• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Air Delivery Platoon supports ANGLICO during pre-deployment training

US Marine Corps News

10/1/2010 By Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego, 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — When Marines operate in enemy controlled territory, keeping established supply lines open can quickly become impractical.

Frequent enemy contact coupled with unfamiliar and excessively rough terrain make ground resupply missions not only dangerous but at times unfeasible.

However, there is another option.

With the assistance of various cargo bearing aircraft, the Marines from Air delivery Platoon, Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, can deliver supplies exactly where they are needed while negating the use of dangerous land routes.

Recently the platoon participated in an exercise supporting air delivery operations with 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Sept. 23, aboard Camp Lejeune.

“We are here to support ANGLICO with their pre-deployment training,” explained Staff Sgt. Eugene D. Gallant, the operations chief for Air Delivery Platoon. “We are showing them what we do and how to operate on a drop zone, and what to do during the delivery, especially recovering the load.”

The exercise consisted of dropping cargo from a C-130 Hercules so the Marines from 2nd ANGLICO could practice receiving the package in a simulated deployed environment.

“We were basically demonstrating what an air drop looks like,” Gallant explained. “During their deployment they will have to clear a drop zone and recover the supplies themselves.”

Anything from food and ammunition to a fully-armored Humvee can be parachuted to a battle field.

“We have container delivery systems, which have a minimum required weight of 500 pounds necessary for the parachute to deploy,” explained Sgt. Jonathan C. Hill, the Air Delivery platoon sergeant. “We usually drop 600 to 700 pounds worth of cargo on a regular basis.

“But we can also drop Humvees,” Hill added. “We are working on dropping one in a future exercise and our goal is to drive it off right after.”

Air operations like this one allow Marines required to be proficient in parachute operations to work together to accomplish required training.

“We have to jump to maintain an active jump status, and also perform an air delivery operation every month,” Hill explained. “At the same time, the Marines from Cherry Point have to conduct air deliveries too.”

The logistics behind an air delivery exercise are complicated and extremely time consuming for all parties involved.

“The planning for one day can take up to two months,” Hill added. “We have to arrange air support with at least 60 to 90 days notice, also contact range control to get the landing zone for the exercise.”

“At the end, our main goal is to walk out after a successful day knowing that the Marines understood all the safety operations and procedures,” Hill said.

A successful air drop can mean mission accomplishment for Marines operating around the world. The Marines from AD platoon will continue conducting exercises to ensure they are ready to provide support for the troops wherever they may need it.