POPE ARMY AIRFIELD, N.C. -- During the giving season, service members are helping to spread holiday cheer during the Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop, Dec. 8-12, 2025. The 43rd Air Mobility Operation Group (AMOG) and visiting Air Force units help spread merriment by providing necessary assistance to participating Army units. Airmen help by flying and maintaining aircraft, escorting paratroopers and some Airmen jump with the Army.
Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop started in 1998 as a way to collect toys to be donated to children in the local area. The 43rd AMOG mission is to Support, Train, and Project the Force. A way the 43rd AMOG projects the force is getting the Immediate Response Force (IRF) or any paratroopers out of Pope and into theater.
Paratroopers jump multiple times a quarter to maintain proficiency and keep their jump qualification. Paratroopers work with the 43rd AMOG to coordinate time to jump every quarter, often working together on maintaining and qualifying jumps. Working together assists with strengthening the relationship between the 43rd AMOG and units on Fort Bragg, explained Staff Sgt. Mitchell Brock, 43rd Air Mobily Squadron cargo specialist and Air Force noncommissioned officer in charge of the Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop.
Team Pope tenant units, like the 18th Combat Weather Squadron (CWS), work closely with Army counterparts on Fort Bragg for their missions. The 18th CWS work with the 18th Airborne Corps by providing necessary weather predictions and possible impacts on the mission. The 18th CWS and the 18th Airborne Corps invite each other to different events and operations to maintain an open relationship between them.
“We always try to collaborate on any events that we have going on, and we usually invite them out for events and vice versa,” said Senior Airman Melia Gore, 18th CWS combat weather parachutist. “Building those relationships by doing exercises together with all the different units across Bragg is super beneficial. Toy Drop is probably the most unique exercise that I personally think is going on out there right now. It doesn't have as many tactical objectives, but it's just as important for building those relationships for when we do eventually go downrange with these guys. Like, we will have that working relationship knowing that these guys can take care of their own.”
The operation met tactical needs, but the local impact is what most people volunteer for. Not everyone receives a gift during the holiday season. In 2024, after donating the collected gifts to Toys-for-Tots, 11,626 children in Cumberland County received presents. Typically, during past operations, paratroopers have donated between 2,000 to 3,000 toys. To make the airborne portion of Toy Drop happen, the expertise of Team Pope is required.
“First and foremost, Pope Army Airfield is a single point of exit and entry for Fort Bragg, and secondly, the Air Force has the most special knowledge as far as maintaining aircraft and sustaining aircraft in flight,” Brock said.
This year, the Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop had 3,824 jumpers volunteer to jump. The 43rd AMOG met operational missions while taking paratroopers to the drop zone. The relationship between the Air Force and the Army was strengthened for a good cause while working together during the holiday season. Toys-for-Tots collects all the toys at the end of the operation and disseminates them to the local area spreading holiday cheer.