CHIMNEY ROCK -- Crowds gathered early today to witness airborne operations held at Chimney Rock.

Capt. Mark Newcomer, Commander Delta Company, 2nd Battalion 134th Infantry Regiment, said the event was a training exercise.

"Today Delta Company is conducting an airborne operation training event out here at Chimney Rock. This is something that we've been planning for quite some time. So its been awesome to get out here and be able to execute this training," Capt. Newcomer said.

Capt. Newcomer jumped twice, with about 50 other jumpers. He said he has done a total of nine jumps. 

The exercise became a crowd attraction as an estimated 500 people showed up to the event. Morrill County Sheriff Mile Cardenas a couple of tour buses stopped at the exercise.

The event included a display of military vehicles.

The drop zone for the paratroopers was a field northwest of the Chimney Rock Visitor Center. Numerous people walked the trail to the drop zone. Access was restricted to a fence line about 30 feet from the trail. 

"We have some drop zones out in eastern Nebraska, around the Omaha, Ashland area. This is our first time, obviously, dropping on this drop zone here. So, a little bit change of terrain, unique opportunity for our soldiers certainly, but certainly first time on this kind of terrain and environment," he said.

Capt. Newcomer has been in the U.S. Army for 14 years.

The event also included newlyweds. Sgt. Korbin Espland and his wife Annelise were at the exercise. Sgt. Espland took part in the exercise while his wife Annelise anxiously watched from the ground.

Sgt. Espland describes the experience of jumping from a Blackhawk helicopter as "pure adrenalin." 

"It's hard to formulate what it's like because as soon as you jump there's no thought. It's just its happening and you don't have time to collect your thoughts or anything," he said.

He started his military service in active duty and decided to transition to National Guard in Nebraska. He wanted to stay in the Infantry and the Infantry unit in Nebraska is Airborne.