Marines with SPMAGTF-SC renovate, improve Mocoron airfield

Photo By Staff Sgt. Andy Orozco | The Mocoron airfield in the Gracias A Dios Region of Honduras as pictured July 18, 2015, is scheduled to be renovated by the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Southern Command's engineer detachment in order to handle more passes from a C-130. Marines with the SPMAGTF-SC are renovating the airfield as part of a larger mission to create a partnership based on shared values, challenges and responsibilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Andy J. Orozco/Released)  

MOCORON, HONDURAS

07.18.2015

Story by Sgt. Andy Orozco 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South

MOCORON, Honduras - A detachment of engineer Marines with the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force- Southern Command began renovating and widening an airfield in Mocoron, Honduras, July 15, 2015.

“As the air field stands now, it is capable of landing a C-130. The soil strength is strong enough, but it would only be able to handle a few passes at this point,” said 1st Lt. Tyler Martin, SPMAGTF-SC engineer detachment officer in charge. “There are also too many high and low points to where it could damage an aircraft that lands here.”

Marines with the SPMAGTF-SC plan to pave the runway with Ops Dirt, a polymer soil stabilization agent, as opposed to the gravel it has now, allowing the airfield to handle up to 100 passes, which includes a landing and takeoff from a C-130.

“We’re going to widen the airfield to make it within U.S standards, level it out, so that all the high and low points are evened out, and strengthen the soil on the top 1,000 feet,” said Martin, an Alexandria, Va., native. “We’ll cut out the weak soil and replace it with more adequate soil and compact it. After, we’ll add the Ops Dirt on top, which will act just like concrete.”

Martin also said that strengthening the runway well help the country in an emergency, should a situation ever arise.

“This will help out the country a lot because having the capability to land C-130’s here more than just a hand full of times means that they’ll be able to land more supplies, such as aid material in the event of a natural disaster,” said Martin. “We’ll not only be able to get the supplies that they need in but personnel to help out as well.”

The airfield is slated to be completed in September. Upon completion it will be certified to land C-130’s by U.S. Air Force 420th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers.

“It feels great to have been a part of something like this,” said Cpl. Nolan Nee, a heavy equipment operator with the SPMAGTF-SC and a Dorchester, Mass., native. “For the next 20 plus years or so, this airfield will be used a lot for things like disaster relief and, it feels good to know that I played a role in making it the way it is.”

• Date Taken: 07.18.2015
• Date Posted: 07.23.2015 15:15
• Story ID: 170897
• Location: MOCORON, HN