Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/311589
8 MAY 14-20, 2014 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 440th Firing on All Cylinders by LISA RAY The men and women of the 440th Airlift Wing made routine training into something spectacular to see on Apr. 17, when the unit launched eight aircraft from Pope Field all at once for an elephant walk followed by an airborne operation to demonstrate the unit's capabilities and showcase their readiness and training. In the early afternoon sun, total force aircrews consisting of both Active Duty and Reserve Airmen from the 2nd and 95th Airlift Squadrons started the engines of their C-130H aircraft in synchronized order, then turned in unison to taxi down the runway. One by one, all eight made their way around the flightline in preparation for takeoff. Inside, each of the planes prepared for different missions. Some of the planes had aeromedical evacuation teams preparing mock patients strapped to litters inside the aircraft. Some of the planes had paratroopers connecting to static lines that would pull their parachutes when they jumped out of the plane 1,000 feet off the ground and others had Special Tactics airmen settling in for a parachute drop from a much higher altitude where it would be up to them to pull their own chutes after free-falling part of the way down. Soon after takeoff, six of the C-130H aircraft dropped 60 paratroopers from the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command back onto Pope Airfield. Once those jumpers were safely on the ground, 30 Special Tactics airmen from the 21st Special Tactics Squadron followed them, performed high altitude, low opening military freefall jumps also onto Pope Airfield. The other two aircraft, containing aeromedical evacuation crews from the 36th and 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadrons, split off from the rest of the group and continued to conduct medical evacuation training. "This event was a testament to the men and women of the 440th," said Lt. Col. Jerry Wood, 95th Airlift Squadron commander. "It took a team effort from support functions, maintenance and operations; with all the variables and moving parts coming together in immaculate execution!" While the airdrop and aeromedical evacuation training is standard work for the airmen of the 440th Airlift Wing, doing it all at once was what made this training unique. All eight planes taking off within seconds of one another and dropping parachutes back onto the airfield from which they departed made for a very special day that airmen were proud to have been a part of. Lt. Col. Robert McCallum, Chief of Tactics for the 440th Operations Group summed up the day saying, "The fighting men and women of the 440th Airlift Wing know how to stick together and get the job done." The 440th Airlift Wing elephant walk on Pope Field. While the airdrop and aeromedical evacuation training is standard work for the airmen of the 440th Airlift Wing, doing it all at once was what made this training unique. MAJ. LISA RAY, Public Affairs, Pope Army Airfield, COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. Mayor Nat Robertson and the City Council Recognize Miss North Carolina, USA Olivia Olvera Date: May 22, 2014 Time: 3:30-5 p.m. Location: City Hall Vestibule Please join us in sending o• Miss Olvera to represent the City of Fayetteville and the State of North Carolina in the 63rd Miss USA Pageant. www.cityoayetteville.org www.faytv7.com www.fayettevilleoutfront.com Mayor Nat Robertson and the City Council Recognize Miss North Carolina, USA Olivia Olvera Date: May 22, 2014 Time: 3:30-5 p.m. Location: City Hall Vestibule Please join us in sending o• Miss Olvera to represent the City of Fayetteville and the State of North Carolina in the 63rd Miss USA Pageant. www.cityoayetteville.org www.faytv7.com www.fayettevilleoutfront.com Mayor Nat Robertson and the City Council Recognize Miss North Carolina, USA Olivia Olvera Date: May 22, 2014 Time: 3:30-5 p.m. Location: City Hall Vestibule Please join us in sending o• Miss Olvera to represent the City of Fayetteville and the State of North Carolina in the 63rd Miss USA Pageant. www.cityoayetteville.org www.faytv7.com www.fayettevilleoutfront.com Mayor Nat Robertson and the City Council Recognize Miss North Carolina, USA Olivia Olvera Date: May 22, 2014 Time: 3:30-5 p.m. Location: City Hall Vestibule Please join us in sending o• Miss Olvera to represent the City of Fayetteville and the State of North Carolina in the 63rd Miss USA Pageant. www.cityoayetteville.org www.faytv7.com www.fayettevilleoutfront.com Mayor Nat Robertson and the City Council Recognize Miss North Carolina, USA Olivia Olvera Date: May 22, 2014 Time: 3:30-5 p.m. Location: City Hall Vestibule Please join us in sending o• Miss Olvera to represent the City of Fayetteville and the State of North Carolina in the 63rd Miss USA Pageant. www.cityoayetteville.org www.faytv7.com www.fayettevilleoutfront.com