Members of the 700 AS prepare for Operation Toy Drop

First Lieutenant Patrick Croasdale, C-130 pilot, 700th Airlift Squadron, plots drop zones and prepares to participate in the 14th Annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop, taking place just outside of Fort Bragg, N.C. Dec 10. This is the second year that Dobbins ARB is participating in the toy drop. Approximately 1600 paratroopers from the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, 18th Airborne Corps and visiting paratroopers from across the nation will parachute from Dobbins’ C-130 aircraft and deliver new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to local children's homes and social service agencies. “This is the second year that Dobbins has had the opportunity to participate in the toy drop,” said Croasdale. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christina Bozeman)

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Members of the 700 AS prepare for Operation Toy Drop

Maj. Robert Light, assistant director of operations, and 1st Lt. Patrick Croasdale, C-130 pilot, 700th Airlift Squadron plot drop zones and prepare to participate in the 14th Annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop, taking place just outside of Fort Bragg, N.C. Dec 10. Croasdale uses physical maps while Light uses Combat Flight Planning Software (CGPS) to decide which “roads” in the sky to use. This is the second year that Dobbins ARB is participating in the toy drop. Approximately 1600 paratroopers from the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, 18th Airborne Corps and visiting paratroopers from across the nation will parachute from Dobbins’ C-130 aircraft and deliver new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to local children's homes and social service agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christina Bozeman)

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Members of the 700 AS prepare for Operation Toy Drop

Maj. Robert Light, assistant director of operations, and 1st Lt. Patrick Croasdale, C-130 pilot, 700th Airlift Squadron plot drop zones and prepare to participate in the 14th Annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop, taking place just outside of Fort Bragg, N.C. Dec 10. Croasdale uses physical maps while Light uses Combat Flight Planning Software (CGPS) to decide which “roads” in the sky to use. This is the second year that Dobbins ARB is participating in the toy drop. Approximately 1600 paratroopers from the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, 18th Airborne Corps and visiting paratroopers from across the nation will parachute from Dobbins’ C-130 aircraft and deliver new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to local children's homes and social service agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christina Bozeman)

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Members of the 700 AS prepare for Operation Toy Drop

Maj. Robert Light, assistant director of operations, 700th Airlift Squadron uses Combat Flight Planning Software (CGPS) to map directions and decide which “roads” in the sky to use during preparation to participate in the 14th Annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop, taking place just outside of Fort Bragg, N.C. Dec 10. “There are roads in the sky, similar to highways on the ground,” said Light. This is the second year that Dobbins ARB is participating in the toy drop. Approximately 1600 paratroopers from the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, 18th Airborne Corps and visiting paratroopers from across the nation will parachute from Dobbins’ C-130 aircraft and deliver new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to local children's homes and social service agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christina Bozeman)

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Members of the 700 AS prepare for Operation Toy Drop

Published Dec. 8, 2011
By Senior Airman Christina Bozeman
94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Pilots and crew members from the 700th Airlift Squadron at Dobbins Air Reserve Base are preparing to participate in the 14th Annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop, taking place just outside of Fort Bragg, N.C. Dec 10.

Hosted by the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, Operation Toy Drop is a staple in the Fort Bragg community, and gives reserve and active components of the Army and Air Force the opportunity to combine efforts and give back to the families and communities that support them throughout the year.

Approximately 1600 paratroopers from the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, 18th Airborne Corps and visiting paratroopers from across the nation will parachute from Dobbins' C-130 aircraft and deliver new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to local children's homes and social service agencies.

"This is the second year that Dobbins has had the opportunity to participate in the toy drop," said 1st Lt. Patrick Croasdale, C-130 pilot, 700 AS. "It was formally supported by the 43rd Airlift Wing out of Pope Air Force Base, N.C.

Since Fort Bragg's first toy drop in1998, the operation has continued to grow, grossing more than 56,000 toy donations. Last year, the event drew more than 4,000 paratroopers, 10,900 toys, and 24 allied jumpmasters.

Maj. Robert Light, 700 AS assistant director of operations, and Croasdale carefully map the route from Dobbins ARB to Pope AFB, and plot each drop zone in the 700 AS Mission Planning Room Dec. 8.

"All airborne operations require attention to detail and strategic routing," said Light. "There are roads in the sky, similar to highways on the ground."

The public is invited to attend Operation Toy Drop this Saturday at the Sicily Drop Zone, just outside of Fort Bragg. Attendees may also join the mission and donate an un-wrapped, new toy at the site.

Donations can also be sent to Commander, HHC, USACAPOC(A), USAR, AFRC-CPC, 2175 Reilly Road, Stop A, Attn: Toy Drop Elves: Becki Caldwell Fort Bragg, NC 28310-5200.