Flying from south to north in a clear blue sky over Merrill Drop Zone, a C-130 - call sign "Teton 37" - disappeared into the glare of the early summer sun.
A moment later, it reappeared. Half a minute later and from over a mile high, nine soldiers serving with C Troop, 3rd Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment, exited the aircraft.
Their parachutes deployed as packed.
Perfectly.
"We're the first unit in the Army to jump with these new parachutes," 1st Lt. Chris Warner, the troop's operations officer, explained.
"The new RA1 parachute is the Cadillac of parachutes."
It also gives the troop an advantage if and when it jumps into combat.
An integral part of the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BfSB), the relatively newly formed 3-38 enhances the brigade's ability to conduct information collection, target acquisition and interdiction operations in support of land operations at the Corps level.
"We can jump farther from the drop zone and loiter longer in the air," Sgt. 1st Class Angelo Bumagat said.
"It is this ability to jump from a point farther away and then maneuver to where we need to land that gives us a greater advantage."
Replacing the 20-year-old MC (military canopy), the RA1 is a ram-air system that consists of a main parachute, reserve parachute, harness and container.
It is designed to allow insertion by both military free fall and double bag static line techniques depending on mission requirements.
The system allows for an increase in the jumper's rigged weight of up to four hundred and fifty pounds. Additionally, the system is designed to deliver jumpers safety from altitudes of 3,500 feet above ground level to 25,000 feet.
The higher the jump altitude, the farther a team of parachutists can maneuver toward an objective.
>>> C Troop, 3rd Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment was the first to test the RA1 parachute. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson
Watching the jump operations at Merrill were members of a new equipment training, or NET, team.
"These soldiers have been doing a great job," Timothy Norris, a NET team member said. "They are working out well as they perfect their tactical procedures."
Nearby, Sgt. Reggie Escomiendo climbed out of his harness and began gathering up his lines and parachute.
"Today was my eighth jump with the system, and it is just great," he said.
"It is quick, responsive and allows me to stay closer to the team as we near the drop zone. It is definitely a thinking man's parachute."
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