Key Resolve assets for support of Operation Tomodachi

Photo By Sgt. Michael Iams | A tactical forklift hauls pallets of communication gear used during Exercise Key Resolve in the Republic of Korea March 15. The gear was flown to mainland Japan to help with the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts there.  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

03.25.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Michael Iams 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

Exercise Key Resolve 2011 ended March 10, and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, assets used for the exercise are being sent to mainland Japan to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts there.

According to Sgt. Kevin Medina, a system administrator with Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st MAW, Key Resolve was an excellent way to train with the Air Force and use database exchanges between the services.

“The coordination between the system administrator, the interface control officer and the Hardened Tactical Air Control Center kept the commanding general’s satellite picture up and operational at all times,” said Gunnery Sgt. Columbus Wilson, an interface control officer with MTACS-18.

The data links between the Marine Tactical Air Communication Center and the Air Force HTACC worked with no connection problems throughout the exercise, according to Staff Sgt. Michael Selden, a crew chief with MTACS-18.

Due to current relief efforts in Japan, 1st MAW communication assets that would have been deployed back to Okinawa are being sent to mainland Japan instead.

“We are sending a Lamda antenna, a Lightweight Multiband Satellite Terminal and a Support Wide Area Network to help aid the disaster relief in Japan,” said Lance Cpl. Annalynn Delvalle, an embarkation specialist with Marine Wing Communication Squadron 18, MACG-18.
In all, Marines from MWCS-18 sent five pallets of communication gear to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan.

“The gear is being sent to Atsugi to support the Air Combat Element Command Operational Center and Sendai to support the Forward Air Refuel Point,” said 1st Lt. Mike Parrott, a detachment executive officer with MWCS-18.

The FARP was established by 1st MAW Marines at Sendai’s Yamagata Airport to increase military airlift capabilities.

According to Delvalle, the squadron loaded about 25,000 pounds of gear to help support III MEF Marines already deployed to aid Japan.

• Date Taken: 03.25.2011
• Date Posted: 03.24.2011 21:24
• Story ID: 67684
• Location: OKINAWA, JP