Hasta La Vista: More than 140 Uruguayan airmen, marines, and soldiers for the first time parachuted out of the back end of an Air Force C-17 transport Nov. 4 as it flew over the skies of Montevideo, Uruguay. The exercise was part of Operation Southern Partner, Air Forces Southern’s two-week partnership-building endeavor in Latin America that concluded Nov. 7. “We couldn’t have picked a better day to jump,” said MSgt. David Hernandez, the drop zone coordinator from the 563rd Operational Support Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. The C-17, assigned to the 535th Airlift Squadron at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, made two trips from Carrasco International Airport near Montevideo to accommodate the Uruguayan jumpers, who landed at a local cattle ranch designated as the drop zone. (Montevideo report by TSgt. Roy Santana)
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.
