AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — In the cool, early hours of May 24, a lone siren wailed, its noise breaking the early dawn calm. After a brief silence, handshakes were exchanged and responsibility changed hands.
The ceremony marked the transfer of authority from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 to HMLA-169, concluding a deployment that was successful by all measures.
The Marines of HMLA-369 arrived at Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, last fall and assumed responsibility for protecting and serving the ground combat element of Multi-National Force - West by providing close air support, flying intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, and providing armed escort for both ground convoys and casualty evacuation aircraft.
As if that mission assortment was not demanding enough, the ongoing mission in Iraq's Al Anbar province required the squadron to operate from three different locations and move its headquarters to another base almost 75 miles away. This tri-site operational stance demanded the highest levels of dedication to maintenance, discipline, and attention to detail.
"We came here with a plan to support the guys on the ground out of two sites. That turned into three. We also saw an increase in tasking in December as we moved to Al Asad," said Lt. Col. William Zamagni Jr., commanding officer of HMLA-369.
The Marines of HMLA-369 'Gunfighters' were particularly proud of being able to operate out of Combat Outpost Sahl Sinjar, an expeditionary base that supports 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) in the remote desert area near the Iraq-Syrian border.
"They were really some austere conditions," Zamagni said of the lifestyle aboard Sahl Sinjar. "Living and fighting like Marines," he added with a smile.
Throughout the deployment, the support provided by the squadron's AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters was in high demand. When the squadron was needed to support troops on the ground or other forces, the siren was sounded, and the Gunfighters knew their aviation platforms were needed.
"We live in a six-minute world. Everybody comes together to get the birds in the air within a six-minute time window — like firemen," Zamagni explained. "You'll never forget that horn. At the other end of that horn is a Marine in need."
During its deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the squadron sortied more than 3,700 times for a total of around 5,200 flight hours. This high-energy operational tempo demanded an equally impressive maintenance program to keep the aircraft flying so Marines on the ground can operate in a safer environment.
The keys to deployment success, according to Maj. Todd Miller, aviation maintenance officer for the squadron, were two part: strong leadership on the part of the staff non-commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers, and an overall strong desire from every Marine to maintain a 100 percent sortie completion rate.
"That's two deployments now that we haven't dropped any frags [taskings]," said Miller. "We had some close calls, but we pulled through."
It took the squadron's maintenance Marines just under 40,000 man hours to keep the squadron's Cobras and Hueys in the fight, according to the Gunfighters maintenance department. The dedication and hard work the Gunfighters put forth resulted in readiness numbers other squadrons can be envious of. Despite the high demand of their support, the spread-out stance of the squadron over three locations, and providing 11of their aircraft to support a sister squadron's fight in Afghanistan's Operation Enduring Freedom, HMLA-369 maintained above an 88 percent mission-capable readiness rate.
The squadron tracked all of their maintenance and operations information through their ground-breaking use of a new Marine Corps system called the Marine Corps Sierra-Hotel Aviation Readiness Program. HMLA-369 was the first Marine squadron to deploy with the new system, which allows for easier tracking of training management, risk management, document sourcing, and readiness management.
Lt. Col. Zamagni credited Staff Sgt. Roger Gil, Sgt. Gabriel Morin, and Capt. Jim Carlson, all from the squadron's operations department, with the great success of the program's implementation and refinement during the deployment.
"It was on the backs of our Marines to figure out how to make it work," said Zamagni.
Sgt. Maj. Robert Ledferd expressed great pride in the performance of his squadron's Marines. "Two things we did best during this deployment: keeping the aircraft flying, and keeping the emphasis on being a Marine first, and being an aviator second," said Ledferd.
The squadron's enlisted leadership ensured that training was a part of the daily lifestyle for the Gunfighters. The squadron completed 1,086 Marine Corps Institute courses during the deployment, preparing the squadron's Marines to advance in responsibility through leadership, knowledge, and experience. Nine of the squadron's new corporals graduated from Al Asad's Corporals' Course. Character development was accomplished through Marines attaining 94 belt level advancements for the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.
The sergeant major could only boast. "All I can say is, Gunfighters rule."
The pride and sense of accomplishment was painted not just on the squadron building's walls and the faces of the Gunfighters. Its re-enlistment numbers provided even more color. The Gunfighters' Career Retention Specialist, Sgt. Ajay Sharma, gave advice and options for the future to the squadron's Marines, resulting in more than $2 million in bonuses for Gunfighter re-enlistment and the squadron reaching 220 percent of its First Term Alignment Plan goal.
"It's a true testament to the esprit de corps of this squadron," said Zamagni.
The Marines of HMLA-369 are looking forward to returning home and taking some well-deserved leave, Zamagni said. "Then they'll be hitting the treadmill again to get the squadron ready to deploy again next spring.
"This was a true team effort from the lance corporals to the majors. Working three sites, operating throughout the area of operations, rotating Marines around ... across the board, the squadron did fantastic. Gunfighters rule!"