U.S. Army paratrooper Staff Sgt. Joshua Jones helps Staff Sgt. Darek Golec with his parachute during Leapfest XXXI in Kingston, R.I., July 29, 2014. Leapfest is an airborne parachute competition sponsored by th More
A British Paratrooper performs a Parachute Land and Fall (PLF) during Leapfest XXXI in Kingston, RI., July 30, 2014. Leapfest is an Airborne parachute competition sponsored by the Rhode Island National Guard to More
U.S. Army Chaplain (Maj) Tim Bourquin demonstrates Prejump procedures to international paratroopers during Leapfest XXXI in Kingston, RI., July 30, 2014. Leapfest is an Airborne parachute competition sponsored More
The British paratrooper team from the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery poses for a team picture during Leapfest XXXI, in Kingston, R.I., Aug. 2, 2014. Leapfest is an airborne parachute competition s More
U.S. Army Master Sgt. Scott McCoid, assigned to Special Operations Detachment Global, Coventry, R.I., checks for towed jumpers during a familiarization jump for Leapfest, July 28, 2015, in West Kingston, R.I. L More
Paratroopers from the Netherlands aid each other in the donning of their MC-6 parachutes during in the familiarization jump at Leapfest, July 29, 2015. Leapfest is an international parachute competition hosted More
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Horace Murray documents a jumpmaster showing how to perform static line control when jumping out of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during Operation Leapfest in West Kingston, R.I., July 29, More
Soldiers from the Netherlands Army rig each other’s parachute at Leapfest in West Kingston, R.I., July 29, 2015. Leapfest is an international parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island More
Members from the South African parachute team secure their parachutes before a familiarization jump at Leapfest 2015 at the University of Rhode Island West Kingston campus July 29. Leapfest is an international More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brian Fox, a rigger with the 165th Quartermaster Company from Seymour, Ind., checks the parachute of an Italian paratrooper in preparation for a familiarization jump at Kingstown, R.I., Jul More
A South African paratrooper hooks up to a static line in preparation for the familiarization jump at Leapfest, July 29, 2015. Leapfest is an international parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, More
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class James Cartier, NCOIC of the Riggers, assigned to the 56th Troop Command, checks a parachute during repacking following a jump at Leapfest, July 30, 2015. Leapfest is an international pa More
A static dispaly shows the name and parts of a MC-6 parachute system that is used in the rigger facility on Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich, R.I., July 30, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition More
U.S. Army Sgt. Deric Singer from the 165th Quartermaster Company out of Seymour, Ind., uses a stow hook to stow suspension lines in a parachute for Leapfest, July 30, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachu More
U.S. Army Sgt. Matt Purdy and Pfc. Erick Burgeson of the Indiana National Guard 165th Quartermaster Company Detachment 1 pack an MC-6 parachute in support of Operation Leapfest in West Kingston, R.I., July 30, More
U.S. Army and partner nation paratroopers exit the tailgate of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during Leapfest 2015 in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition hosted by More
CH-47 Chinook helicopters stand ready for paratroopers participating in Leapfest in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode More
Paratroops rendered their salute when the colors of the flags were presented at the opening ceremony of Leapfest 2015 in West Kingstown, R.I., Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition ho More
U.S. Army Capt. Loren Teillon, from the 982nd COMCAM, stands at attention along with other Soldiers attending the opening ceremony of Leapfest, Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an international parachute competition More
Canadian Capt. Noel Mark from the 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment and his team receives the Lt. Col. Robert F. Ward Award during the awards ceremony, Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute comp More
U.S. and partner nations stand in formation for the opening ceremony of Leapfest, West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Is More
A U.S. Army paratrooper races toward the finishing point at Leapfest 2015 in West Kingstown, R.I., Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island More
British paratrooper Dominic Gardner-Wright takes part in Sustained Airborne Training prior to a wing exchange jump at Leapfest, West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 3, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competit More
A group of U.S. Army Paratroopers and Parartroopers from Partner Nations all gather inside a auditorium to conduct a briefing for the rules for Leapfest 2016 at the University of Rhode Island, West Kingston, R. More
