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Purple Foxes tame Desert Talon

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 20041223141913
Story by Cpl. Giovanni Lobello

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. (Dec. 23, 2004) -- Numerous Marine Corps units throughout the world have entered the Iraqi desert since the war first broke out in 2003. Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-364 from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton was one of the units to pack up and deploy when Operation Iraqi Freedom began.

Because of the significant training available here, more than six squadrons around the Corps have called Marine Corps Air Station Yuma home recently in order to get used to performing their daily operations in a desert environment.

With a second tour to Iraq on the horizon, the Purple Foxes participated in Exercise Desert Talon, a two-week training exercise designed to prepare Marines for deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"We are doing realistic desert environment training similar to the operations we will be conducting in Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Master Sgt. John J. Sakowicz, HMM-364 maintenance control chief. "The mission of the CH-46E "Sea Knight" squadron is to provide assault support. We are using this exercise to fly missions similar to those we will be flying in OIF."

"I believe this is the first time all the units who will be deploying to Iraq have been here in Desert Talon," said Chief Warrant Officer-3 Manuel F. Lopez, HMM-364 maintenance control officer-in-charge. "Now that we are all here at the same time, it serves as an outstanding team-building process. Before, no one ever knew who was going to Iraq. Whoever showed, showed up. Instead, now you know the Marines from each of the units and their procedures."

In addition to orientating the Marines to a desert environment, Desert Talon provided an operational pace similar to the one the HMM-364 Marines will likely face in Iraq.

"The Marines have done a superb job of keeping the aircraft ready to fly," said Lopez. "The operational tempo for the Marines here has been working 12-14 hours a day compared to working around 10 hours a day."

Despite the increase in working hours, the Marines' extra workload may prove to be essential when facing the difficult Iraqi terrain.

"It is very important for us to know how the desert environment affects the aircraft," said Sgt. Darin Fliear, HMM-364 quality assurance representative. "The desert sand declines the engine performance along with causing a lot of wear and tear to the exterior of the aircraft. Because of the wear and tear, the outsides of the aircraft require more attention than normal. Learning how to properly maintain the aircraft ahead of time will make the deployment that much more successful."

1st Lt. Russell P. Wier, HMM-364 CH-46E pilot, said he feels more at ease and confidant about going to Iraq for the first time than he would have without the exercise.

"Since the whole deployment was geared to give the pilots more flying time, I have been able to focus more on my flying skills than normal," added Wier. "The Yuma terrain has given me an idea of what flying in a desert terrain will be like. Landing aircraft in a desert environment is more complicated than landing on grass because of the sand. The desert terrain also provides less geographical fixtures to use for navigating."

Because of the desert training provided by Desert Talon, the transition to OIF will be seamless, said Sakowicz.

"Desert Talon has not only helped with our daily operations, but also in building the camaraderie of the squadron, which is a huge positive for any unit getting ready to deploy," added Sakowicz.