LAKE OKEECHOBEE -- The 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) stationed out of Miami practiced parachute jumps into the Big O.
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LAKE OKEECHOBEE -- Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16.
"We are unique in our own right as we are part time reservists who leave our normal civilian lives to come together to complete Army readiness training to perform our duties overseas," explained Captain Jorge Intriago.
The C. Scott Driver Park served as the staging area for the event. The drop zone was near the center of Lake O.
This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world.
Maj. Matthew Westcott, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Deputy District Commander of the Jacksonville District was invited to a four-day Airborne refresher with the battalion for the exercise. Westcott is the first USACE engineer to successfully conduct a deliberate water jump into Lake Okeechobee.
The drop zone was North East near the center of Lake Okeechobee.
Partners for the exercise included the U.S. Coast Guard, USACE Jacksonville District, South Florida Water Management District, Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office.
