Photo By Lance Cpl. Suzanna Lapi | Lance Cpl. Brandon Erickson, an assault amphibious vehicle mechanic with Combat...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Destruction, like a wildfire, can sometimes clear the way for new life. This is the purpose for Mud Ops, an annual environmental exercise held at the Nuupia Pond Wildlife Management Area. Base Environmental and Marines from Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, worked
together to improve and protect local wildlife during the exercise, from Feb. 5-8.
During the wetland management exercise, which has been held here for the past 31 years, the Marines used amphibious assault vehicles to break up an invasive species of grass called pickleweed. This grass covered the ground where the endangered Hawaiian Black-necked Stilt often nest. The tracks of the AAV also helped the area better absorb water.
This conservation effort also benefited other endangered bird species such as the Hawaiian Coot, the Hawaiian Gallinule, also known as the Moorhen, and the Hawaiian duck. These native birds also populate the mud flats on base.
Lance Bookless, the senior natural resources management specialist for Base Environmental, said the exercise is held in February because the Stilts nest in the early spring.
“Their mating season usually occurs in March, and they lay their eggs in April,” Bookless said. “They are forging from now until then, so it benefits them the most to conduct this exercise at this point. By the summertime, they are raising their chicks.”
Bookless, a native of Zanesville, Ohio, said the base has a steady number of Stilts, with approximately 10 percent of Oahu’s population inhabiting the Nuupia Pond Wildlife Management Area.
“They are hard to track because they hide in the mud, but there are about 110 to 160 birds on base at any given time,” he said.
The primary purpose for the environmental endeavor is to open up the ground in order to help the birds to nest and live. For the Marines, the training offers an opportunity to learn.
First Lt. Kyle Durant, a platoon commander with CAC, 3rd Marines, and a native of Canby, Ore., said training on the mud flats benefits his Marines.
“This exercise is good for the environment, but it’s also an advantage for us because it’s good recovery training,” Durant said. “The Marines go out and learn how to operate in muddy conditions, and the amphibious assault vehicles run better as the engines work.”
Sgt. Jedidiah Davis, a maintenance chief with CAC, 3rd Marines, and native of Port Lavaca, Texas, said there are other benefits for his Marines to participate.
“This training exercise is good for the Marines to show something to the community and give back,” Davis said. “It’s good for us to be involved in a way that’s not directly related to the military.”
Davis said training opportunities like Mud Ops are essential for helping junior AAV crewmen to better understand their specialty.
“Most of the guys are new, so learning about the AAV’s driving abilities and performing recovery training was beneficial,” he said. “Tiring, but good.” Sgt. Salvador Torres, a ramp chief with CAC, 3rd Marines, said the exercise was key in displaying another side of the Marine Corps. “This training is good for us to show the community that we are not only about combat,” the Chicago native said. “We are also committed to helping the community when we can.”
| Date Taken: | 02.08.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 02.08.2013 21:50 |
| Story ID: | 101726 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 236 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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