A U.S. Army Paratrooper wins a raffle drawing of a World War II B-17 Bomber(Fighter Plane) from the 56th troop Command at the Leapfest Awards Banquet at the Hyatt Hotel in Newport, R.I., Aug. 7, 2016. The paint More
A group of Czech Paratroopers carries their parachutes to the rigging location during Leapfest 2016 at the University of Rhode Island, West Kingston, R.I., August 6, 2016. Leapfest is the largest, longest stand More
British Paratroopers pose for photos during Leapfest 2016 in West Kingston, R.I., August 4, 2016. Leapfest is an International parachute training event and competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Is More
Mexican Army Paratrooper jump wings wait to be awarded at a wings exchange ceremony during Leapfest on a drop zone in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 8, 2016. Leapfest is an International parachute training event and More
Canadian paratroopers buddy rig MC-6 parachutes in West Kingston, R.I., August 8, 2016. Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event and competition hosted by th More
U.S. Army Paratrooper Master Sgt. Gorden Shute gathers his parachute after landing on Drop Zone Castle during a foreign wing exchange jump as part of Leapfest 2016 in West Kingston, R.I., August 8, 2016. Leapfe More
A group of German Paratroopers practices to keeping a good tight body position during Leapfest 2016 at the University of Rhode Island in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 6, 2016. Leapfest is the largest, longest stan More
A U.S. Army crop irrigation truck waters crop soil during Leapfest on the Pick Up Zone, in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 8, 2016. Leapfest is an International parachute training event and competition hosted by the More
An Italian paratrooper don his MC-6 parachute to jump out of a CH-47 F Chinook Helicopter during Leapfest 2017 at the University of Rhode Island, West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 1, 2017. Leapfest is the largest, long More
A Botswana Jump Master presents Botswana Parachutist Badges to paratroopers during Leapfest 2017 at the University of Rhode Island, West Kingston, R.I., August 6, 2017. Leapfest is the largest, longest standing More
Canadian paratroopers wait to board a CH-47 Chinook during Leapfest 2018 at West Kingston, RI., August 1, 2018. Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event and More
U.S. Army paratrooper Staff Sgt. Darek Golec helps a New Zealand paratrooper put on a parachute during Leapfest XXXI in Kingston, R.I., July 29, 2014. Leapfest is an airborne parachute competition sponsored by More
A German Paratrooper waits to load onto a CH-47 Chinook during Leapfest XXXI in Kingston, R.I., July 30, 2014. Leapfest is an Airborne parachute competition sponsored by the Rhode Island National Guard to promo More
Italian Paratroopers prepare for a jump during Leapfest XXXI in Kingston, R.I., July 30, 2014. Leapfest is an Airborne parachute competition sponsored by the Rhode Island National Guard to promote high level te More
Team 20 of New Zealand poses for a team picture during Leapfest XXXI, in Kingston, R.I., Aug. 2, 2014. Leapfest is an airborne parachute competition sponsored by the Rhode Island National Guard to promote high More
A Canadian paratrooper prepares for a familiarization jump prior to competing in Leapfest July 28, 2015, in West Kingston, R.I. Leapfest is an airborne parachute competition sponsored by the R.I. National Guard More
Rhode Island National Guard uses CH-47 Chinooks for airborne operations during Leapfest 2015 at the University of Rhode Island West Kingston campus July 29. Leapfest is an international parachute competition ho More
Dutch paratroopers aid each other in the donning of their MC-6 parachutes during in the familiarization jump at Leapfest, July 29, 2015. Leapfest is an international parachute competition hosted by the 56th Tro More
Paratroopers exit a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter over West Kingston, R.I., July 29, 2015. Leapfest is an international parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island National Guard t More
U.S. Army Cpl. Jeffrey Tichenor assists United Kingdom paratrooper Capt. Drew Houston donning his parachute in preparation for a familiarization jump, July 29, 2015. Leapfest is an international parachute compe More
Sgt. Owen Jones assists his commander, Capt. Sam Cooper, both from the United Kingdom and members of the 7th Para Royal Horse Artillery, in the rigging of his parachute at the familiarization jump, July 29, 201 More
Soldiers from the Netherlands army rig each other's parachute at Leapfest in West Kingston, R.I., July 29 2015. Leapfest is an international parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brian Fox, with the 165th Quatermaster Company, Indiana Army National Guard, checks the elastic bands on the static line of a MC-6 parachute that willl be used in Leapfest, East Greenwich, More
