{"id":21347,"date":"2020-05-05T14:32:21","date_gmt":"2020-05-05T14:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/05\/05\/afsoc-resumes-jump-dive-mountain-operations-after-deaths\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:34:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:34:28","slug":"afsoc-resumes-jump-dive-mountain-operations-after-deaths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2020\/05\/05\/afsoc-resumes-jump-dive-mountain-operations-after-deaths\/","title":{"rendered":"AFSOC resumes jump, dive, mountain operations after deaths"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Air Force Special Operations Command has now recertified all its units to conduct parachute, dive and mountaineering operations after a review sparked by the deaths of two airmen<\/a> last fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an email, AFSOC spokeswoman Maj. Amanda Reeves said that the recertifications were conducted unit-by-unit and were finished as of Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFSOC suspended those operations last December as it investigated the deaths of pararescueman Tech. Sgt. Peter Kraines<\/a> and combat controller Staff Sgt. Cole Condiff<\/a>, both of the 24th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field in Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kraines, 33, died Oct. 8 from injuries suffered while practicing mountain rescue techniques during a training exercise in Boise, Idaho. Condiff, 29, was lost in the Gulf of Mexico Nov. 5 after falling from a C-130 \u2014 which the Air Force referred to as an \u201cunplanned parachute departure\u201d \u2014 south of Hurlburt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pararescueman Tech. Sgt. Peter Kraines, left, and combat controller Staff Sgt. Cole Condiff, who were both of the 24th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida, both died this fall in separate incidents. Kraines died in October from injuries sustained while practicing mountain rescue techniques in Idaho, and Condiff was lost in the Gulf of Mexico in November after a parachute mishap. Air Force Special Operations Command has now temporarily suspended parachuting, diving, and mountaineering operations in conjunction with the investigation into their deaths. (Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Reeves said Monday that experts from across the Air Force and U.S. Special Operations Command helped with the unit-by-unit inspections. AFSOC Commander Lt. Gen. Jim Slife approved each unit\u2019s recertification based on recommendations from the unit\u2019s leadership and AFSOC\u2019s director of operations, Brig. Gen. Brenda Cartier.<\/p>\n\n\n\t