Photo By Cpl. Nicholas Rhoades | F/A-18 aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 stage on the flightline as...... read more read more
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ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 and Strike Fighter Squadron 94 arrived here Oct. 6 to begin aerial and ground training in the region as part of a month-long deployment to improve and bolster combat efficiency.
The purpose of the training is to re amiliarize pilots and ground crew service members in their job proficiency.
“Our main focus of effort is training for the aviators and for their air crew core competency,” said Master Sgt. William E. Hetrick Jr., VMFA- 115 aircraft maintenance chief. “Our second [focus] is on our maintenance Marines.”
The Marines and sailors will be able to accomplish this by speeding up the tempo and alternating work schedules.
“We’re going to have a pretty tough flight schedule with numerous events; air-to-ground, air-to-air,” said Hetrick.
VMFA-115 will work closely with VFA-94 and MALS-12. MALS-12 will be providing logistical support and offering additional ground support.
The opportunity for both VMFA-115 and VFA-94 to train with one another can provide both squadrons with an opportunity to learn more and experience a different side of their work field.
“It’s going to be a great experience,” said Hetrick. “I would say 95 percent of [VMFA-115] Marines have not served next to a Navy squadron. They don’t get to see the Navy like we do here and in Iwakuni, unless we’re an actual air integration squadron that goes on a boat and the same with the sailors as well.”
VFA-94 is the only Navy squadron that is part of the Unit Deployment Program and works alongside other Marine squadrons when training.
“We spend our entire deployment working with Marine units,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Marcus D. Fuller, VFA-94 maintenance controller.
VFA-94 is scheduled to conduct many of the same training missions and exercises as their VMFA-115 counterparts.
“We’re operating out of the same space,” said Fuller. “We fly the same type of aircraft.”
The F/A-18 Hornet serves as the flagship for both squadrons’ mission accomplishment. The Hornet affords them the opportunity to engage in a wider variety of training missions and exercises while in Guam. MALS-12 will also play a role by providing support to both squadrons.
“We are providing aviation logistics support, that involves providing supply pack [containers],” said 1st Lt. Nicolas V. Eguiguren, MALS-12 detachment officer in charge. “We’re also the link between the squadrons and MALS-12 supply systems in the rear.”
MALS-12 will be working alongside both squadrons, providing support and augmenting the efforts of each squadron’s ordinance component, helping to load weapons, ammunition and maintenance.
“We have 16 Marines providing everything that has to do with ordinance for both squadrons to utilize during their combat training operations,” said Eguiguren.
This is just a small part of the overall support MALS-12 will be supplying to both squadrons, as it also has Marines and sailors working to provide other aspects of logistics to ensure both squadrons are capable of continuing their training.
“We provide all the supply support for the squadrons,” said Eguiguren. “Apart from that, we have ground support equipment and cryogenics gear on site, staged outside our work spaces for both squadrons to use.”
| Date Taken: | 10.06.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.12.2011 23:50 |
| Story ID: | 78403 |
| Location: | ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, GU |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Training begins in Guam to enhance job proficiency, by Cpl Nicholas Rhoades, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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