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Lancers become part of 'Sling' history

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 10/21/2003

Story by Cpl. Anthony D. Pike

PAYA LEBAR AIR BASE, Singapore -- Exercise Commando Sling is an air exercise between Singapore and the United States that began in 1990. Commando Sling aims at providing Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) to U.S. and Singaporean pilots as well as providing for a continuous commitment for a U.S. presence in Singapore.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212, which is participating in Commando Sling presently, is the first Marine squadron stationed at Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, to participate in this exercise. The Lancers of 212 are only the second Marine squadron to participate in Commando Sling's history. Marine Fighter Attack (All Weather) Squadron 121 participated in Commando Sling in May of 1991.

"I love being a part of it, " said Sgt. Allen Meadows, VMFA-212 administrative clerk, , of being with the Lancers on their first time in Commando Sling. "The (exercise) is going pretty good. The advance party came out and had everything hooked up. Every time I go on deployment its special. You always feel like you have accomplished something when you do exercises in another country with foreign services."

Commando Sling is an exercise that normally lasts for a month at a time with three weeks of flying missions, according to Air Force Master Sgt. Mike Minor, 497th Combat Training Squadron munitions accountable system officer. Commando Sling is slated to run six times every year.

However, due to U.S. operations around the world to include Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, only three Commando Slings have taken place in each of the last two years, according to Minor, who has been with the 497th Combat Training Squadron for five years.

There is no mention of which military units are responsible for participating in Commando Sling and that has left the door open for several different units.

"Most of the time it's units within the Pacific," said Minor. "It doesn't matter if it's the Marine Corps, Navy or the Air Force." Commando Sling has also hosted several National Guard units from the States as well as foreign military units. "We also fly with the Royal Australian Air Force and we've had the New Zealand Air Force down here for some trilateral exercises. We've done some helicopter stuff also."

Commando Sling not only provides an expanded U.S. force in Singapore to promote regional stability, it provides a force that can be called upon in times of crises.

Command Sling 98-4, which took place in 1998, supported the ordered departure of U.S. personnel from Indonesia. "The ambassador felt we needed to get all of the noncombatants out of there," said Minor. Commando Sling 98-4 was also the first time the exercise was expanded to include the Royal Australian Air Force.

The U.S. Air Force's 497th Combat Training Squadron is set up at Paya Lebar Air Base and hosts U.S. units that participate in Commando Sling. The unit has computers set up for personnel that are coming in, provides work vehicles and acts as a liaison between the deployed unit and the RSAF.

"Working with the U.S. Air Force is always a good experience," said Meadows. They are always squared away and locked-on. As for working with the Singapore Air Force Meadows was impressed. "They are very nice and courteous. They have welcomed us from day one."