By Dahncye Baucom, 7th SFG(A).

Soldiers and Airmen participated in a four weeklong jumpmaster course on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Oct. 2-27, 2023. Jumpmaster school prepares students for precision parachute and airborne operations. The course consists of an intensive curriculum that equips them with the skills and knowledge to lead successful airborne missions.

“This is the 6th class that the 7th SFG(A) has run since the USASOC decertification back in 2020. We have had a consistent 60-70 students for the past 4 classes” said Master Sgt. Leonel D. Castillo, Special Operations Forces static line jumpmaster course (SOF-SLJMC) chief instructor. “My job was to make sure the students received accurate and up-to-date information and training.”

Jumpmaster school sets specific qualifications for its students. Prior to attending, candidates must complete the Basic Airborne Course (BAC) and earn their jump wings. Once they arrive, they undergo physically and mentally demanding training, ensuring they are prepared to make critical decisions in high-stress scenarios. The course consists of a Nomenclature Exam, Pre-Jump Exam, Written Exam, PWAC Exam, JMPI Exam, and Safety Duties Exam.

“The mission of the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Static Line Jumpmaster course is to train paratroopers in the skills necessary to perform jumpmaster duties during an airborne operation. This includes duties as the Airborne Commander, Primary and Assistant Jumpmaster, Safety, Departure Airfield Control Officer, and the Drop Zone Safety Officer,” said Castillo.

Photo: U.S. Paratroopers from 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) perform PWAC (Practical work inside the Aircraft) to become jumpmasters on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Oct. 26, 2023. Airmen and Soldiers worked together to certify as jumpmasters. (Photo by Spc. Christopher Sanchez)

The day before graduation, students conducted a Practical Work inside the Aircraft (PWAC) Exam. During this exam, they were graded on hand and arm signals, door check procedures, in an aircraft while in flight. These future jump masters learn to supervise parachute operations, focusing on safety, accuracy, and mission success. The curriculum covers everything from jump theory and aircraft procedures to proper equipment use and drop zone control.

“Going to Jumpmaster School made me a better paratrooper and a better teacher. To know and understand why things are the way they are in an Airborne operation, makes the difference between someone who is there to be there and someone who is there to serve a purpose bigger than us all” said Staff Sgt. Clayton Wider, Jr., a 92A, automated logistics specialist.

In the end, graduation from jumpmaster school marks a significant achievement, certifying the students as qualified jump masters ready for deployment. Their role is critical in ensuring the safety and success of airborne operations, making them a key component to their respective branches of the military. Jumpmaster school remains a crucial institution in the journey to becoming elite paratroopers, and its graduates stand as a testament to the dedication and discipline required to excel in this high-stakes field.

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This article by Staff Sgt. Dahncye Baucom of the 7th SFG(A) was first published on December 4, 2023, by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Top photo: U.S. Soldiers with 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conduct an airborne operation on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, October 26, 2023. The jump served as means for jumpmaster qualification and certification. (U.S. Army photos by Staff Sgt. Ryan Jenkins)

SOF News Update 20170621 – SOF general officer assignments, 7th SFGA CoC ceremony, WWII era Chindits, USSF birthday, USSOCOM eyes JLTV, profile of the executive director of the Green Beret Foundation, South Korean and U.S. SOF, photos of ‘SAS Wanderers’, Harris radio contract, 65th birthday of SF, Qatar SOF, and more.

7th SFGA CoC Ceremony. On Thursday, June 15, 2017 the 7th Special Forces Group held a change of command ceremony for it’s group commander. Colonel Michael Ball relinquished command of 7th SFGA to Colonel Patrick Colloton. The incoming commander has previously served with 7th SFGA as an ODA, company, and battalion commander. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) in 2001. Hmmmm. Young fella. It appears that 7th SFGA has adopted the name of “Red Empire” – not sure where that comes from. Read more in “Red Empire welcomes familiar face to take command”, Army.mil, June 19, 2017.

JLTV a Possibility for SOF. Various service components are eyeing the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle as their next generation multipurpose combat vehicle. United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is also interested – probably for their tactical air control elements and pararescuemen. Read “Everyone Wants a Piece of the New JLTV”, Task & Purpose, June 19, 2017.

