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VMAQ-4 Departs for WTI, maintainers keep Prowlers scanning skies

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 20049309845
Story by Cpl. Nathaniel C. LeBlanc

MARINE CORE AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (Sept. 30, 2004) -- Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 departed Wednesday to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., in the participation of Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, which is directed by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1, for the duration of October.
The WTI course is fashioned to train pilots in all areas of air combat in a single air campaign, but the pilots are not the only ones who benefit from this exercise. Without the maintenance of the ground crews, the pilots' aircraft would never see light of a mission. The VMAQ-4 maintainers are ready to train along side their aircrew counterparts and treat the exercise as if it were a real campaign.

"The overall mission for WTI is to train the aviators in conducting operations as a MAGTF (Marine Air Ground Task Force)," said Capt. Guy Farmer, assistant air maintenance officer with VMAQ-4. "This exercise is significant to the maintainers because a lot of them are getting the opportunity, for the first time, to work outside of the Cherry Point environment. It's always good practice for them to better prepare for real world contingencies."

"It'll allow them to become more proactive in their maintenance routines and planning ahead," Farmer said. "With WTI's simulated training environment, they will learn how to be flexible with their schedule just as if they were participating in a real operation."
Real world operations have become a reality for most units in the Marine Corps, and having them sharpen their skills now will prepare them for future engagements.

"Every day we treat our jobs as if they were daily work-ups," said Lance Cpl. Travis Thiesen, power line mechanic and plane captain for VMAQ-4. "You have to look at it like it's the real deal; these pilots put their lives in your hands every time they climb into a cockpit."
To the maintainers of VMAQ-4, the safety and maintenance on the EA-6B Prowler are done by the books. Their main objective is mission accomplishment without compromising the safety of the aircrew and maintenance personnel, especially in a high tempo environment.

"It should be an upper tempo exercise because we will be flying WTI missions along with the squadron's individual training," Thiesen said. "I got the chance to participate in Exercise Maple Flag in Canada, and we had to drop in two engines during our time there. My learning experience from that exercise has prepared me for WTI. As a whole, I think the squadron is now in a better position after Maple Flag, and we're ready to move into this next one."
"Everyone should walk away with some new learning experiences after WTI," Farmer said. "Whether or not it's your first or fifth exercise, everyone will get the chance to benefit from it in one form or another."