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Paratroopers jump into Lake Okeechobee

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Published May 29, 2025
Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)
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Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)

Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)
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A paratrooper from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducts a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16, 2025. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)

Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)
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Maj. Matt Westcott, Jacksonville District Deputy District Engineer moves towards his rescue boat after conducting a deliberate water jump into Lake Okeechobee with paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)

Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)
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Maj. Matthew Westcott, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Deputy District Commander of the Jacksonville District conducts a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee with paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. He is the first USACE engineer to successfully conduct a deliberate water jump into Lake Okeechobee. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)

Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)
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Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)

Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)
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A paratrooper from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducts a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)

Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)
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Rescue boats wait to pick up paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., as they descend from a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16, 2025 (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)

Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)
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Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16, 2025 from a C-130 Hercules. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)

Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)
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Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conduct a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee, May. 16. This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Rankin)

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LAKE OKEECHOBEE -- May. 16, 2025 --  Paratroopers from the U.S. Army Reserve 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), stationed in Miami, Fla., conducted a Deliberate Water Jump into Lake Okeechobee,   This training event prepares the soldiers for potential water landings, maintain proficiency in water operations and highlights the unit's ability to perform airborne operations under challenging conditions and locations anywhere in the world.   Maj. Matthew Westcott, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Deputy District Commander of the Jacksonville District was invited to train with the battalion for the their exercise in Homestead and the jump into Lake Okeechobee the following day.  He is the first USACE engineer to successfully conduct a deliberate water jump into Lake Okeechobee.