Army reservists drop in to Edwards for a visit

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman William A. O'Brien
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  About 100 Reservists from the Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command performed a proficiency jump from an Air Force C-130 Hercules here March 5.

Led by Maj. Gen. David Blackledge, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) Commanding General, the Soldiers did the jump because all airborne soldiers on jump status are required to jump at a minimum of every 90 days to keep their skills sharp.

"Airborne skills are very perishable so the requirement is when folks are on jump status, they need to jump at least every three months to keep their skills current and if they don't, we have to send them through training again," said General Blackledge. "So this was just a standard proficiency jump and it was great to be out here and participating with the Soldiers."

General Blackledge said he and his Soldiers enjoyed jumping at Edwards because of the nice conditions the base offers.

It was great, it's beautiful out here, very receptive base and location so it's great. I came from Ft. Bragg, where it's rainy and sleety so it's nice to come here," said General BlackIedge. "I had a great jump it was very good. I couldn't have asked for a better day. It was a nice, soft drop zone with low winds and we did a ramp jumps so we got the whole view so it was a great jump."

In addition to the opportunity to jump, General Blackledge said this offered him a chance to talk to his Soldiers and see what issues they were having.

"It's always great for me to be able to get out of my headquarters and see the Soldiers and talk to them and understand what the issues are at ground-level that I can affect at my level," he said. "But even more from an airborne standpoint, it's a long-standing tradition that commanders jump with their Soldiers and typically, commanders are the first ones out the door to lead their soldiers so it's always great to have that opportunity."

General Blackledge said this type of training is important to keep up with their training and always be prepared for the rigors of deployment.

"In civil affairs we support maneuver units and stability operations and of course, to support maneuver units, we need to be able to go where they go and go to the battle the way they go to the battle," said General Blackledge.


Brig. Gen. Gary Medvigy, commanding general of the 351st Civil Affairs Command in Mountain View, Calif., said this jump offered Air Force personnel an equally good opportunity to train as his Soldiers.

"Your air crews were training as much as we were," he said. "Not only the crew who's working with the passengers in the back getting ready to jump but the pilots and the aircrew upfront. It takes a lot of skill to safely conduct this kind of operation for both the Army and Air Force as well."

General Medvigy said our soft and large drop zones offered a great place for his troops to land.

"It's very unusual being so flat and so well groomed, so we thank the Air Force for that because it adds safety to the process because it adds safety and the drop zone is quite huge," said General Medvigy. "I haven't seen any injuries -- even minor ones so this was a good jump day."