Off we go into the wild blue yonder

Master Sgt. Jake Chandler, back to camera; Staff Sgts. Matthew Pich and Christopher Vroman, front row from left; and Tech. Sgt. Robert Parra, Staff Sgt. Michael McCormick and Tech. Sgt. Daniel Nestor, back row from left, perform a military free fall from a 403rd Wing C-130J Hercules March 18 in preparation for Keesler’s Angels Over the Bay Air Show and Open House March 19- 20. Sergeant Chandler is a combat control instructor supervisor and Sergeants Pich, Vroman and McCormick are combat control instructors in the 334th Training Squadron. Sergeant Parra is a combat control instructor and Sergeant Nestor is a tactical control party instructor with the 342nd TRS, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. A military free fall is a precision airborne insertion technique used by special operations teams. Forces can be accurately inserted miles from the intended landing area while carrying more than 100 pounds of equipment. Sergeant Chandler said the group was able to conduct nine training jumps, up to a combat equipment jump with 50-pound ruck sacks attached to their parachutes before leaving the plane at 10,000 feet. The instructors make quarterly jumps to remain proficient in their skills. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Wesley Bonin)