Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 Dragons breathe .50 caliber fire on offshore range in Okinawa

Photo By Lance Cpl. Joseph Cabrera | Cpl. Andres I. Salas, a crew chief with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, fires a .50-caliber machine gun Sept. 12, 2008, simulating suppressive fire from a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter during aerial gunner training over an offshore range. The training evolution allowed pilots and air crews to gain proficiency in suppressive fire tactics.  

09.12.2008

Story by Lance Cpl. Joseph Cabrera 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Joseph Cabrera
III Marine Expeditionary Force

OKINAWA, Japan - The Dragons of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, took to the skies in their CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters Sept. 12, 2008 to conduct aerial gunner training for their crew chiefs.

The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing unit used .50-caliber machine guns during the exercise at a training range located several miles off the coast of Okinawa, Japan.

The purpose of the aerial gunner is to provide suppressive fire to allow the aircraft to land and take off in a combat environment and to provide cover fire for ground units engaged in combat, said Capt. Jason Potter, a pilot with HMM-265.

The training consists of five training sets. The first set involves one aircraft and aerial gunner engaging single targets, while the second and third sets involve two helicopters with gunners engaging targets simultaneously.

The fourth and fifth sets involve two helicopters with gunners engaging moving targets during day and night conditions, requiring the use of night vision goggles and laser sights, said Sgt. Geoffrey M. Green, a weapons and tactics instructor for HMM-265.

Crew chiefs fire an average of 5,000 rounds during the course. They receive classes with the weapons, including four to five hours of ground training. The ground training consists of servicing and maintaining the weapons and procedures for pre-flight preparations, Green said.

"The most valuable aspect is the experience - getting a person as familiar with that weapon as possible," Green said.

Knowing how to maintain control over the weapon ensures safety for the aircraft crew and the Marines on the ground, Green said.

The training was demanding and tested the gunners' ability to safely fire the weapon on target and position the ammo boxes to load quickly and continue firing.

"It is probably one of the more physically and mentally demanding things I've done so far as a crew chief. There is a lot of stuff you need to know about the weapon and the concepts of where you can and cannot shoot," said Cpl. Andres I. Salas, a crew chief with HMM-265.

The training served as Salas' initial certification as an aerial gunner and was annual refresher training for crew chiefs needing to renew their qualification, Green said.

"The biggest take-away for them - they can learn all the numbers, they can learn all about the systems. But until they actually get behind the weapon, they can't physically see what it can do or the critical coordination that it takes to effectively control the weapon," Potter said.

The training not only benefited the gunners, but the pilots also gained flight experience with onboard gunners engaging targets. Each gained proficiency by performing their integral roles in the training, strengthening the unit's combat readiness, Potter said.

• Date Taken: 09.12.2008
• Date Posted: 09.28.2008 03:33
• Story ID: 24228