Photo By Cpl. Ryan Rholes | Cpl. Carson Ferraro, a UH-1Y Huey crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter...... read more read more
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HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Protecting the Afghan people is one of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369’s primary missions here, and despite being a heavily-armed attack squadron, the unit often accomplishes this without firing a shot.
HMLA-369, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) is a shining example of the International Security Assistance Forces’ efforts to win the counter insurgency war in Afghanistan.
“Before we came out here our leaders told us that they would rather us let a bad guy go, than take the chance of hurting an innocent person,” said Capt. Matt Palumbo, an AH-1W Cobra pilot with HMLA-369. “We haven’t had any civilian casualties since we have been here.”
The same sentiment was passed to troops serving in Afghanistan by Gen. David Petraeus, commander of ISAF, in guidance he released after assuming his new command.
“Hunt the enemy aggressively, but use only the firepower needed to win a fight,” he wrote. “We can’t win without fighting, but we also cannot kill or capture our way to victory. Moreover, if we kill civilians or damage their property in the course of our operations, we will create more enemies than our operations eliminate.”
The Gunfighters are not interacting with the locals, but their restraint when dealing with enemy fighters while civilians are present carries an important message: the protection of innocent Afghan people is paramount. Eliminating the enemy is important, but is only a victory if the Afghan people do not suffer in the process.
“There have been a lot of different instances where our pilots have let a target go because the situation wasn’t perfect,” said Capt. Mac Sauls, a UH-1Y Huey pilot with the Gunfighters. “We are not here to destroy homes or burn crops; we are here to the help Afghan people.”
The enemy is losing to HMLA-369 in several other ways as well. The squadron’s restraint is only part of what they bring to the table; the light attack squadron also makes several unique contributions to ISAF’s mission here. They provide aerial reconnaissance that can greatly minimize a unit’s risk before moving into an area; they transport cargo and personnel; they act as overwatch for convoys and patrols, which often helps deter enemy attacks; and they escort medical evacuation helicopters that often fly out to save ISAF, Afghan National Security Forces and Afghan civilians.
When HMLA-369 is cleared hot and is ready to eliminate the enemy, they do so decisively, accurately and lethally. Although they show restraint at any risk of injuring an Afghan civilian, Gunfighters will not hesitate to engage targets when necessary.
HMLA-369’s diversity as an attack squadron, coupled with its restraint and dedication to the Afghan people speaks to its professionalism, explained Palumbo. Gunfighter pilots are more concerned with what is best for the mission and the people here, than getting to pull the trigger.
That professionalism has also allowed the squadron to operate as a team player. Although a Marine Corps asset, HMLA-369 is here to support ISAF and routinely finds itself supporting allied nations.
“A lot of times we get overhead and find ourselves speaking to someone on the ground that has a [foreign] accent,” said Sauls, who estimates about half of the squadron’s missions are in support of non-Marine units. “No matter who it is, we are there to provide them that overwatch, and hearing our rotors overhead makes them happy.”
“Sometimes we encounter obstacles such as language barriers or having different maps, but we can get the gist of it; we are there for the guys on the ground to support them however we can,” added Palumbo.
The consummate professionals of HMLA-369 have proven themselves both warriors and protectors. There is no eagerness for trigger time among the squadron’s pilots, only a drive to fulfill their role of contributing to the overall ISAF mission and protecting the Afghan people.
| Date Taken: | 09.03.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2010 12:01 |
| Story ID: | 55718 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 382 |
| Downloads: | 8 |
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