MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The 908th Airlift Wing showed it is part of the total force team by aiding in the U.S. Army Montgomery Recruiting Battalion’s efforts to gain new members, by hosting a Tandem Camp with the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, Sept. 18 to Sept. 22, 2023, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
The Montgomery Recruiting Battalion requested the Golden Knights to support recruiting efforts in Alabama and the Florida panhandle.
The Montgomery Recruiting Battalion had already coordinated with Maxwell AFB’s Base Operations ran by the host unit, the 42nd Airbase Wing, to include use of the installation and creating a drop zone, but they still needed a facility.
Needing a location to pack parachutes, store equipment, conduct video editing, safety briefs, and jumper classes that also has flight line access was vital to enhancing the success of the Tandem Camp.
That’s where the 908th stepped in.
Since the 908th wasn’t using some of their hangars due to their remission from a C-130 tactical airlift mission to formal training mission for the new MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, the 908th Maintenance Group’s fuel cell hangar would be a perfect fit for what the demo team was needing.
“Partnerships are the lifeblood of the 908th,” explained 908th AW Deputy Commander, Col. Michael Bennett. “As we develop our new mission and begin training MH-139 students, our relationships with other military organizations … are necessary for our success. Today, the success of the Army’s recruiting efforts hinged on us at the 908th. With the help of our people and facilities, they were able to get their mission done.”
The Army had planned for 16 jumpers a day during a three-day period for a total of 48 jumpers.
Anticipating for the possibility of scheduled jumpers not being able to participate, yet still wanting to fill their allotted quota of jumpers, the 908th was provided an opportunity to have its members participate in a tandem jump.
Senior Airman Timothy Jordan, a a tilt rotor aircraft maintenance technician with the 908th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron who was named as the 908th Airlift Wing Airman of the Year for 2022, was selected to represent the wing for this opportunity.
Jordan, a Prattville, Alabama native, was excited all morning leading up boarding the aircraft. Once, he was climbing in, that changed slightly.
“I wasn’t nervous at all, just really excited,” explained Jordan. “Then when I was climbing in, I think some of the excitement gave way to some nervousness, but I was still excited.”
As Jordan came floating back to solid ground, his thoughts were already filled with enjoyment and looking for the next opportunity.
“I totally want to go again,” said Jordan. “If they asked right now, I would run to the front of the line.”
908th Maintenance Group Commander, Lt. Col. Stuart Martin, who is the commander in change of the hangar used by the Army for the week, was grateful that one of his Airmen could have a once in a lifetime experience.
“Senior Airman Jordan is probably going to need plastic surgery to remove his smile,” joked Martin. “He had a great time.”