Eighty Deuce In "Bright Star"

[BLUEHAWK]

CAIRO WEST AIRBASE, Egypt (Army News Service, Sept 15, 2005)

"After many hours of training and preparation, five nations joined together Sept. 15 to perform a coalition airborne operation over the Egyptian desert as part of Bright Star, which continues through early October.

Egypt, the United States, Germany, Jordan and the Netherlands formed the team to conduct the jump, one of six major events during the six-week exercise.

The airborne teams convoyed to Cairo West Air Base for the last piece of their training puzzle, provided by the 82nd Airborne Division. Between 200 and 300 paratroopers arrived on site in anticipation of a good night?s sleep before the jump.

Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division provided Sustained Airborne Training to the coalition. The training consisted of a walk-through of the various phases of the jump. Instructors shouted commands and the paratroopers stepped through the motions and echoed the commands in return.

The commands were heard in the languages of the coalition. Teams of six practiced the drop and roll for various wind positions they might encounter the next day. Finally, the teams lined up inside a simulated aircraft, static lines at the ready. Jumpmasters from the various nations involved led their teams through the motions of hooking up and moving out the door. By late in the evening, all involved had made those final preparations.

In the early dawn, colored by a pink and purple haze, two C-17 aircraft appeared on the eastern horizon. Tenuous conditions on the ground awaited the jumpers in the sky.

A tumultuous wind blew across the drop zone and the decision came to bring the aircraft around for a second pass. As they appeared that second time, opening chutes began to cover the sky.

At the end of the exercise, the nations gathered as groups for a friendship wing exchange ceremony. Egyptian Brigadier Esmat Mourad, chief of staff of the Egyptian Airborne, presided over the ceremony.

The coalition commanders and the jumpmasters began the presentation of their country?s jump wings to the other nations. Paratroopers greeted each presenter with a smile, backed by the proud appreciation of having earned the wings of another nation. The emotions that swept through the assembly of nations indicated that Airborne is not just a way to serve, it is a brotherhood."

[Jerry D]

I have been to Iron Cobra @ Cairo West and those Egyptian NCO's mean business! They still believe in Wall to Wall counseling for enlisted.If they don't want to Jump,the fist private gets counseled then the rest decide to take their chances with the parachute then risk the Sarges "boot". The counseled private gets carried off the plane after it lands and he goes on Sick call for a few weeks.