More than 2600 students and faculty of Biloxi High School and North Bay Elementary School gathered at the Biloxi High School stadium to watch the U.S. Navy Parachute team, the Leap Frogs, perform a parachute demonstration, April 4.

The demonstration was held as part of Mississippi Gulf Coast Navy Week 2017 and was the final air demonstration for the team while in the Biloxi area. Over the course of the week, the Leap Frogs performed four jumps at other schools and locations in the Biloxi and Gulfport area.

The goal of these jumps, and events like them, is to help expose individuals and communities to the capabilities of the Navy and give them an opportunity to interact with service members.

The team set up on the field as students began filing into the stadium. Planning for the jump began several months ago.

"Outside of the high school students, I have personal children over at the North Bay Elementary School and they've known about it for weeks," said Marcus C. Bourdreaux, Biloxi High School principal. "My 6-year-old has been talking to me about it for two weeks; that she was coming to my school to watch them parachute down. The kids have been excited. They have been ready for this."

Before jumping, the aircraft will release a set of colored streamers which help crew members visualize the wind and jump conditions. Once the conditions are deemed safe the airplane will make a second approach and the team will jump. While in the air, members conduct a number of complex parachute maneuvers before landing in the field. Once on the ground the team interacts with students and bystanders in attendance.

"When we are jumping in, it's only for about five minutes. Our real time begins once we are on the deck. We hang out and spend time with students all across America," said Special Operator 1st Class Brandon Peterson, who participated in the jump. "That's hands down the most rewarding thing; to be able to talk about our past military careers and things we've done. It's nice to be able to share that with the students when they're getting to that point in their life where they have an interest in joining the military. So to be able to share that with them is huge. We answer any questions they may ask. That is what we're here for; to engage and interact."

For many of the younger students, watching the performance is entertainment, while older students may see a career field.

"For me, I think it's exposure to career opportunities," said Bourdreaux. "A lot of kids like it for the college aspect through the G.I. bill, but it also gives them a trade or a skill that they can turn around and make a career out of, or take those skills with them into their personal world after they're done with military service. I think it's a huge opportunity for a large portion of our kids. It's great for our community, because we have this melting pot community. To me, if you look at Biloxi versus other parts of the state of Mississippi, our kids have a huge advantage because of the experiences they have and the different cultures we have coming in here from the military bases."

While some students may not see the military in their future, some hope being exposed to professional individuals by itself will have a positive impact on students.

"The biggest thing is the interaction," said Peterson. "It's a great thing that they enjoyed the parachuting and seeing these guys come jump into their school - and it does impact them - but our biggest thing is the interaction. If we can shed a bit of light or positive energy and motivation, where these kids say, 'Hey look at these guys. Every day they get up they're excited to do their jobs,' consistently, we come to work putting our best foot forward. That's what we want them to see and say 'If they can do it, then I can do it too.'"

Many of the communities the Leap Frogs engage with typically have little or no military exposure. At Biloxi High School a number of students come from families whose members serve at Keesler Air Force Base and from Navy Construction Battalion Center Gulfport.

"I really hope they took away pride and appreciation," said Bourdreaux. "Pride and appreciation for our military service and what people do for us each and every day. That it is a big part of our community and I hope that they take pride in that."

For more about the Leap Frogs visit http://www.leapfrogs.navy/.