We just returned from Asia where we accomplished OPERATION ASIA 2009 – the operation was again a great success!
Just a brief report of the facts:
In reference to the last operation in Asia this operation went smooth. 18 participants from 10 nations joined this remarkable operation. Our 3 host-units did a very good job and we felt very save and had a lot of fun during the training, diving, jumps and shooting. Like on former operations in Asia (Op Asia 2006 jumpmaster from Taiwan and during Op Asia 2007 a jumpmaster from Japan) we were glad to to welcome one Asian guest-jumpmaster in our team. We had the honour to having a LTC of the Force Recon Bn of the Philippine Marine Corps among our team who was authorized to award the Philippine Parachute Wings in different levels to our host units and participants.
Result:
In Thailand:
With the Airborne Division (former name PARU) of the Royal Thai Patrol Border Police
- parachute refresher training with Royal Thai Police Airborne School in Camp Naresuan
- intensively water-jump training with an experienced instructor of the Polish SF
- jumps from CN-235 Casa
- 1 water-jump in the ocean
- 2 jumps by static-line or 1 freefall on the DZ directly into Camp Naresuan
With the Parachute Training Centre of the Royal Thai Air Force jumps from an altitude of around 5000m:
- S/L qualified personnel: or 1 tandem jump from C-130 Hercules (ramp) with RT AF Tandem Masters
- Freefall qualified personnel: 1 freefall jump each from BT-67 (Dakota) and C-130 Hercules (ramp)
Cultural program:
- sight-seeing in Bangkok (Royal Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaeo and snake farm)
- sight-seeing and shopping in Hua Hin
- relaxing at the beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Thailand.
In Cambodia:
With Royal Cambodian Special Forces 911 Brigade
- dive training and dive in the ocean at the sea-shore of Sihanouk Ville
- 2 jumps by S/L or freefall from Mi-8 helicopter
- shooting with SF 911 Bde
- sight-seeing: - Phnom Penh (Royal Palace, S21 prison, “killing fields”),
- famous ruins of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom
Qualifications:
Following wings, badges and certificates were authentically awarded during „Operation Asien 2009“:
- Royal Thai Police Airborne wings in different levels (basic to freefall), awarded by the RT Pol. MG
- Royal Thai Air Force Airborne wings in different levels (basic to freefall), awarded by the RT AF Air Chief Marshall
- Philippine Airborne Wings in different levels (basic to master), awarded by a LTC of t. Philippine MC
- Royal Cambodian Airborne wings in different levels (static-line or freefall), awarded by the RCAF BG
- Royal Cambodian Commando Badge (honouree), awarded by the RCAF BG
- Royal Cambodian Scuba Dive Badge, awarded by the RCAF BG
Airborne all the way!
Stefan Eicker
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