65th Birthday of SF. Bob Mayer, book author and former Green Beret, shares his thoughts on the birthday of U.S. Army Special Forces in Special Forces turns 65 today, bobmayer.com, June 19, 2017.

Photos of “SAS Wanderers”. A collection of photographs has surfaced of British SAS Soldiers in Europe and Norway during World War II. (Daily Mail, June 19, 2017).

U.S. and S. Korean SOF. Tensions are rising on the Korean Peninsula. The Korean War, which has never formally ended, could flare up again. What role would United States and South Korean special operations forces have in another Korean conflict? Colonel (Ret) David Maxwell – a retired Green Beret and Associate Director for the Center for Security Studies at Georgetown University – provides his thoughts in “How U.S., South Korean Special Ops Would Join Forces in a New Korean War”, The Cipher Brief, June 18, 2017.

Harris Corps Gets Big Contract. The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has awarded Harris Corporation with a $255 million contract for next-generation manpack radios. (Business Wire, June 19, 2017).

Qatar SOF. The small Middle Eastern country of Qatar has been in the news lately. President Trump managed to insert himself into the middle of a dispute between Saudi Arabia, UAE, and other MENA countries and the country of Qatar by ‘tweeting’ about Qatar’s support of terrorists. Qatar is currently the recipient of an economic and diplomatic offensive by a number of countries due to differences in politics, diplomacy, and regional alignment (with a little ‘gas’ politics mixed in). Iran and Turkey, on the other hand, appear to be quite supportive of Qatar. It is unknown if President Trump was aware that Qatar hosts a U.S. naval base, air base, CENTCOM Forward, SOCCENT Forward, and ‘other SOF’ units for a total of about 11,000 service members. Read an article about Qatar SOF in “Qatar – Special Operational Forces”, New Delhi Times, June 19, 2017.

Trial of Jordanian Soldier Who Killed Three SF. The trial is ongoing for the soldier who shot and killed three Green Berets of 5th Special Forces Group on a Jordanian air base on November 4, 2016. Read “Witnesses Describe Jordan Shooting That Killed 3 US Troops”, Military.com, June 19, 2017.

Chindits in WWII. Read the story of a member, who recently passed away, of the World War II Long Range Penetration Group or “Chindits”. (Stourbridge News, June 19, 2017).

AFSOC GO Assignment. Vincent Becklund – currently deputy chief for the Office of Security Cooperation – Iraq – is to be the special assistant to the commander of Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

Story about Green Beret Foundation Exec Dir. Jennifer Paquette, the Executive Director of the Green Beret Foundation, is profiled in an inspiring story entitled “Hope Dealer: Jennifer Paquette”, House of Healing, June 18, 2017.

The BRCNA honored representatives from 7th SFGA.

(This story originally ran on December 7, 2016. Story by SSG Osvaldo Equite, Special Operations Command South).

www.dvidshub.net/news/218189/colombian-army-counter-narcotics-brigade-honors-us-special-forces

FLORENCIA, Colombia – Every December 7 for the past sixteen years, Colombian soldiers from the National Army’s Special Anti-drug Brigade (BRCNA) have gathered in Larandia, Florencia for an end-of-year ceremony to celebrate the unit’s anniversary and recognize distinguished service.

Unlike past award ceremonies, this year’s hot December day marked the first time U.S. Special Operations Command South assigned Green Berets marched their unit’s colors across the parade field.

Waving high beside its partner nations’ colors was B. Co., 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group’s (Airborne) guidon, representing years of U.S. Special Operations Forces’ commitment to BRCNA’s counter narcotics mission.

“Today we commemorate sixteen years of a permanent fight against drugs in a ceremony where all Colombians can recognize the special counternarcotic brigade’s hard work against drug trafficking,” said BRCNA Commander Colombian army Col. Walther G. Jimenez. “However, the ceremony is also an opportunity to thank all the people who have helped this brigade develop in its operations.”

Operations that for sixteen years have weakened drug trafficking along the foothills of the Andes mountain range in Colombia’s eastern cordillera.

Although USSOF worked with the unit during exchange training since its creation in December 2000, it was not until 2014 when the Green Berets began to train the BRCNA to meet operational needs, said a U.S. Special Forces team leader currently working with the Colombian special unit.

