CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo (Army News Service, April 30) -- U.S. paratroopers jumped into a Kosovo drop zone secured by U.S. Marines about one mile west of Vitina April 27.

The airborne operation was part of Express/Dynamic Response 2001, a NATO exercise.

The joint-service effort demonstrated the United States' ability to rapidly respond and deploy forces on short notice for any contingency, according to officials. It also displayed interoperability between the services.

"This was a good operational jump for us because we integrated close air support," said Maj. Brian M. Drinkwine, deputy commander, 1st Battalion, 508th Airborne Battalion Combat Team. "We were also tied in with the air assets that supported the fixed wing C-130s that conducted the airborne operation."

About 160 soldiers from 1st Bn., 508th ABCT, based in Vicenza, Italy, made the Kosovo jump from five C-130 Hercules aircraft. Air Force F-16 Falcon fighters covered the airborne insertion while 200 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Camp Le Jeune, N.C., provided ground security around the drop zone perimeter.

The soldiers conducted relief-in-place operations with the Marines after landing.

"The jump was worth the three-hour aircraft ride," said 1st Lt. Kevin M. Czarkowski, battalion liaison officer. "The operation today is what we train for all year round. It's great to apply our everyday training to the real world mission that keeps the peace in Kosovo."

The soldiers and Marines will conduct routine patrols, man traffic control points and perform other peacekeeping duties alongside KFOR soldiers throughout Kosovo for the next two weeks, officials said.

(Editor's note: Information is from a Task Force Falcon media release.)