Recon Marines practice gliding

[thedrifter]

02/15/2003
Recon Marines practice gliding
By ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Camp Lejeune Marines are learning to use specially designed round parachutes that allow them to glide as high as 10,000 feet and land miles away from a drop zone, keeping aircraft over friendly territory as reconnaissance teams drift into position past enemy lines.



“They can exit the aircraft between 3,000 and 10,000 feet anywhere from 10 to 20 miles away and fly their canopies into the objective,” said Gunnery Sgt. Mike Thurmond, 34. He is an airborne instructor from Covington, Tenn., who was at Camp Lejeune to train reconnaissance Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit on Friday.



The 20 leathernecks on the training team could be called upon to slip behind enemy lines should a war develop in the Middle East. They asked that their last names be withheld for security reasons.



Before sunrise, they practiced safety drills and were briefed on the weather and terrain conditions.



At New River Air Station, they pulled parachutes from green bags and slid into the harnesses, adjusting a variety of straps and fasteners. The chutes are designed to open soon after high-altitude jumps.



Two more pre-jump inspections later, they climbed aboard a C-130 Hercules. As the plane rose into the air, each Marine handled his mission his own way. Some were lost in thought.



“This gives us standoff from the target as long as the wind conditions are going our way,” said one 33-year old staff sergeant who has jumped more than 50 times.



“The most difficult part for the inexperienced jumpers is handling the wind conditions as you fly into the zone.”



Before the jump, a 25-year old sergeant was reviewing training information.



“You need good body position so you don’t twist in your lines. Check the canopy and gain canopy control,” he said. “Then, you test maneuverability with a right turn and a left turn.”



A few of the Marines were smiling or joking with their comrades.



“I’m just thinking about what I’m going to do tonight,” said a 23-year old corporal. “There are a lot of procedures to concentrate on and it’s a great adrenaline rush, but I’m comfortable with this.”



On the ground, 26th MEU commander Col. Andy Frick welcomed his troops, which are scheduled to deploy in March.



Contact Eric Steinkopff at esteinkopff@


jdnews.com or 353-1171, Ext. 236.

Sempers,

Roger

[leroy8541]

Called a HALO we have been doing it for years, but with a rectangular T-12 glider canopy. nothing new, unless they quit doing it the first time.