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Marine Forces Europe and Africa

United States Marine Corps

USAG Stuttgart, Germany
U.S., Romanian training goes airborne

By Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry | | June 07, 2010

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A Romanian paratrooper makes his exit from the back of a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130T Hercules aircraft, nearly 10,000 feet above Campia Turzii, June 2. A pair of KC-130T Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and VMGR-452 supported Romanian airborne troops in training, June 2-3.

A Romanian paratrooper makes his exit from the back of a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130T Hercules aircraft, nearly 10,000 feet above Campia Turzii, June 2. A pair of KC-130T Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and VMGR-452 supported Romanian airborne troops in training, June 2-3. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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A Romanian paratrooper makes a soft landing on the grassy fields of Campia Turzii, June 2. A pair of KC-130T Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and VMGR-452, provided support for about 75 Romanian airborne troops, June 2-3.

A Romanian paratrooper makes a soft landing on the grassy fields of Campia Turzii, June 2. A pair of KC-130T Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and VMGR-452, provided support for about 75 Romanian airborne troops, June 2-3. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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Gunnery Sgt. Gunnery Sgt. Robert Hopkins, a KC-130T loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, assists the Hercules flightcrew in positioning their aircraft on the flight line at Campia Turzii, Romania, June 2. Hopkins, a native of Providence, R.I., is one of 24 Marines from VMGR-234 and VMGR-452, currently deployed to Eastern Europe as the air combat element of the Black Sea Rotational Force Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

Gunnery Sgt. Gunnery Sgt. Robert Hopkins, a KC-130T loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, assists the Hercules flightcrew in positioning their aircraft on the flight line at Campia Turzii, Romania, June 2. Hopkins, a native of Providence, R.I., is one of 24 Marines from VMGR-234 and VMGR-452, currently deployed to Eastern Europe as the air combat element of the Black Sea Rotational Force Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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The flightcrew of a Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452 KC-130T Hercules pilot toward Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu Airfield following airborne training with Romanian paratroopers, June 3. Two dozen Marines from VMGR-452, out of Newburgh, N.Y., and VMGR-234, out of Fort Worth, Texas, are currently deployed as the air combat element of the Black Sea Rotational Force Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

The flightcrew of a Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452 KC-130T Hercules pilot toward Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu Airfield following airborne training with Romanian paratroopers, June 3. Two dozen Marines from VMGR-452, out of Newburgh, N.Y., and VMGR-234, out of Fort Worth, Texas, are currently deployed as the air combat element of the Black Sea Rotational Force Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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Gunnery Sgt. Robert Hopkins, a KC-130T loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, installs a jump platform on the paratroop door of a KC-130, June 2. A pair of KC-130 Hercules aircraft from VMGR-234 and VMGR-452 provided support for Romanian airborne training, June 2-3. The Marines and Romanian forces are slated to take to the skies again for more paratroop training, June 8-9.

Gunnery Sgt. Robert Hopkins, a KC-130T loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, installs a jump platform on the paratroop door of a KC-130, June 2. A pair of KC-130 Hercules aircraft from VMGR-234 and VMGR-452 provided support for Romanian airborne training, June 2-3. The Marines and Romanian forces are slated to take to the skies again for more paratroop training, June 8-9. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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Romanian paratroopers float to the ground over Campia Turzii, Romania, June 2. A pair of KC-130T Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and VMGR-452, provided support for about 75 Romanian airborne troops, June 2-3.

