Marines learn skills to save lives

Cpl. Jessica Aranda

AL ASAD, Iraq (June 14, 2008) – Marines deployed with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) recently became certified lifesavers after completing a class hosted by Navy corpsman here June 13.

The combat lifesaver skills course is designed to train non-medical personnel the basics of emergency care, enabling them to step in and provide assistance to patients and corpsman in a combat environment.

“While conducting combat operations, there could only be one corpsman assigned to an entire unit of Marines,” explained Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Rodrick Jones, the course instructor and corpsman with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3, 3rd MAW (Fwd.) “So when an emergency arises, these combat lifesavers become integral to stabilizing patients and assisting the corpsman.”

During the 40-hour course, instructors teach students enhanced first aid, such as clearing an airway and maintaining breathing and circulation. With hands-on activities, Marines learned how to stop bleeding, start an IV, stabilize patients with spinal injuries and treat heat casualties.

“This course gave me the confidence to help my buddies should any emergency situation arise,” said Cpl. Fabian Reynolds, a communications and navigations radar technician with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4. “I now have a better chance of saving their lives instead of running around frantically wondering what I need to do.” explained Reynolds, a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

At the conclusion of the course, Marines had the opportunity to apply all the procedures they learned during a mock-casualty drill. During the drill, students arrived on scene to find simulated patients with unknown injuries. With assistance from instructors, students had to assess injuries and decide how to treat victims based on the care methods they learned during class.

“I am hoping that each student takes away a general knowledge of how to treat injuries,” explained Jones, a native of Gaston, Ala. “Not just emergencies that could happen in Iraq, but emergencies that could occur in the home or in a traffic accident they may happen to arrive at. If they apply what they learned in this course, they could make the difference between life and death for a patient.”

‘Purple Foxes’ add fourth deployment to squadron history books

Lance Cpl. Michael Stevens

AT-TAQADDUM, Iraq (June 13, 2008) – Currently on their fourth deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), provides important services to Marines and service members throughout the Anbar Province.

As the only CH-46 Sea Knight squadron operating in country, the “Purple Foxes” provide key support functions such as command leader transports, troop inserts and extractions and cargo transport.

“On previous deployments the squadron has been the primary means for casualty evacuations, but we’re not doing that anymore,” said Sgt. Brian Dinning, a CH-46 crew chief with HMM-364. “It’s a sign of good improvement in the province now that there are less and less evacuations necessary.”

The Foxes know the level of support they bring to the war effort and take pride in everything they do.

Their efforts in getting the aircraft flying directly correlates with how much support the unit can give to each Marine, sailor, soldier, airman or coalition partner out on the ground, explained Lt. Col. Mark G. Schrecker, the squadron’s commanding officer.

Although CH-46 squadrons are being phased out to make room for the Corps’ newest medium-sized aircraft, the MV-22 Osprey, the Sea Knight continues to serve as a valuable asset.

“Right now, we have the oldest aircraft in country and we’re arguably carrying the highest maintenance readiness percentage. That’s simply due to the Marines’ efforts,” said Schrecker.


As a reminder of the age and history behind the aircraft and the squadron, painted on the side of each CH-46 is an exact replica of the logo used during its tour in Vietnam.

“The squadron history reminds the Marines how important our job is,” said Schrecker. “My Marines are awesome and absolutely blow me away everyday. It’s amazing how hard they work and how motivated they are.”

‘Say hello to my little friend’; Scarface assets keep Baghdad streets safe

Lance Cpl. Michael Stevens

BAGHDAD, Iraq (June 10, 2008) – Soaring hundreds of feet above the capital city of Iraq, Marine attack helicopters poise ready to respond at a moments notice.

Directly supporting U.S. and Iraqi Army units, the UH-1N Huey and AH-1W Super Cobra circle the Baghdad sky, keeping a watchful eye on ground operations on the streets below.

Armed with a variety of weapon systems, this security detail is a frequent mission for Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward).

“Our mission was to provide on-call close air support as well as aerial surveillance in the area of Baghdad,” said Capt. Eric Mitchell, a UH-1N Huey pilot. “We’re tasked with looking at different points of interest and checking on friendly convoys but also providing support to Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police check points in the city.”

Providing as much aviation support as possible, the Marines assist the ground combat units by responding to their requests and reacting immediately in support of their needs.

