Checkertails to host Golden Knights

Published April 1, 2015
By 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- During the Gulf Coast Salute open house and air show April 11 and 12, the U.S. Army Parachute Team nicknamed the Golden Knights, will be performing their parachute demonstrations at Tyndall.

According to their website, the team travels around the world, performing parachute demonstrations at air shows, major league football and baseball games, and special events, connecting the Army with the American people.

The team originated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1959. At the time, the Russians dominated the relatively new sport of skydiving, and were unbeatable at the international competitions. Thirteen intrepid airborne soldiers saw an opportunity to beat the Soviets at their own game and began practicing to meet the world as the first U.S. military parachute team.

Success came quickly, as the team began bringing home gold medals and winning the hearts of the American public. The fledgling team's mission was to assist in the development of modern parachuting techniques, to provide world-class competition parachutists, and to perform live aerial demonstrations in support of Army public relations and recruiting.

Over the past 50 years, the team has grown to more than 90 people, including jumpers, pilots, administrators, parachute technicians, and media relations and supply specialists. The demonstration teams perform more than 100 demonstrations a year with the help of the team's four dedicated aircraft. The team represents the finest of soldiers and personifies the Army Values, showing the world the professionalism, precision, and discipline of today's modern Army.

The Team's mission today, as part of the U.S. Army Marketing and Research Group, is to support the U.S. Army's recruiting and public relations efforts. To accomplish this, the Golden Knights conduct parachute demonstrations, tandem jumps and compete nationally and internationally in order to create a greater propensity to serve in the Army by helping connect America's people with America's Army. On order, the team provides direct support to special mission and special operations units with military free fall training.

Over the last 53 years, the United States Army Parachute team has created hundreds of millions of positive impressions for the Army by conducting over 16,000 shows in 50 states and 48 countries, reaching an average of 60,000 people per show, averaging over 30 million impressions annually.

The team domination of national and international competitions has already earned the U.S. Army an impressive 2,148 Gold; 1,117 Silver; and 693 Bronze Medals, as well as, having broken 348 world records.

In order to support this, the Aviation Detachment flies over 1,870 hours and conducts over 2,900 sorties annually.

For more information on the Golden Knights, visit the armygk.armylive.dodlive.mil.

Admission and parking for the open house and air show will be free, and security will be emphasized: no coolers (unless needed for medical reasons), pets, weapons, knives, glass bottles or containers will be allowed.

For more information on, please visit www.gulfcoastsalute.com, the official website for this year's air show.