Romanian paratroopers float to the ground over Campia Turzii, Romania, June 2. A pair of KC-130T Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and VMGR-452, provided support for about 75 Romanian airborne troops, June 2-3. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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Romanian static-line paratroopers enter a KC-130T Hercules Aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452, on the flight line of Campia Turzii, Romania, June 3. A pair of KC-130 Hercules aircraft, from VMGR-452, out of Newburgh, N.Y., and VMGR-234, out of Fort Worth, Texas, are currently deplooyed as the air combat element of the Black Sea Rotational Force Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

Romanian static-line paratroopers enter a KC-130T Hercules Aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452, on the flight line of Campia Turzii, Romania, June 3. A pair of KC-130 Hercules aircraft, from VMGR-452, out of Newburgh, N.Y., and VMGR-234, out of Fort Worth, Texas, are currently deplooyed as the air combat element of the Black Sea Rotational Force Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Perham, right, a jumpmaster from U.S. Army Europe, motivates Romanian static-line paratroopers jumping from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130T Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, June 2. Perham and two other U.S. Army jumpmasters provided their expertise to the airborne training conducted by U.S. and Romanian forces, June 2-3.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Perham, right, a jumpmaster from U.S. Army Europe, motivates Romanian static-line paratroopers jumping from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130T Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, June 2. Perham and two other U.S. Army jumpmasters provided their expertise to the airborne training conducted by U.S. and Romanian forces, June 2-3. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Perham, a jumpmaster from U.S. Army Europe, motivates Romanian static-line paratroopers jumping from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130T Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, June 2. Perham and two other U.S. Army jumpmasters provided their expertise to the airborne training conducted by U.S. and Romanian forces, June 2-3.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Perham, a jumpmaster from U.S. Army Europe, motivates Romanian static-line paratroopers jumping from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130T Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, June 2. Perham and two other U.S. Army jumpmasters provided their expertise to the airborne training conducted by U.S. and Romanian forces, June 2-3. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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Romanian paratroopers line the back of a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130T to conduct a military free fall jump, June 2. Romanian airborne troops performed both static-line and military free fall jumps, June 2-3, using a pair of KC-130T Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and VMGR-452, as their platform.

Romanian paratroopers line the back of a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130T to conduct a military free fall jump, June 2. Romanian airborne troops performed both static-line and military free fall jumps, June 2-3, using a pair of KC-130T Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and VMGR-452, as their platform. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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Romanian Staff Sgt. Ciobanu Ionel, a Romanian airborne soldier, repacks his parachute at Campia Turzii, Romania, June 3. About 75 Romanian paratroopers trained with U.S. Marines from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and VMGR-452, June 2-3. The Romanian and U.S. forces are scheduled to continue airborne training, June 8-9.

Romanian Staff Sgt. Ciobanu Ionel, a Romanian airborne soldier, repacks his parachute at Campia Turzii, Romania, June 3. About 75 Romanian paratroopers trained with U.S. Marines from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and VMGR-452, June 2-3. The Romanian and U.S. forces are scheduled to continue airborne training, June 8-9. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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Romanian Staff Sgt. Ciobanu Ionel, a Romanian airborne soldier, repacks his parachute at Campia Turzii, Romania, June 3. About 75 Romanian paratroopers trained with U.S. Marines from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and VMGR-452, June 2-3. The Romanian and U.S. forces are scheduled to continue airborne training, June 8-9.

Romanian Staff Sgt. Ciobanu Ionel, a Romanian airborne soldier, repacks his parachute at Campia Turzii, Romania, June 3. About 75 Romanian paratroopers trained with U.S. Marines from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and VMGR-452, June 2-3. The Romanian and U.S. forces are scheduled to continue airborne training, June 8-9. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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A Romanian paratrooper makes his landing on the grassy fields of Campia Turzii, June 3. Romanian paratroopers conducted static-line and military free fall airborne training with the help of U.S. Marine Corps KC-130 Hercules aircraft, June 2-3. Romanian and U.S. forces are slated to conduct more paratrooper training, June 8-9.

A Romanian paratrooper makes his landing on the grassy fields of Campia Turzii, June 3. Romanian paratroopers conducted static-line and military free fall airborne training with the help of U.S. Marine Corps KC-130 Hercules aircraft, June 2-3. Romanian and U.S. forces are slated to conduct more paratrooper training, June 8-9. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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A Romanian paratrooper soars in the skies over Campia Turzii, June 3. Romanian paratroopers conducted static-line and military free fall airborne training with the help of U.S. Marine Corps KC-130 Hercules aircraft, June 2-3. Romanian and U.S. forces are slated to conduct more paratrooper training, June 8-9.