“When we’re supporting a convoy, we’re looking ahead of their path for anything suspicious,” said Mitchell. “We relay information to the convoy and to the joint tactical air command to let them know what we see and gain clearance to fire on the threat before it harms anyone.”

Like most operations in Iraq, the aircraft face dangers during their mission. Surface-to-air weapons could engage them at any moment. The pilot and aircrew rely on their defense systems to react appropriately in the event of an enemy advance.

“The mere presence of HMLA rotors deters the enemy from doing anything while we’re out there,” said Mitchell. “The ground commander knows they have an aviation asset on their side that can deliver fire against the insurgency.”

HMM-364 Purple Foxes video

Aviation logistics; a key to flying success

Lance Cpl. Michael Stevens

AT-TAQADDUM, Iraq (June 14, 2008) – With detachments throughout the Anbar province, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), works diligently to keep aircraft in the air and in the fight.

One unit in particular, Detachment A, MALS-16, keeps the CH-46 Sea Knight, UH-1N Huey and AH-1W Super Cobra flying in support of the Coalition effort through maintenance and routine inspections aboard Camp Taqaddum.

“Our key mission is to provide an intermediate level of maintenance support to the Marine flying squadrons here,” said Gunnery Sgt. James E. Peeler, the Detachment A staff noncommissioned officer in charge. “When components break on the aircraft here, we’re the first ones to obtain the part and try and fix it.”

Along with providing maintenance on aircraft parts, the squadron possesses a number of ground support equipment used by squadrons throughout the flight line. This gear includes portable lights to allow illumination throughout the night and machinery for loading and unloading cargo from aircraft.

In addition to providing squadrons with equipment, the MALS-16 Marines use their capabilities to conduct in-depth aircraft inspections.

“We have the gear to visually inspect the high-stress areas of the aircraft,” said Sgt. Kenneth Hudson, a non-destructive inspector with Detachment A. “It allows us to see what the naked eye can’t reveal. We use a standard procedure so we can properly inspect the aircraft and its parts.”

These inspections take place after a pre-determined number of flight hours to ensure the safety of the pilots and crew.

The avionics Marines troubleshoot and repair the aircraft survivability equipment on each Marine Corps aircraft, as well as the Army UH-60 Black Hawk.

The 3rd MAW (Fwd) Marines fill an important role, reacting to all situations and ensuring the aircraft are able to continue supporting ground elements at a moments notice,” said 1st Lt. Alexis F. Vogelgesang, the Detachment A officer-in-charge.

“I’m proud of all the Marines under my charge,” said Vogelgesang. “We have augments from several units that team together to get the job done safely and in a timely manner. Our detachment’s cohesion is thriving and will continue to do so for the duration of our deployment.”

Brothers distance goes from entire continent to 200 ft

Lance Cpl. Michael Stevens

AT-TAQADDUM, Iraq (June 14, 2008) –Sergeant Jason White, a Marine assigned to Detachment Alpha, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and Spc. Wesley White, a soldier with Bravo Company, 1-52 Army Aviation Regiment, have the luxury of a having a brother around to help them through their deployment.

“I still can’t get over it,” says Jason, the younger brother at 27. “We both joined the military and got stationed on completely different sides of the country, now we’re both deployed at the same time, to the same location in Iraq; it’s just amazing.”

Stateside, Jason is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., while his brother Wesley, 29, is on the opposite side of the U.S. at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

With the deployment to Camp Taqaddum, the nation-wide gap between the two brothers is now closed to no more than 200 feet.

The Hopewell, Va., natives, conveniently have work stations facing each other on the Camp Taqaddum flight line, allowing for a quick walk to meet one another.

“Having my brother here has definitely made this deployment more tolerable,” said Wesley.

The two often meet at the chow hall to eat with one another, or stop by each others living area at the end of shift to talk, explained Jason.

Sharing more than just a blood line, the brother’s work in the same occupational field for their respective services. Both are hydraulic mechanics; Wesley on the CH-47 Chinook and Jason, trained on the MV-22 Osprey.

“It’s been an awesome experience to see the similarities and differences in the way the two services do similar jobs,” they both explained.

Though they’re not sure when or how often they’ll get to see one another once the deployment ends, the two are enjoying each other’s company and value the time they spend deployed together.

Lioness Program