More than a dozen Anchorage-based paratroopers were injured Tuesday when they fell into choppy weather and landed poorly during a drop exercise near Delta Junction, according to Army officials.
U.S. Army Alaska spokesperson Maj. Alan Brown says 18 paratroopers, assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division's Special Troops Battalion, were injured during a jump from transport planes at the Donnelly Training Area.
"We had some variable weather conditions affecting the drop area," Brown said.
A ground unit awaiting the paratroopers during the drop sent 16 of the soldiers to the Bassett Army Community Hospital on Fort Wainwright by ambulance, while two were medevaced by air. Brown says most of the soldiers received light wounds common to parachute drops.
"Minor injuries: bumps, bruises, sprained ankles," Brown said. "Those kinds of things, they can treat pretty quickly."
While one of the paratroopers remains at Bassett in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries Thursday, Brown says the other 17 have been released and are back on active duty with the battalion, stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
Contact Chris Klint