Paratroopers assigned to U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) host the annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop on Sicily Drop Zone at Fort Liberty Dec. 5-14.
This year, foreign jumpmasters and others will spend the week familiarizing themselves with the C-17 Globemaster, C-130H Hercules and C-27 Spartan aircraft they’ll be jumping from, and to train with Soldiers from USACAPOC(A), as well as the 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, Army Special Operations Command, and others.
OTD provides USACAPOC(A) and its subordinate commands the opportunity to improve airborne operation training, readiness, safety, and interoperability with partner nations and prepares Soldiers to execute their missions in support of combatant commanders around the globe. The traditional of OTD continues with Soldiers giving back to the local community through voluntary toy donations.
With a focused intensity on training, this year’s slots continue to be allocated in advance, with units and Soldiers knowing prior to arrival which days they will be jumping, and which partner nation they are working with. Currently jumpmasters from fourteen partner nations will attend OTD, working alongside U.S. Soldiers and expanding their collective experiences. As of 7 November 2023, the countries participating are Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom,
Wednesday, Dec. 6 | Jump Master Validation Jump
• 7 a.m. – 8:45 a.m., Green Ramp, Pope Air Field
• 8:30 a.m. – 9:35 a.m., Sicily Drop Zone, Fort Liberty
Thursday, Dec. 7 | Main airborne operations
6 a.m. – 10:45 a.m, Green Ramp, Pope Air Field
9:15 a.m. – 12:10 p.m, Sicily Drop Zone, Fort Liberty
Friday, Dec. 8 | Airborne operation
6 a.m. – 10:45 a.m, Green Ramp, Pope Air Field
8:55 a.m. – 12:10 p.m, Sicily Drop Zone, Fort Liberty
Wednesday, Dec. 13 | SOF Airborne operations
TBD a.m. – TBD p.m., Luzon Drop Zone, Fort Liberty
Combining the efforts of all three U.S. Army components (active duty, Reserve, National Guard), OTD also allows for the partnership with the U.S. Air Force with air crews from Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina and Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, as well as the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve who will handle the toy donations through their Toys for Tots program.
Originally began by the Staff Sgt. Randy Oler in 1998, this operation is designed to reinforce the interoperability of active and reserve units across the services, while increasing Soldier readiness and adding the bonus of helping children in need during the holiday season.
