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    Air, ground Marines prepare for WTI

    Air, ground Marines prepare for WTI

    Photo By Cpl. Manuel Estrada | Squadrons with Marine Corps Air Station New River and MCAS Cherry Point joined forces...... read more read more

    CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

    01.31.2013

    Story by Lance Cpl. Manuel Estrada 

    Marine Corps Installations East       

    CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines from Marine Corps Air Station New River and MCAS Cherry Point teamed up with Company C, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune to conduct a training mission to prepare them for Weapons and Tactics Instructor course in MCAS Yuma, Ariz., Jan. 31.

    “WTI is the pinnacle of achievement; there is no higher designation. They bring a new and broadened perspective back to their units,” said Col. Karsten Heckl, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 commanding officer. “They learn what it means to plan and execute standardized training at an extremely high level, to prepare Marines for deployment and combat. For example, the V-22 pilot that picked up the stranded U.S. pilot in Libya was a WTI who had just graduated this course.”

    The WTI course’s main mission is meant to hone the skills of aviators, but ground units participate to increases the realism and to add to their training, said Capt. Matthew Dineen, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 assistant operation officer and air mission commander for the exercise.

    For the mission, the Marines were operating in the Katai area. The Marines were assigned to kill or capture the target and to deny the facilities to the insurgent group, said Dineen.

    The mission began with four AH-1W Cobras with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 and HMLA-467 and two AV-8B Harriers with Marine Attack Squadron 223 dropping ordnance on the site and destroying several anti-aircraft and tanks while attempting to kill the HVI, said Dineen.

    Then more than 100 infantry Marines from 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment were picked up from a landing zone aboard Camp Lejeune by four CH-53E Super Stallions from HMH-464 and three MV-22B Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 and VMM-261. The aircraft were escorted by two UH-1Y Hueys and two AH-1W Cobras to keep them safe.

    The infantry Marines were inserted into the facility to confirm the death on the HVI or to capture him, if possible.

    The Marines landed and were met with some resistance from the few surviving insurgent members.

    The complex was simulated by several cargo trailers designed to create an actual compound.

    Marines armed with paintball guns played the part of the insurgents to show the infantry what would happen in a real-life scenario.

    The Marines also practiced calling and performing close-air support. The Hueys and the Cobras fueled up in a simulated forward aiming and refueling point supplied by the Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 from MCAS Cherry Point at Hyde County Airport, Engelhard, N.C. All the attack helicopters rotated in-and-out to keep a team of aircraft in the air for when the call came in.

    A KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 aboard MCAS Cherry Point circled the area, refueling aircraft in midair keeping them close to the fight.

    After all the enemies were killed or captured and the HVI was confirmed killed by aircraft fire, the infantry Marines searched the area for any intelligence worth recovering.

    Capt. Patrice Holland, Company C commanding officer, said the exercise was a good experience for his Marines. Up to 10 percent of his company are brand new lance corporals and privates first class fresh out of the School of Infantry. The exercise opened their eyes to the fact that there is more to the Marine Corps than just infantry.

    All the units that participated in the exercise will participate in WTI 2-13 starting in March.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 01.31.2013
    Date Posted: 02.14.2013 08:40
    Story ID: 101979
    Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US

    Web Views: 179
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN