Pope Air Force Base Commander takes to the skies with the Golden Knights

On Monday morning Pope AFB Commander COL Merle Hart and Vice Commander COL J. P. Stokes visited the Golden Knights training grounds at Laurinburg-Maxton airport.  The day started out with low clouds and fog.

COL Merle Hart Skydives with the Golden Knights

Much of the morning the tandem passengers looked to the skies and waited patiently for the clouds to part.  The weather hold gave the Golden Knights Commander LTC Joe Martin some time to sit down and talk with COL Hart.  Just when it looked like the weather was going to get the best of us.  Blue skies started to peer through soft white clouds.  Four hours after the tandem briefing the Twin Otter propellers were spinning and we were on our way.  SFC Mike Elliott took COL Hart, and SSG Joe Abeln took COL Stokes a former Army Soldier on his jump.

COL J.P. Stokes skydive with the Golden Knights Tandem Team

Both jumpers experienced their first free fall jump with Golden Knights and they were not disappointed. Ltate in the afternoon, COL Hart left with a great experience with the Golden Knights Tandem Team.

COL Merle Hart receives first jump training