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ltdiver

Allied Troops train at Eloy

By ltdiver, in General Skydiving Discussions

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ltdiver    3

ltdiver
Interesting news article, with quotes from b^2, on other countries sending troops to be trained in at Skydive AZ.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14330343&BRD=1817&PAG=461&dept_id=222087&rfi=6

ELOY - Allied troops are training in Eloy, preparing themselves to join the war on terrorism.


Eloy may be known throughout the world for being the mecca of skydiving; it may soon be known for its role in the fight on terror. The number of countries sending troops to train here is increasing.

Larry Hill, owner of Skydive Arizona, said five allied countries, whose names cannot be released, have special forces training here.

Troops from two nations are ready to depart for their native countries for a week prior to being deployed to Afghanistan, said Betsy Barnhouse, a Skydive Arizona spokeswoman. "It is imperative they get their training in a desert environment."

"There are going to be some people who will not be very happy when they arrive in their back yard," Hill said.

Not many centers in the country can offer this type of training.

One of the main reasons they train here rather than in their native country is because they're able to make night jumps in a similar environment to the one they will be facing.

"These guys actually go out after terrorists," Hill said.

They are able to practice "HALO," high altitude, low opening; "HAHO," high altitude, high opening; night jumps; and medical treatment exercises.

In HALO the troops are taken to altitudes in excess of 25,000 feet and taught to deploy at a low parachute opening, Hill said. The aircraft are equipped with oxygen for them to use at high altitudes.

In the early days under round parachutes, soldiers would jump out of the plane one at a time with no idea of where they landed or worse, where their comrades had landed. At Skydive Arizona they are learning to jump out as a group, much like the world champion team Arizona Airspeed, and to land without losing others' locations.

The troops utilize nine aircraft, which allow them to drop 200 people at a time. The troops carry 150 pounds of equipment along with mock weapons. They are jumping out of different planes with different doors so they can get familiar with the different situations, Barnhouse said.

They're jumping with what they need to go out in the field, Hill said. Skydive Arizona is able to train special forces teams, making them more efficient, safer and more effective, and allowing concentrated training in both day and night jumps.

The countries have found a diamond in the desert when it comes to training.

Because of the military training the troops have received over the last couple of years, Hill said, the nations are sending not only their advance troops but also their basic troops.

While at Skydive Arizona, the troops go from a zero license to a B license, with 100 jumps required.

Hill said he has won the contract over other centers because they have the aircraft, staff, success rate and an amazing safety rate in training. "We have had only one injury in military operation training this year."

"At their homes, results are not as great as ours," he said. They cannot get enough jumps in, so they contract out to civilians to do the training.

One other reason for choosing Skydive Arizona is because of its wind tunnel, Hill said. While the wind tunnel is not complete, he has already booked training time.

The wind tunnel is not only a benefit to the civilians, it is also a benefit to military trainees. It will enable them to train with their equipment and instructors in a safer environment.

Due to the size of the field at Skydive Arizona, not only do military forces send their troops to train in Eloy, but federations send their national champions to train here as well.

"They now know skydiving can be fun, not just a job," Hill said.

The local economy benefits from them training here, Barnhouse said. They put a lot of money back into the local economy by staying in the motels, eating in area restaurants.

During their down periods, they do a lot of the things regular tourists do such as renting cars to go shopping, visit Picacho Peak, enjoy the nightlife and some take the hour drive to Phoenix.

Hill said some have even entered into contracts with the local hotels. They are sending 65 to 100 people at a time using commercial airlines.

Barnhouse said the troops started by coming out for two weeks; now they stay for four weeks at a time.

Outside the prison and the city of Eloy, Hill is probably the largest employer in Eloy. He said he has been here since 1991 and has watched manufacturers such as Glasstite and Marley Cooling Tower come and go. "Apparently I've done something right."


©Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. 2005

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

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derekorr    0

derekorr
Hey Rob the SARTECHS did great, we had a busy camp of doing everything from basic PFF up to 4way training. And the guys were able to do some informal information exchange with the allied military groups that the article refers to.

Thankfully they did not have to many "customers" for their paramedic skills.

Thanks again to Betsy! for her support and bending over backwards for us and the other military groups

Derek Orr
Derek Orr
CSPA 6620
D-633
IA,IB,IPFF,C1,C2 & Master Course Facilitator

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