Ft. Richardson Paratroopers head to Australia for exercise

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- Nearly 300 paratroopers from Fort Richardson headed for Australia Wednesday for Tandem Thrust, a three-week exercise.

The soldiers will perform in-flight parachute rigging and conduct a mass tactical jump into the Singleton Drop Zone on the southeast coast of Australia.

While in Australia, the Fort-Richardson-based paratroopers will conduct combined training with an Australian airborne battalion, including night training.

The soldiers will return to Alaska May 23rd.