Paratrooper makes first jump with 1st Brigade Combat Team in Iraq

By Spc. Kayleigh J. Sjostrom
1st BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. PAO

Photos by Spc. Kayleigh J. Sjostrom/ 1st BCT/ 82nd Abn. Div. PAO Private 1st Class Matthew Fram, a chemical specialist with Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, waits on the airfield before loading the aircraft at Al Asad Airbase, Feb. 16. Fram was deployed with 1st Brigade to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom August 2009.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Pfc. Matthew Fram did not expect to make his first jump after Airborne School with 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq.

The chemical specialist with Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, made his first jump since graduating from the U.S. Army Airborne School at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Feb. 16.

The jump was planned to refresh the airborne skills of paratroopers for a potential partnered U.S.-Iraqi airborne training exercise this spring.

“I’m excited to be a part of this (airborne operation),” said Fram before to jumping. “I can’t wait to jump.”

The athletically-inclined Fram became a paratrooper through a natural process. He played hockey growing up and then lacrosse at Clark University in western Massachusetts.

During his senior year of college, Fram said he decided he wanted to do something different with his life. He joined the Army and attended Basic Combat Training Jan. 14, 2009, and graduated four months later.

“I wanted to do something exciting and being airborne definitely satisfied that,” he said.

After completing Airborne School, Fram was assigned to the 82nd Abn. Div. In August 2009, he deployed with 1st Brigade to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Paratroopers are required to make five successful jumps at Airborne School in order to become airborne qualified.

Fram made his sixth jump with 1st BCT while deployed.

“This is the most unique experience I have had since I joined,” said Fram. “Not too many people can say their first jump with division was in Iraq.”