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Soldiers, Families enjoy day together
by 2nd Lt. Kristina N. Clark
2nd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div.
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photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo/Special to the Paraglide
Staff Sgt. Bernardo Mota, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, left, helps Devon Foreman rappel down the incline wall during Family Day event Sept. 18. |
Opportunities to spend time with friends and Family are always much appreciated, especially for paratroopers in the fast-paced 82nd Airborne Division.
Paratroopers and their Families from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Special Troops Battalion, also known as the Green Falcons, participated in their first battalion Family Day Sept. 18. The event gave Family members a chance to see what their paratroopers do from day to day, while also providing an opportunity to relax and spend some quality time among friends and Family.
Some of the events that were featured were the 34-foot jump tower, the rappel tower and static displays. There was also a child-sized rappel tower for young paratroopers-in-training.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Kirk Haeuptle, the brother of Lt. Elise Cullen of Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
The day was also an opportunity for Family members to experience what paratroopers seem to enjoy doing every day — jumping out of perfectly good airplanes. Although participants wouldn’t get credit on their jump logs, jumping out of the 34-foot towers definitely gave them the feeling of leaving a mock plane and gliding in smoothly for a landing.
“I just don’t know how ya’ll do it, but I did have fun,” said Sebe Nieves, wife of 1st Sgt. Ricardo Nieves of Co. C.
After the activities began, the paratroopers and their Families all gathered at McKellar’s Lodge to enjoy some barbecue cooked by Peter Benac from American Spirit BBQ. American Spirit BBQ is part of a nationwide movement called “Operation BBQ,” devoted to supporting military BBQ’s across the nation.
Leslie Parker, the battalion’s Family readiness support assistant, coordinated the BBQ and all of the day’s activities. She said the event was a great way for Families to get a taste of Army life.
“Paratroopers work hard every day,” Parker said. “This event gives Families a chance to spend time with their loved ones and experience what it’s like being a Soldier.”
The unit plans to make Family Day an annual event.
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