WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The Wright-Patterson Air Force Base airfield at Area A was the scene of afternoon and nighttime joint-service paratroop drop training exercises March 19, the type of which haven't been conducted here for years.

About 50 Army Reserve special operations soldiers from the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion and the 346th Psychological Operations Company, based in Whitehall, Ohio, filled the skies over the base as they parachuted to a drop zone established near the runway. One by one, the paratroops jumped out of the aircraft with 100 pounds of equipment strapped to them from 1,250 feet above the ground as they descended back toward the drop zone.

The airlift support for the exercise was provided by aircrews flying two Marine Corps KC-130J aircraft from the 252 Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aerial Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Wright-Patterson AFB personnel who provided direct support to the exercise included members of the 88th Operations Support Squadron, 88th Security Forces Squadron, 788th Civil Engineer Squadron and 88th Medical Operations Squadron.

Coordinating all the arrangements and securing the necessary memorandum of agreement with the base to conduct the joint training exercise and get the drop zone approved were Army Reserve Maj. Christopher Schond, a jumpmaster and executive officer with the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion and Air Force Capt. Chelsea Silsby, 88th Airfield Operations Flight commander.

"This operation and future airborne operations conducted at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will enable both the United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command and Wright Patterson to enhance operational readiness and organizational response capabilities in support of global mission operational requirements," said Schond, who is also an Air Force civilian employee at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center here.

Schond added, "This newly established partnership will provide an immediate enhancement in the ability to successfully carry-out joint day or night tactical training by implementing realistic scenarios, resources, and infrastructure, which will pay enormous dividends in both near and long-term operations."

For many people, jumping out of a perfectly good airplane would not be something they'd want to do.

"When you first jump, I imagine that's what it would be like to be in a tornado," said Staff Sgt. William Centers of Beavercreek. "It's four seconds of mayhem and then it's complete silence."

Paratroopers in Saturday afternoon's jump escaped unhurt for the most part, although one airborne soldier had a scraped nose.

"This is a dangerous event," said Lt. Col. James P. Sanders, battalion commander and a jump master. "You're coming out of a plane with a hundred pounds of equipment, 75 pounds of chute. If the worst I come away with is a scratched nose, hey, we've had a good day."

Paratroopers receive rigorous training and must follow strict safety procedures, but Centers, who also performed drops in Afghanistan, said, "you definitely get a bit nervous."

"Obviously they're skilled jumpers, but as you know, if you don't use your training, it atrophies over time. This gives them a great opportunity so they don't lose those skills," said Col. John Devillier, 88th Air Base Wing commander.

The paratroops said the biggest difference between day jumps and night jumps is that they can't see where they're going to land because it's so dark. At night, they drop their equipment about 15 feet below them so when they hear it hit, they know when they're about to hit the ground shortly thereafter.

The 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) mobilizes, deploys, plans and conducts civil affairs operations with an orientation to the theater commander, according to Master Sgt. David Johnson, 412th Civil Affairs Battalion public affairs representative. Their soldiers provide support to shape and influence the actions of regional civilian populations by acting as a liaison between the local populace and the military commander in theater.

"I can see us wanting to jump here again," said Sanders. "We sincerely appreciate the joint cooperation and support we received here today."