Forager Fury III kicks off on Tinian

Photo By Cpl. David Walters | Two Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopters with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific land on Echo Field, Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, during the first day of Forager Fury III on Sept. 24, 2014. Echo Field is a 7,000 by 500 foot runway cleared by Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 heavy equipment operators. An estimated 1300 personnel are participating in FF III, which is a Marine Corps led exercise involving a full spectrum of fixed wing and rotary aircraft operations between Guam and Tinian. FF III began Sept. 24, and is scheduled to continue through Oct. 6.  

TINIAN, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

09.24.2014

Story by Cpl. David Walters 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

TINIAN, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands – U.S. Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force units began exercise Forager Fury III on Guam and Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Sept. 24, 2014. The exercise is scheduled to last until Oct. 6.

An estimated 1,300 personnel are participating in FF III, a Marine Corps led exercise involving a full spectrum of fixed wing and rotary aircraft operations. It has a heavy emphasis on tactical aviation and aviation ground support to further develop expeditionary combat capabilities in the Marianas Island Range Complex.

“Our mindset must go back to the focus, purpose and basic understanding that is required of unit level training,” said Col. Hunter H. Hobson commander of Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Part of the original plan was to build an austere landing zone for a KC-130J Super Hercules on Echo Runway on Tinian, according Capt. Kevin M. Wheeler, the actions officer for FF III and the aviation ground support detachment officer in charge with MWSS-171, MAG-12, 1st MAW, III MEF.

“Just like in real life, plans change,” said Wheeler. “The runway repairs were too much to handle within our budget. So, at this point, we had to change it over to (helicopter) operations.”

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific, U.S. Navy is the primary helicopter squadron using the 7,000 by 500 feet runway cleared by MWSS-171’s heavy equipment operators.

One of the main missions of MWSS-171, apart from building expeditionary runways, is to protect Marines before, during and after the building process.

“MWSS’ are assigned mission essential tasks, one of which is airbase ground defense,” said Staff Sgt. Andrew Walter, fuels section team leader and ABGD instructor with the squadron. “Part of our overall mission as an MWSS is to protect the airfields we build, maintain and establish. So we have to kick off certain levels of security that we must conduct at all times while we are operating on an airfield, due to the fact it’s a controlled area.”

Since Tinian is a territory of the U.S., Wheeler said they want to show Marines are trying to help with everything they can aside from conducting training exercises.

“We want to show the Tinians that United States Marines are just like them except we wear a uniform,” said Wheeler. “We are here to work with them and make this a better place for everybody. We are able to put more money into their economy, and we’ve done everything we can to encourage Marines to get out and see the sights here. This is a beautiful island and we want to leave it better than when we came to it.”

Wheeler said they are accomplishing that by improving roads and other projects around the island.

“Tinian has basically become MAG-12’s back yard,” said Wheeler. “We are here almost every year doing some sort of training and area improvement. The U.S. Marine Corps is appreciative to the Tinians for welcoming us here.”

• Date Taken: 09.24.2014
• Date Posted: 09.25.2014 12:49
• Story ID: 143216
• Location: TINIAN, MP