Photo By Cpl. Deanne Hurla | Gunnery Sgt. Brishen McGuire, a loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE DWYER, Afghanistan – Marines of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), teamed up with Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), to hone their aerial insertion skills here Oct. 5.
The last time these two units performed this kind of mission together in combat was July 23, 2004, when a VMGR-352 KC-130J Hercules dropped the 1st Recon Marines into Western Iraq.
After more than six years, the units have once again joined together to complete three jumps - Oct. 5 being the second. Training for aerial inserts is critical to prepare Marines for jumps where it would be too dangerous for vehicles or helicopters to enter.
Prior to the flight, VMGR-352 crew members prepped the aircraft for the jumpers and properly set-up the parachute retrieval cables. More than 40 recon parachute jumpers were on board and each carried about 200 pounds of gear, including food, water, ammunition, weapons and their parachute.
It’s one pilot’s responsibility to keep a smooth platform, which includes steady airspeed, altitude and heading with no extreme deviations to keep the jumpers safe, explained Capt. David Hooke, a Hercules pilot with VMGR-352.
When the aircraft moves in the slightest way, it can throw the Marines’ balance off and knock them over.
The other pilot is in charge of navigation and coordinating with the jump masters and aircraft crew. Jump masters are senior recon Marines with more than 65 jumps who are in charge of the Marines who will jump. While the air crew is in charge of ensuring the aircraft is safe during the training. This joint checks and balance system keeps the jumpers safe during the evolution.
“The jump masters make sure the jumpers are ready, the crew makes sure all the aircraft check lists are done and then the Marines jump out,” said Gunnery Sgt. James Stahl, a jump master and the Bravo Company operations chief.
Four time warnings were given for the jump masters to prepare and double check the Marines’ riggings prior to them exiting the aircraft, Hooke explained. Once they received the green light, the Marines jumped out of the aircraft and parachuted safely to the ground.
“The night went great,” said Cpl. Joel Denning, a loadmaster with VMGR-352. “It wasn’t a live action drop, but we are supporting the [infantry] and that is what every [Marines’] job is. It doesn’t get much better than dropping recon guys out of planes.”
During the flight, Denning and other crew members acted as safety observers to ensure everything happened in a safe and sensible manner. Crew members have the authority to cancel a jump if a situation is deemed unsafe. This could be due to changes in weather or safety issues within the aircraft.
“It’s all about the safety of the Marines,” said Denning. “First and foremost nobody gets hurt during a jump evolution.”
With 1st Recon’s second jump successfully completed, Marines can be dropped on scene to support Afghan National Security Forces and International Security Assistance Forces should an area be too dangerous for helicopters to land or vehicles to enter.
| Date Taken: | 10.05.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.08.2010 09:07 |
| Story ID: | 57740 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE DWYER, AF |
| Web Views: | 465 |
| Downloads: | 12 |
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