Since then, four Operational Detachment Alpha teams have made training recommendations to improve the BRCNA’s effectiveness based on planning observations and while monitoring the unit’s operations from miles away.

“They bring us that differential training that’s so important to us,” said the BRCNA commander. “Our soldiers are proud to receive the American Soldiers’ training and support that continues to make us better and better.”

According to a Colombian military report, since the unit’s activation 890 thousand hectares of coca cultivation have been destroyed, 107 tons of finished or in-process cocaine have been seized and destroyed, and 854 narco-terrorists of different illegal groups have been killed in combat or placed in the hands of authorities.

“Every time we do an operation we do better with the training and the assistance that the [7th SFG (A)] detachments give us,” said the BRCNA commander. “For those reasons, we decided to give them the medal that we receive when we go to combat.”

Fittingly, several general officers attended the ceremony and conferred the military medal, which is detailed with each of the Colombian army’s military branch colors, for “Distinguished Services in Operations against Drug Trafficking” onto the B. Co., 3rd Bn., 7th SFG’s (A) guidon.

“For us the award is in recognition of 7th group’s commitment to the unit,” said the ODA team leader, who has led the unit’s training in Larandia three times since 2014. “It signifies the importance of the relationship we have and solidifies that relationship going forward.”

“The 7th Special Forces Group Soldiers have always left the BRCNA unit in high regard,” said the BRCNA commander. “That is why all Colombian special forces soldiers recognize them, admire them, and respect them for all the work they do here.”

Notably, the BRCNA also individually recognized seven State Department members from the U.S. Embassy in Bogota with the same award, known in Spanish as the “Bandera de Guerra,” for their contributions to the unit.

“Salvadoran Soldiers and Special Operations personnel assigned to 1st Airborne Brigade and Special Forces Command completed Operation Serpiente, a joint air assault training mission led by members of the U.S. 7th Special Forces Group, Naval Special Warfare, and Joint Task Force-Bravo’s 1st Battalion 228th Aviation Regiment Nov. 28 – Dec. 2, at Ilopango Airport. Operation Serpiente was the largest air assault exercise of its kind to take place in El Salvador in recent years, requiring an expert level of partnership cooperation among ground and air assets.

“Synchronization of tasks and having different people working on different efforts, all at the same time, came together so we were prepared to conduct the training and the missions safely,” said Lt. Col. Richard Tucker, 1-228 AVN commander, “We worked with the Special Operations Forces teams here, who brought the specialized tactics and mission planning.” 1-228 AVN provided airlift support at the request of the U.S. Special Forces group, who are currently training three elements of Salvadoran forces.”

Read the rest of the story in “US, El Salvador forces execute air assault training”, DVIDS, December 13, 2016.

On this day – December 20, 1989 – Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama began. The operation arrested Maneul Noriega – the ruling dictator – and restored the government of Guillermo Endara.

Special Operations Command South (SOCSouth) was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone at Fort Clayton – occupying part of the on-base elementary school. 3rd Battalion 7th Special Forces Group was also based in the Panama Canal Zone. In the days prior to the invasion some U.S. military personnel flew in via commercial airlines. Many combat units parachuted into Panama to include the Army Rangers and 82nd Airborne Division.

Once combat operations ceased the conflict went into the stabilization mode – restoring public services, re-establishing the nation’s government, and re-training and recruiting for the country’s police forces. Many U.S. special operations forces were assigned throughout Panama to the rural areas to help with the implementation of the newly formed Panama Police Force. This phase of the operation was called Operation PROMOTE LIBERTY and lasted several months.

Read more:

“United States invasion of Panama”, Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_invasion_of_Panama

OPERATION JUST CAUSE Panama, Joint History Office, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1990, 99 pages. The author, Ronald H. Cole, describes the planning and execution of joint operations in Panama from February 1988 to January 1990.
www.dtic.mil/doctrine/doctrine/history/justcaus.pdf

“Operation Just Cause: the Invasion of Panama, December 1989”, Army.mil, Army Heritage and Education Center, November 17, 2008.

Operation JUST CAUSE: Navy SEALs in Panama, Navy SEAL Museum.

Operation JUST CAUSE
www.operationjustcause.us

Operation Just Cause: Lessons for Operations Other Than War, by Jennifer Taw, RAND Corporation, 1996, 55 pages.
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR569.html