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U.S. Airmen jump alongside NATO partners during Falcon Leap 21
Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander, receives parachute training at Eindhoven Airport, Netherlands, Sept. 17, 2021. Harrigian is jumping alongside NATO allies as part of Falcon Leap 2021 to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Allied airborne mission Operation Market Garden during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)
Photo by: Senior Airman Branden Rae
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U.S. Airmen jump alongside NATO partners during Falcon Leap 21
Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander, is fitted for a harness and parachute as part of Falcon Leap 2021 at Eindhoven Airport, Netherlands, Sept. 17, 2021. As a multinational parachute exercise, Falcon Leap commemorates the 77th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, an Allied airborne mission during World War II, designed to capture three major bridges to reach Germany’s industrial heartland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)
Photo by: Senior Airman Branden Rae
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U.S. Airmen jump alongside NATO partners during Falcon Leap 21
Allied aircraft taxi along the runway at Eindhoven Airport, Netherlands, ahead of taking off to drop parajumpers for Falcon Leap 2021, Sept. 17, 2021. A multinational parachute exercise, Falcon Leap demonstrates the U.S.’s commitment to NATO allies who they have served alongside since World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)
Photo by: Senior Airman Branden Rae
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U.S. Airmen jump alongside NATO partners during Falcon Leap 21
Allied parajumpers participating in Falcon Leap 2021 float over a drop zone in the Netherlands, Sept. 18, 2021. During the exercise, U.S. forces conducted a series of integrated parachute drops alongside NATO allies from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)
Photo by: Senior Airman Branden Rae
Photo 5 of 5
U.S. Airmen jump alongside NATO partners during Falcon Leap 21
Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander, poses with a team of U.S. Air Force parajumpers at Eindhoven Airport ahead of their jump over the Netherlands, Sept. 18, 2021. During the exercise, U.S. forces conducted a series of integrated parachute drops alongside NATO allies from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)
Photo by: Senior Airman Branden Rae
U.S. Airmen from various organizations within U.S. Air Forces Europe – Air Forces Africa participated in Falcon Leap 21, a multinational parachute training exercise led by the Dutch air force at several military installations in the Netherlands. During the exercise, U.S. forces conducted a series of integrated parachute drops alongside NATO allies from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal.
As a multinational parachute exercise, Falcon Leap 21 takes inspiration from Operation Market Garden, an Allied World War II airborne mission. Operation Market Garden’s intent was to capture three major bridges to reach Germany’s industrial heartland. Several commemorations will take place throughout Falcon Leap to honor Operation Market Garden’s 77th anniversary.
“Falcon Leap 21 is an exciting opportunity because it gets to the very heart of USAFE-AFAFRICA’s mission, which is building strong relationships with our European allies and partners as we live, work and train alongside them,” said General Jeff Harrigian, USAFE-AFAFRICA commander. “Celebrating our shared values and experience during events like Falcon Leap reinforces the advantages of our Alliance and strengthens our readiness to respond to any challenge that confronts us.”
U.S. personnel participated in Falcon Leap 21, including Airmen from Headquarters USAFE-AFAFRICA, Ramstein Air Base, Germany; the 2d Air Support Operation Squadron, Vilsek, Germany; the 4th Air Support Operations Group, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, Germany; the 57th Rescue Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy; the 86th Operations Support Squadron, Ramstein AB; and the 435th Security Forces Squadron, Ramstein AB. Airmen and C-130J aircraft assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, and the 169th Airlift Squadron, 182d Airlift Wing, Peoria Air National Guard Base, Illinois also supported the exercise.
For more information, contact U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa Public Affairs at +49 06371-47-6558 or email usafepao.pao@us.af.mil or usafepa.pastaffdutyofficer@us.af.mil.
