wing Public A airs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- In order to run a com- (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nathan H. Barbour)
bat free fall jump and deploy Airmen safely from an aircraft at high alti-
tudes, there has to be someone specially trained to direct the operation. U.S. Airmen Prepare to board a C-23 Sherpa during the Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course at
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., June 28, 2016. The course will graduate 12 Airmen at the
ey must be highly proficient in every component of the jump process, end of its fth 3-week-long rotation; reaching a total number of 58 certi ed jumpmasters.
from ensuring equipment is donned properly, to coordinating with the air-
crew during the release so jumpers land on the designated drop zone. rescuemen, and survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists from
all different commands. In addition, as a joint accredited organization, the
In the past, the only place to receive the formal training required to lead Guardian Angel Formal Training Unit also affords this training and qualifi-
a jump was the Military Freefall School at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving cation to other services such as the Navy, Army and Marines.
Grounds in Arizona.
“I go back to my unit as a freefall jumpmaster,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan,
Master Sgt. David Biddinger, Guardian Angel Freefall Jumpmaster in- 321st Special Tactics Squadron combat controller. “Anytime my unit has a
structor, had experience working at the school in Yuma before being sta- jump, I’ll either be the primary person in charge of all the coordination or
tioned at D-M about four years ago. the assistant.”

“We realized that the Air Force had a need for the jumpmaster course,” During each free fall, the success of the mission and the lives of others
Biddinger said. “Working with contacts in U.S. Special Operations Com- are in the hands of the jumpmasters.
mand and at the MFFS, we were able to convince the Army and Air Force
of that need.” “We’re training special operations Airmen to be able to deploy per-
sonnel out of the aircraft safely and ensure that those guys reach the
During an approximately 3 1/2 year process, Biddinger worked side-by- ground to do their mission.” Biddinger said. “Whether the mission in-
side with the 68th Rescue Flight/Guardian Angel Formal Training Unit to volves rescuing someone, calling in airstrikes, or recovering downed
establish a new USSOCOM approved course at D-M. equipment or aircraft.”

“Getting officially recognized by the Army and USSOCOM as a vali-
dated course is special, it is a difficult standard to attain,” Biddinger said.
“ is is the only Military Freefall Jumpmaster Course in the Air Force and
it’s one of two in the Department of Defense.”

e course will graduate 12 Airmen at the end of its fifth 3-week-long
rotation; reaching a total number of 58 certified jumpmasters across the
Battlefield Airmen career fields.

“Before this course we only had the option of attending the school in
Yuma,” Biddinger said. “We only saw about 28 slots per year spread be-
tween all the different groups that jump in the Air Force.”

e course is intended to train mid-level NCOs and officers. Students
very from tactical air control party specialists, combat controllers, para-

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