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13th MEU(SOC) Force Recon Drops in During Eager Mace 99

ALI AL SALEM AIR BASE, Kuwait (Mar 30, 1999) -- A brisk wind cuts across an empty stretch of desert. High above the earth, a KC-130 Hercules circles. Eyes scan the sky for any sign of its cargo now plummeting towards the earth, but it is invisible. For a minute that seems to drag on for hours, the sky is a clear slate of blue before they appear; one, then two, then all six little specks of gray, barely visible in the sunlight.

The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)'s Force Reconnaissance Platoon had the chance to practice their specialized training in a desert environment with the aid of KC-130s from Marine Transport and Aerial Refueling Squadron 352 during Exercise Eager Mace 99.

From an altitude of 13,000 feet, the Force Recon Plt. was able to practice two different methods of parachute insertion. High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) and High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) jumps were completed with full combat gear, increasing the practical value of the training.

Some civilians might pay for the rush of jumping out of an airplane, but for the Force Recon Marines, it's pure business. "It's not like skydiving. The Marine Corps has a way of taking the fun out of it by giving us 100 pound packs to carry between our legs," said Sgt. Steven Pope, 26, the platoon's parachute rigger from Aurora, Mo.

Although wearing all the gear is a little awkward, the platoon can't deny that there is something enjoyable about screaming towards the ground at more than 150 feet per second. "It's like a wind tunnel. The wind is hitting you all over. It's a real adrenaline rush," said SSgt. Martin Gallegos, 31, the Air Team's radio operator from Earth, Texas.

Keeping the team together in the air and during the landing was one of the goals for the training evolution. In a freefall environment, that is easier said than done. "We try to maintain stick integrity in the air, as close to each other as possible. Usually a five man team is all within a 20-yard-diameter circle. You have to make yourself 'bigger' and catch more air to keep your rate of decent the same as your team's," said Sgt. Charles Weiss, 31, assistant Light Reconnaissance Vehicle Team leader from Santa Monica, Calif.

Freefalling has definite applications in a desert environment, where lack of terrain features and high winds can scatter a reconnaissance team. "HALO is used to drop us over a pinpoint target. We open our chutes as low as 3500 feet to minimize our visibility to the enemy. The HALO team goes in at least 30 minutes prior to the HAHO team to mark the drop zone," said SSgt. Chad Baker, the platoon's Air Team leader.

With a clear target to land on and good communications, the remainder of the platoon can be dropped over the horizon and track more than 30 kilometers to reach the designated landing zone. "They can drop us off over safe territory and we can glide all the way to behind enemy lines undetected," according to Baker, a 30-year-old, Stroud, Okla. native.

As the jumpers reached the ground, they faced yet another challenge. Because of the high ground winds, the chutes did not deflate after landing and began dragging some of the Marines across the desert floor. "You can weigh 200 pounds and still get dragged, if you lose your cool and can't reach the toggle to release one of the straps," Weiss said.

For some of the Marines, jumping in these conditions was a new experience. "Most of the training we do is in China Lake, Calif. and it's pretty calm there. This was the first time I've jumped in winds this high," said Sgt. Jamie Pacheco, 29, one of the platoon's scouts and a Bell, Calif. native.

Gray rectangular forms grew closer and packs fell from below them. With a smooth motion, each jumper pulls his brakes, stalls in midair a few inches above ground and gently touches down. The wind briefly drags a few Marines before they regain control and deflate their canopies. Within minutes they are making their way to the rally point, eyes fixed on the sky as the KC-130 begins its next pass.

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