Paratroopers train in Australia, trade wings

  • Published
  • By Army Staff Sgt. Matthew E. Winstead
  • 4-25th ABCT Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Late in the day, July 15, four C-17 Globemaster IIIs loaded with a task force led by paratroopers from the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, took off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

The team was headed for a joint airborne mission to take control of a drop zone in Australia during Exercise Talisman Sabre 11.

The 17-hour flight included one mid-air refuel and in-flight rigging of parachutes and combat equipment.

Both American and Australian jumpmasters carefully controlled the main body of paratroopers.

From more than 1,000 feet above "the land down under" paratroopers left the C-17s and leapt into the international exercise.

In the simulated mission, paratroopers seized Kapyong drop zone in Queensland, Australia, and secured it while fighting an enemy force, played by members of the Australian military.

As the paratroopers landed, they quickly mustered their forces at preordained rallying points.

From there, they received additional instructions from their command element and engaged the enemy in the wood line surrounding the drop zone.

As the engagements continued and the joint American-Australian force strengthened its hold on the drop zone, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Patrick Ellis, 1-501st commander kept a close watch on the performance of his forces on the ground.

This mission, while primarily an opportunity for the U.S. and Australian paratroopers to refine their skills together, was also a valuable chance for the commander to witness the
effectiveness of his men in a new land, with the stress of a long flight and a tough, realistic training mission.

"This was a great joint event with exceptional joint planning from both sides," Ellis said. "We accomplished a lot in a very short period of time without issue. The mission was a great success and proudly displayed the capabilities of the unit and tactical capabilities on the ground."

The joint task force quickly secured the area and soon after the sound of enemy small-arms fire vanished.

Later in the evening, the mayor of the nearby town of Rockhampton provided the visiting American paratroopers an opportunity to visit some of the locals at a western-style steakhouse and rodeo show.

Local vendors offered Australian food and showed off some of the exotic wildlife including pythons and baby crocodiles.

The next morning, Soldiers from the American task force were presented with Australian jump wings, and four Australian jumpmasters who accompanied the 1-501st on the mission were awarded U.S. jump wings.