RELEASE NUMBER: 140417-01
DATE POSTED: APRIL 17, 2014
US Special Forces, Honduran paratroopers exchange wings
by Capt. Steven Stubbs
Joint Task Force Bravo
SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras (USASOC News Service, April 17, 2014) - U.S. and Honduran service members exchanged jump wings after performing joint airborne operations training consisting of jumping from a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, on April 3, 2014.
U.S. Special Forces from the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) performed a 1,500 foot static line jump alongside the Honduran 2nd Combat Airborne Infantry Battalion. The joint-training allowed members from both nations to retain currency, while also strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and Honduran forces.
“It is a rewarding experience jumping with the Hondurans,” said a U.S. Special Forces member who participated in the training. “The techniques that they use are very similar to ours, so it’s almost like looking in a mirror when I watch them.”
In all, 32 Americans and 52 Hondurans made the jump to parachute safely to the Soto Cano airfield in what was deemed to be a highly-successful training exercise.
“It is a great honor to receive the Honduran jump wings from them but even greater to award them with a pair of ours,” he said.