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Derek Golec, a rigger assigned to Det. 1, 165th Quartermaster Company, Ind. National Guard, checks a parachute during repacking following a jump at Leapfest, July 30, 2015. Leapfest is More
Parachute riggers from the Indiana National Guard, 165th Quartermaster Company, Det. 1, pack MC-6 parachutes for Operation Leapfest in West Kingston, R.I., July 30, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute More
The judges of Leapfest render their salute toward the colors of the flag at the opening ceremony of Leapfest 2015 in West Kingstown, R.I., Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition hoste More
U.S. Army paratroopers line up to jump out of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Leapfest 2015 in West Kingstown, R.I., Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Com More
A U.S. Army Spc. Sea Griffin from the 56th Troop Command, checks his log as a parachute is issued to Italian Soldier Antonio Serra, Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition hosted by the More
U.S. Army soldiers walk toward a drop zone to act as judges for paratroopers participating in Leapfest in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition hosted by the 56th More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Justin Morelli and Sgt. Austin Berner, members of the 982nd Combat Camera Company (Airborne), work as a team rigging each other in their MC-6 parachutes for an international Wing exchange j More
Paratroopers watch a CH-47 Chinook land prior to a wing exchange jump at Leapfest in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 3, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode More
British Paratroopers on Team 15 from 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron, 16 (Air Assault) Bragade, pose for photos during Leapfest 2016 in West Kingston, R.I., August 4, 2016. Leapfest is an International parach More
Two British Paratroopers helps each other rig their MC-6 Parachute during Leapfest 2016 at the University of Rhode Island, West Kingston, R.I., August 6, 2016. Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, interna More
U.S. Army 56th Troop Command Rhode Island National Guard awards a South African Army Paratrooper The Colonel Adrian Schoeman Award(Distinguished Paratrooper Award) for being the oldest Paratrooper to jump at Le More
Partner nation Paratrooper's jump from a CH-47 Chanook onto Drop Zone Castle during a foreign wing exchange jump as part of Leapfest 2016 in West Kingston, R.I., August 8, 2016. Leapfest is an International par More
A group of U.S. Army Paratroopers and parter nations conduct a Parachute Landing Fall at the University of Rhode Island in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 6, 2016. Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, internati More
German Army Bronze Paratrooper jump wings wait to be awarded at a wings exchange ceremony during Leapfest on a drop zone in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 8, 2016. Leapfest is an International parachute training eve More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Edgar Delgado, a Jumpmaster assigned to Echo Company 1/507th parachute Infantry Regiment demonstrates pulling the reserve parachute during Leapfest on a pick-up zone in West Kingston, R.I., More
A Mexican paratrooper dons his MC-6 parachute to jump out of a CH-47 F Chinook Helicopter during Leapfest 2017 at the University of Rhode Island, West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 1, 2017. Leapfest is the largest, long More
U.S. Army paratroopers, from 2/160 Special Operations Aviation Regiment, takes 1st place in the team jump competition during Leapfest 2017 at the University of Rhode Island, West Kingston, R.I., August 6, 2017. More
Italian paratrooper Sgt. Bonacini waits to board a CH-47 Chinook during Leapfest 2018 at West Kingston, RI., August 1, 2018. Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute traini More
A German paratrooper inspects his parachute during Leapfest XXXI in Kingston, R.I., July 29, 2014. Leapfest is an airborne parachute competition sponsored by the Rhode Island National Guard to promote high leve More
British Paratrooper Cpl. Owen Jones, of the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, waits for load time with fellow Paratroopers during Leapfest XXXI in Kingston, R.I., July 30, 2014. Leapfest is an Airbo More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Jones hands a off a parachute during Leapfest XXXI, in Kingston, R.I., Aug. 2, 2014. Leapfest is an airborne parachute competition sponsored by the Rhode Island National Guard to pro More
International paratroopers prepare for a familiarization jump prior to competing in Leapfest July 28, 2015, in West Kingston, R.I. Leapfest is an airborne parachute competition sponsored by the R.I. National Gu More
A Dutch paratrooper waits as a U.S. Army rigger checks his MC-6 parachute during in the familiarization jump at Leapfest, July 29, 2015. Leapfest is an international parachute competition hosted by the 56th Tro More
