DLA Distribution riggers help forge a unified front in joint airborne operation

Army parachute riggers at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Susquehanna marked a readiness milestone with a static line jump alongside airmen from the 148th Air Support Operations Squadron on April 30 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, a demonstration of rapid mobility and joint interoperability in support of Western Hemisphere and homeland defense missions.

The jump capped a months-long push to rebuild in-house airborne operations capabilities that had been supported externally since 2018. The section reestablished its organic capacity during a February training evolution, then expanded that momentum into April’s joint event.

“The progression from CH-47 Chinook operations into C-130 Hercules and UH-60 Black Hawk operations significantly increases our flexibility and operational adaptability,” said Army Staff Sgt. Edwin Perez, a parachute rigger at DLA Distribution Susquehanna who served as the primary jumpmaster for the operation. “Different aircraft platforms present different procedures, timing and mission considerations, so expanding our proficiency allows DLA Distribution Susquehanna riggers to integrate into a wider range of mission sets and support requirements.”

The April 30 operation brought together DLA Distribution riggers, the Air Force’s 148th ASOS, a unit of the 193rd Special Operations Wing, and a guest jumpmaster from the Army’s 5th Special Forces Group. A Pennsylvania Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk crew provided air support and handled pre-mission communications, while a joint jumpmaster team enforced current special operations and schoolhouse standards. DLA riggers also supported airmen with limited jump experience, underscoring a back-to-basics approach and smooth integration across services.

“Actively conducting airborne operations with multiple airframes and branches of service is vital in keeping us in touch with current trends, techniques and equipment,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 William Cook, material management chief at DLA Distribution Susquehanna. “We depend on the professionalism, knowledge and expertise of our riggers to ensure that all the Federal Supply Code 1670 items shipped from DLA Distribution Susquehanna to the warfighter are ready to contribute to the mission at hand.”

“Training together builds the shared understanding and seamless interoperability required for homeland defense missions,” Cook said. “When a crisis occurs, it’s often a joint force that’s deployed that maximizes the strengths of multiple organizations. Our training aids in preparation for that type of multi-organizational effort.”

“A unified posture depends on organizations being able to quickly integrate and operate effectively together under pressure,” Perez said. “Joint training events allow us to identify and solve friction points before they become problems during actual operations.”

Restoring the program required DLA riggers to handle the full spectrum of airborne planning and execution typically managed by separate staff sections. The team synchronized aircraft scheduling, drop zone selection and medical coverage, while also shoring up technical proficiency. Riggers certified across multiple parachute systems, completed inspections of existing stocks, recertified as inspectors and rebuilt the jumpmaster program through record audits and refresher training.

Inside the packing room, safety relies on deliberate redundancy. Each parachute is packed by a three-person team: a packer, an in-process inspector and a final inspector. Packers are generally junior enlisted soldiers; inspectors are noncommissioned or warrant officers. All personnel graduate from the Army’s Parachute Rigger Course and complete a rigorous certification cycle that blends frequent practice, written tests and live packing. During packing, the in-process inspector halts work at prescribed checkpoints to verify critical steps, and both the packer and in-process inspector sign a log to certify the pack met standards. A final inspector then conducts an external check before any chute reaches a jumper.

“The rigger motto, ‘I will be sure always,’ represents the level of responsibility and accountability required in our profession,” Perez said. “When supporting partner forces during joint operations, trust becomes one of the most important factors. Personnel from other organizations are placing confidence in the riggers’ training, certification, attention to detail and professionalism each time they use equipment prepared by our team. That trust is earned through consistency, adherence to technical standards, and maintaining a culture centered on safety and accountability.”

“We don’t just hope it works; we ensure it works through a multi-layered gauntlet of professional oversight,” Cook added.

Standing up the program in Susquehanna meant building new processes and governance rather than plugging into an existing framework, according to leaders.

“Getting the program to where it is today was a massive undertaking, primarily because of the sheer scope of what we had to rebuild from scratch,” Cook said.

“From a homeland defense and rapid-response perspective, versatility matters,” Perez said. “Reestablishing these capabilities also reinforces confidence in the DLA Distribution Susquehanna rigger program and demonstrates that our team can safely and professionally execute airborne operations while maintaining the standards expected of Army riggers.”

“Today, our fully restored program successfully packs parachutes and coordinates joint operations for units, representing a complete restoration of their organic airborne capabilities,” Cook said. “Seeing this team tackle this immense undertaking, all while pushing through red tape, is a testament to their absolute dedication to the airborne mission.”