Santa Claus makes it rain ... toys

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Hailey Haux
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  International Jump Week started with a bang this year as Santa Claus joined service members from different branches of the U.S. military and NATO troops for a toy drop Dec. 16 through 18.

With several different countries involved in Jump Week, it was a chance for everyone to get together and build relationships.

"The battlefield has changed, and we could be in a unified operation where I might need aerial support from one of these countries," said Army Capt. Toby Holland, 5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Company commander. "With those partnerships, when my unit has to go somewhere we all speak the same language logistically, tactically and professionally, which helps minimize delays in getting support."

Jump Week gives paratroopers from other countries a chance to do things they may not get to do in their country.

"We get to jump out the back of the aircraft here. We normally jump out of the side doors," said French Sgt. Chief Fabean Corbel. "In France, we are very close to each other when we jump because we are all running out so we have to watch out for other paratroopers in the air because of the proximity."

Building the relationships wasn't the only reason to participate in Jump Week. They all had an ulterior motive to join in the fun which was to assist with the toy drop.

"We decided to bring as many people as we could to help with the toy drop, " said German Master Sgt. Marcel Just, Airborne Battalion 313 air transport sergeant. "It is important to help the kids."

Uniting under the holiday spirit, there are several children that will be receiving presents at Christmas due to the help of everyone involved.

"In order to get on the aircraft, each one of them had an agreement with me to donate a toy for a little girl or boy as their admission," said Master Sgt. Franklin Barnett, Santa Claus. "It was great to be able to see the amazing morale and spirit of all the paratroopers. It didn't matter what country they were from, they were all excited and willing to donate to the children."

Being able to partake in Jump Week was a huge opportunity for Santa. Having more than 200 paratroopers take part in the first day of jumps, it left Santa with a lot of toys to deliver to the children. In the end there were more than 200 toys which ranked anywhere from a bike to a stuffed animal and they were all donated to several different organizations and children in the local community.

"We put this together to show our support for the community," said Chief Warrant Officer Eric Houchens, 5th Quartermaster technical airdrop inspector. "Santa was able to come from the North Pole and help us deliver some toys and we had people from all around participate. We hope that this grows into a bigger thing each year."