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MAG-36 units flock to skies

US Marine Corps News

4/29/2010
By Lance Cpl. J Nava, Marine Corps Bases Japan

A flock of gray, metallic birds emblazoned with the word Marines on their side-recently spread their wings and exercised their capabilities on and over Okinawa April 15.

“Very rarely do we see this many birds in the air at one time, so it was a pretty big event,” said Sgt. Adam Kary, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 noncommissioned officer in charge of operations, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

The training was conducted by the pilots and crews of six CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters from HMM-262, one CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter and one UH-1N Huey helicopter from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced), currently assigned to 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and one KC-130J from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152.

The CH-46E’s and the CH-53E provided the assault platform for the exercise. The Huey provided the command and control for the training, While the KC-130J acted as both a rapid ground refueling element and the direct air support center.

The training, including a heliborne assault, casualty evacuation and a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel scenario, was to prepare HMM-262 for an upcoming deployment with the 31st MEU, according to Lt. Col. John Mee, commanding officer of HMM-262.

HMM-262 will perform as the 31st MEU’s Aviation Combat Element during their upcoming deployment.

“This sort of training allows us to hone our individual skills as well as our squadron skills,” said Mee. “It also gave our pilots experience in large-scale exercises.”

The training qualified some of the pilots for large-scale exercise leadership positions within the squadron, including a division lead, which can command flights of four aircraft or less, an assault flight lead that can command flights of four aircraft or more and an aviation mission commander which coordinates large heliborne assaults.

“The leads did everything we expected them to do,” Mee said. “They were able to adjust to every scenario we gave them and succeed.”

The day of the training was plagued with bad weather and gave rise to thoughts of possibly cancelling the mission. The adverse Okinawan weather was nothing for the pilots and crews, however, as they were able to adjust and overcome each aspect of the mission.

“They were able to overcome the weather and perform very well,” Mee said. “I believe my Marines’ performance was outstanding.”

This training offered more than just training for an upcoming MEU deployment, Kary said.

“This sort of training will help keep Marines alive during combat,” Kary explained. “They all performed superbly.”