Ft. Bragg paratroopers lead combined training exercise with U.K. Paratroopers, U.S. Marines

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Military aircraft can be seen flying over southeast North Carolina this week as paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg lead the division's largest bilateral training exercise in the past 20 years.

The Combined Joint Operational Access Exercise, or CJOAX, is a major milestone for the 82nd Airborne Division.

The program will help integrate a U.K. brigade into the division, allowing the two units to operate quickly and effectively in the event they were to deploy as a part of a coalition crisis response force.

A spokesperson from the 82nd Airborne Division says around 25 aircraft took part in training Monday night. Two of the planes were from the Royal Air Force, the rest of the C-17 and C-130 planes were from throughout the U.S.

Fort Bragg officials confirm approximately 50 paratroopers were taken to the hospital following a training exercise Monday night.

We're told approximately 3,500 soldiers are taking part in CJOAX, 900 of them are British paratroopers.

The base spokesperson we spoke with said we will likely not see as many aircraft again as what was seen flying over the Wilmington area Monday night.

Marines from the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune will also participate in the exercise this week.

Military officials say training exercise is expected to run from April 13 – 20.

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