JOINT PACIFIC ALASKA RANGE COMPLEX, Alaska - Flying thousands of feet above snow-capped Alaskan mountain ranges, members of a U.S. Marine Reserve squadron prepared to refuel aircraft during exercise Northern Edge 2011.
As the Navy fighter pilot maneuvered into position, he slowly edged the aircraft's probe into the KC-130 Hercules aircraft's refueling drogue basket to receive fuel, then continued on to execute his portion of the exercise.
This was just another day for members assigned to the U.S. Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452 (VMGR-452) based out of Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y.
"Refueling is our bread and butter for the VMGR squadron," said U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Griggsby Cowart, VMGR-452 navigator. "It's what we're here to do. It's our primary mission."
The squadron, which includes more than 300 active-duty and reserve personnel and 12 KC-130 Hercules aircraft, routinely performs about 15 to 20 refueling missions a month. The KC-130 can refuel various aircraft using its probe and drogue system; however, for exercise NE 2011, they've mainly refueled Navy F-18s.
"Our main mission objective for Northern Edge is to provide aerial refueling support in any way we can," said Sergeant Cowart, who has been in the Marines for 15 years. "We brought two aircraft, and our goal is to get both those aircraft in the air every day to pass as much fuel as we possibly can."
Using the probe and drogue system is not an easy feat, as it requires the pilot of the aircraft receiving the fuel to maneuver their aircraft's probe into the C-130s drogue hose.
"They fly into what's called a basket - a big parachute device that goes around the hose and holds it in the air," the gunnery sergeant said. "Once they fly into it, it couples, we turn on the pumps and they start getting fuel."
On exercise missions like the one on June 15, the squadron provides the opportunity for other Marines to see what refueling is all about. This time, members from U.S. Marine Air Control Squadron 23 based out of Aurora, Colo., partook in the activities.
"It was really cool to get to see how the Marines operate in the air," said MACS-23 Air Control Electronics Operator Lance Cpl. Titus Mote, who is from Colorado Springs, Colo. "We tend to lose sight of the picture on the ground, as far as what's going on in the air, and how we're important to making that mission happen and getting it accomplished.”
Though refueling is the biggest component of VMGR-452's mission, it's not the only piece. The squadron also transports cargo and people, as well as sets up rapid ground refueling for helicopters. Like many other units, VMGR-452 has been a part of Operation Enduring Freedom, and they are currently deployed in support of Black Sea Rotational Force in Romania.
For VMGR-452, exercise Northern Edge is an opportunity to sharpen their skill sets.
"Joint exercises not only hone our skills, but they allow us to operate with other forces in real-world type scenarios," said Sergeant Cowart, a native of Atlanta. "If we're called on to perform an actual mission, it's not just going to be Marines most of the time. We are going to have to work with other forces and other services to be able to execute those missions. So, for us to come out here and practice that, it's extremely important."
At the end of the day, whether it's exercises or real-world missions, members of VMGR-452 can go home with their heads high.
"The feeling we get from coming out here and executing these missions is really a great one of accomplishment from our crews," the gunnery sergeant said. "We know there's a lot of moving parts for these exercises, but for us to come up here, get tasked with a mission and be able to complete it successfully, it's a good feeling for everybody on the crew."
| Date Taken: |
06.15.2011 |
| Date Posted: |
06.17.2011 00:36 |
| Story ID: |
72235 |
| Location: |
JOINT PACIFIC ALASKA RANGE COMPLEX, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: |
93 |
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0 |
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