A Romanian paratrooper soars in the skies over Campia Turzii, June 3. Romanian paratroopers conducted static-line and military free fall airborne training with the help of U.S. Marine Corps KC-130 Hercules aircraft, June 2-3. Romanian and U.S. forces are slated to conduct more paratrooper training, June 8-9. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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A Romanian paratrooper soars in the skies over Campia Turzii, June 3. Romanian paratroopers conducted static-line and military free fall airborne training with the help of U.S. Marine Corps KC-130 Hercules aircraft, June 2-3. Romanian and U.S. forces are slated to conduct more paratrooper training, June 8-9.

A Romanian paratrooper soars in the skies over Campia Turzii, June 3. Romanian paratroopers conducted static-line and military free fall airborne training with the help of U.S. Marine Corps KC-130 Hercules aircraft, June 2-3. Romanian and U.S. forces are slated to conduct more paratrooper training, June 8-9. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry)


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CAMPIA TURZII, Romania -- U.S. Marines and soldiers currently deployed to Eastern Europe for Black Sea Rotational Force 2010 conducted parachute training with Romanian airborne forces, June 2 – 3. The Marines and Romanian forces are scheduled to take to the skies again for additional training, June 8 – 9.

During the training, a pair of Marine Corps KC-130T Hercules aircraft dropped about 75 Romanian paratroopers from heights ranging from 1,250 feet above ground level to nearly 10,000 feet mean sea level, while U.S. Army jumpmasters offered their expertise for the execution of the event.

“It’s fun working with Romanians,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Ben Lipton, an Army Special Operations Command static-line jumpmaster from U.S. Army Europe. “There is a language barrier, but we have a common nomenclature. All paratroopers train similarly, they just accomplish it in different ways.”

The Romanian forces conducted both static-line and military free fall jumps. In a static-line jump, a troop’s parachute is automatically deployed as he exits the aircraft, where as in a military free fall jump, the paratrooper must deploy his own parachute.

“It’s always nice to jump from a C-130,” said Romanian Capt. Claudio Rotaru, a Romanian paratrooper who participated in the training. “I have a very good opinion of training with the U.S.”

The aircraft, one each from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, out of Fort Worth, Texas; and VMGR-452 out of Newburgh, N.Y., are currently deployed to Romania as the air combat element of the Black Sea Rotational Force Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Both 4th Marine Aircraft Wing squadrons are deployed to Romania with a compliment of reserve and active-duty Marines.

“The aircrew have been very motivated and extremely flexible,” said Lipton, who said the training event was his first time working with Marine aviators. “I’d be excited to work with Marines again.”

For the Marines of VMGR-234 and VMGR-452, training with Romanian forces in Romanian air space also created a unique experience.

“There’s some give and take, but both sides were able to do that equally to get the job done,” said U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mario Helpley, a native of Phoenix and a tactical systems operator with VMGR-452, of working with the Romanian land and air forces. “The Romanians’ ‘can do’ and ‘get the job done’ attitudes match up quite well with Marine Corps philosophies.”

But Black Sea Rotational Force’s support of the Romanian airborne training wasn’t limited to the skies. Communication Marines from 1st Tank Battalion, deployed out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., served as the aviators’ eyes and ears on the ground. 1st Tank Bn. forms the core of the Security Cooperation MAGTF deployed for Black Sea Rotational Force.

“This was all about the mission – get the mission done, and get it done safely,” said Lance Cpl. John A. Lamecker, a field radio operator with 1st Tank Battalion, who supported the training. “The Marines were ready to train, and the Romanians were ready to learn. The Romanians knew what they were doing, but this helped give them a little more experience.”



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