European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 13, 1981, Darmstadt, Hesse                                February the stars and stripes Page 9 Many of the paratroopers had difficulty mastering snowshoes in italian Alps but 4 Steve Nimtz top keeping Cool in a training exercise left had no the Michigan a learn is that cold weather is very hard Tive straps on his snowshoes before mov on said Walter cuff ing the first thing you top he discovered Field phone batteries have Short lives in Zero degree James Shanley below takes the ski training in theres plenty of Snow for training in italian Alps Story and photos by Ken Hudson Italy sport skiers and resort owners in Italy have been complaining about a Lack of Snow in the italian Alps this but paratroopers with the 1st 509th inf airborne Are finding All they care to encounter As the Reen forced battalion cycles its companies through col weather training in mountains near the training starts with a Parachute jump into the executed from a cd 46 helicopter into a Small Mountain drop once on the ground and out of the the troopers Are met by Mem Bers of the italian army elite Alpine Pini these Alpini spend their Ca Reers in most of their lives in the italian soldiers must have been raised in a mountainous area before they can qual Ify for assignment to an Alpine the Alpini instructors Are reinforced by a special cadre of the selected from experienced skiers and mountaineers and Given three weeks training before the training activities Start immediately and for nine Days the paratroopers prac 3 guerrillas executed Pakistan a three moslem accused of being servants of american imperialism and members of the anti marxist afghan guerrilla group Herb islami have been executed in according to radio Tice col weather tac tics and even for experienced learning to move tactically Over Snow was a new Chal commented Pat a Grenadier from a cos 2nd platoon the military ski is supposed to serve an Al purpose so whether youre going downhill or its a Dif Ferent technique from using special Pur pose snowshoes were a new experience for most members of the one Novice after a while you learn to appreciate but at first its like having both feet nailed to the 4 Hudson is assigned to the Public affairs office at Southern european task Force at latin american Parley scheduled for april 1 3 Munich the next federation of latin american conference for military Dod employees and their families will be held april 13 at the Patrick Henry Village officers club in the conference theme is Progress through Active involvement and will Fea Ture workshops and Ruben president of the league of United latin american the oldest National level hispanic organization in the will be one of the featured for More information Contact Sal Lopez or Doris Vasquez at Kelly Mili tary 2723 517 or