Artillery spouses learn to parachute, fire weapons at family day

  • Published
  • By Spc. Philip Cooper
  • 2-377th PFAR
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Spouses of 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment Soldiers got a taste of Airborne training during the unit's G. I. Jane Day Sept. 9 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Just as it does for Soldiers, the spouses' day began with a formation behind the 2-377th headquarters for accountability, safety briefings and an outline of the day's events.
After formation, the spouses loaded into the back of a light medium tactical vehicle to head out to the Airborne Sustainment Training Tower to get an idea of what it's like to jump out of an aircraft.

There the spouses received instruction on the proper wear of a parachute harness.
An airborne jumpmaster inspected their gear and they were cleared to climb the jump tower, where jumpmasters prepared them for the 34-foot jump down a zip-line-like device.

Next event was the simulated firing of an M119A2 Howitzer by an artillery crew, after which the spouses had the opportunity to perform the drill themselves.

After a long morning at the jump tower and a chance to play the part of an artillery crewmember, the spouses travelled to a firing range for familiarization on the 240-B machine gun and M-4 carbine rifle, with which their spouses must qualify with every six months.

"I really have enjoyed today," spouse Nichole Sloan said. "It has been a blast since we started at the jump tower to shooting these weapons. I really have enjoyed it and I hope we can do it again."

Back at the battalion headquarters, 2-377th Commander Lt. Col. Frank Stanco and Command Sgt. Maj. Cedric Moore presented the spouses with certificates of achievement.

"This was an outstanding event and I believe the spouses really enjoyed themselves. I hope we can do this again soon," Stanco said. "This has been an outstanding day in 2-377th PFAR."