First Soldier selected to jump in Operation Toy Drop
Specialist Ryan S. Mitchell, a mechanic and paratrooper stationed here, lined up the night before with a bag of toys in hand in hopes of being named as the First Soldier for the 20th annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop. Sgt. Ezekiel L. Polite, a unit supply specialist with 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, was in fact the first Soldier to line up. Polite allowed Mitchell to be the First Soldier, in his place since Polite was the First Soldier two years ago. Operation Toy Drop — a Ft. Bragg tradition and collective training exercise — is scheduled to run from Nov. 30 to Dec. 8, 2017, here. Operation Toy Drop combines U.S. Army Reserve personnel, dozens of volunteers, foreign jumpmasters, and toys for what is the world’s largest joint and combined airborne operation. (Photo by Spc. Jesse L. Artis Jr.)