South African Lt. George De Beer (left) and Rifleman Nick Van Vuran (right), both with the 3 Parachute Battalion South Africa Reserve Force, rig up U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jose Moreno's, with the 56th Command Rhode I More
German paratroopers practice aircraft procedures on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during Operation Leapfest in West Kingston, R.I., July 29, 2015. Leapfest is an international parachute competition hosted by the 5 More
Troops jump out of a CH-47 Chinook over the drop zone in West Kingston during Leapfest 2015, July 29. Leapfest is an international parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island National G More
U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Neary, 56th Troop Command Acting Brigade Commander, R.I. National Guard, removes his reserve parachute and harness after completing a successful jump at West Kingston, R.I., July 29, 20 More
U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Neary, 56th Troop Command Acting Brigade Commander, R.I. National Guard, assumes a prepared to land attitude before hitting the drop zone at West Kingston, R.I., July 29, 2015. Leapfest More
U.S. Army Pfc. Erick Burgeson, assigned to the Det. 1, 165th Quartermaster Company, Ind. National Guard, checks a parachute during repacking following a jump at Leapfest, July 30, 2015. Leapfest is an internati More
U.S. Army Sgt. Shad Kochenderfer of the Indiana National Guard 165th Quartermaster Company Det. 1, packs an MC-6 parachute in support of Operation Leapfest in West Kingston, R.I., July 30, 2015. Leapfest is an More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brian Fox a rigger with the 165th Quartermaster Company from Seymour, Ind. signs the log book of an MC-6 parachute after it was packed for Leapfest, July 30, 2015. Leapfest is an internati More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brain Fox, with the 165th Quartermaster Company, Indiana Army National Guard, inspects a MC-6 parachute for Leapfest, East Greenwich, R.I., July 30, 2015. Leapfest is an International parac More
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Micheal Wong, with the Special Operations Detachment Global Coventry, R.I., gives the one minute command for the paratroopers to get ready, at Leapfest in West Kingstown, R.I., Aug. More
Paratroopers descend from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter onto a drop zone at Leapfest in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode More
Civil Air Patrol Cadet Elliott Entin issues a life preserver to Italian Soldier Antonio Serra, Aug. 1, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Command, Rhode Island Nat More
Paratroopers file onto a CH-7 Chinook helicopter prior to a wing exchange jump at Leapfest in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 3, 2015. Leapfest is an International parachute competition hosted by the 56th Troop Comm More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Paul Norwood from B Company, 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment, Alaska National Guard, aids Italian 1st Lt. Antonio Nucera check the attachment of his reserve parachute for the wing ex More
A group of South African Paratroopers listen to a briefing for the rules for Leapfest 2016 at the University of Rhode Island, West Kingston, R.I., August 5, 2016. Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, inte More
British Paratroopers on Team 5 from 144 Parachute Medical Squadron, pose for photos during Leapfest 2016 in West Kingston, R.I., August 4, 2016. Leapfest is an International parachute training event and competi More
U.S. Army Paratroopers of Team 8 Detachment 2 165th Quartermaster Company receive awards for having the shortest jump time during Leapfest at the Hyatt Hotel in Newport, R.I., Aug. 7, 2016. Leapfest is the larg More
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Donald Varieur, assigned to Charlie Company, 1/143rd Airborne Infantry Regiment goes through pre-jump with a group of U.S. Army and Partner Nation Paratroopers during Leapfest 2016 at the Uni More
British Army, South African Army, and Dutch Paratroopers earn their Italian Army Airborne jump wings at a wings exchange ceremony during Leapfest on a drop zone in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 8, 2016. Leapfest is More
U.S. Army Paratrooper Master Sgt. Gorden Shute begins taking off his parachute harness after landing on Drop Zone Castle during a foreign wing exchange jump as part of Leapfest 2016 in West Kingston, R.I., Augu More
A group of U.S. Army and Italian Paratroopers perform parachute landing falls during Leapfest on a pick-up zone in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 8, 2016. Leapfest is an International parachute training event and co More
A group of U.S Army and German Paratroopers prepare to conduct a Parachute Landing Fall at the University of Rhode Island in West Kingston, R.I., Aug. 6, 2016. Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, interna More
British paratroopers buddy rig MC-6 parachutes in West Kingston, R.I., August 8, 2016. Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event and competition hosted by the More