New mockup allows 95th CA Brigade paratroopers to train more efficiently

By Spc. Jongsu Oh
95th CA Bde

December 15, 2011

	Photo by Spc. Jongsu Oh/95th CA Bde. 95th CA Brigade jumpmasters help secure static lines to a paratrooper during sustainment training in the brigade’s newly acquired aircraft mockup.

Before heading out to the drop zone, paratroopers from 95th Civil Affairs Brigade no longer need to borrow a mockup from another unit for initial manifest and sustainment training. On Nov. 8, the brigade received a new aircraft mock-up to help its paratroopers conduct sustainment training before they jump out of a real aircraft.

The most noticeable aspect of the mockup is the non-aerodynamic look of the tan, four-wheel trailer. But paratroopers who step inside will immediately recognize the typical cargo aircraft configuration of jump seats attached to the cabin walls, anchor line cables to hook up parachute static lines, red and green light signals, and light-emitting diode lighting for night operations.

“Actually, we can do four different types of aircraft with working jump lights—the CASA, Sherpa, UH-60 and CH-47,” said Sgt. 1st Class Scott Cartwright, the brigade air noncommissioned officer. “No other aircraft mock-up on Fort Bragg can do this.”

The custom-built mockup is the result of over a year of planning and design work by Cartwright. “I wanted certain details to work, to make it as realistic as possible,” Cartwright said.

A unique feature of the brigade’s mockup is a tow jump bar that was incorporated into the mockup. The tow jump bar allows jumpmasters to train on emergency procedures they would use if a parachute doesn’t fully deploy during jumps from a CASA aircraft. The twin-engine CASA aircraft is the workhorse for parachute jumps for special operations force Soldiers on Fort Bragg.

The brigade’s wingless fuselage can go most anywhere that it can be towed by a humvee. Now, the brigade paratroopers can perform just-in-time-pre-jump training at the drop zone right before their jumps.

“This is an exciting time for the airborne Soldiers in the unit. We now have amazing equipment dedicated to fulfill our growing passion on the airborne operations,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Arguello, a brigade ammunition NCO. “It’s one of the best and most realistic mock-ups that I’ve ever seen. A lot of time and effort was put in creating it.”

“It’s a ground-breaking move for the airborne Soldiers that will enhance their training capability for the future,” Cartwright said. “The mock-up will enable our Soldiers to train to the highest standard. It’s a real milestone for the brigade’s airborne training operations.”

Share