• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

ATC Marines maintain order in the skies

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 4/14/2004

Story by Sgt. J.L. Zimmer III

AL ASAD, Iraq(April 14, 2004) -- For the air traffic controllers of Detachment Alpha, Marine Air Control Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II meant a chance for them to put their training and certifications to use.

According to Master Sgt. Hugh G. Boger, a 38-year-old Indianapolis native and non-commissioned officer in charge of Det. A., becoming an ATC is no easy task.

"These Marines go through a (military occupational specialty) school that is mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration," he said. "The Marines are required to pass a mandatory test regulated by the FAA. The Marines who complete and pass the exam are then sent to an air station to complete their training to receive their FAA certification."

Boger added that the Marines here have already been trained and have received their FAA certifications; only they are working under different circumstances.

"The mission of the controllers remains the same no matter where the airport is located," he said. "However, in a combat environment, controllers are faced with unique challenges because tactical aircraft missions and training conducted in the U.S. normally occur in restricted air space."

He added that the restricted air space does not allow for tactical and routine air missions to interfere with each other.

"In a combat environment, it is not always possible to separate routine missions from tactical because of the limited availability of friendly air space," he continued. "Therefore, the controllers must exercise a greater degree of flexibility and awareness in their new environment."

For Cpl. Richard B. Fiske, a 22-year-old Mandan, N.D., native and ATC, with Det. A. the experience of coordinating air missions in a hostile environment does not bother him.

"This is just a new experience for me," he said. "This is the same job, just in a different country and under different conditions."

Lance Cpl. Joey L. Gilbert, a 21-year-old Anderson, S.C., native and ATC, also with Det. A., has been in Iraq since Feb. 15 and relates his experience here with training he has done in the past.

"This place reminds me of (combined arms exercise) in Twentynine Palms, Calif.," he said. "The only difference is the potential of being shot at."

Staff Sgt. Robert T. McNeely, ATC, Det. A., remains vigilant at his job because he knows lives are at stake.

"It is our mission to ensure the safe arrival and departure of aircraft in our air space," said the 35-year-old Checotah, Okla., native. "We coordinate fixed-wing and rotary-wing air traffic and ground movement. We keep our eyes on everything because it is our job to keep everyone on the flight line safe."