'Evils Eyes' DET Keeps Birds Flying High
(March 27, 2011) |
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USS GREEN BAY, At Sea (3/23/2011) – For more
than 50 years, Marines and sailors with Marine
Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced) have
proven they can operate in the far reaches of
the globe, from the jungles of Vietnam to the
mountains of Afghanistan.
Currently,
HMM-163 (Rein.), sails on the world's oceans
deployed as part of the 13th Marine
Expeditionary Unit-Boxer Amphibious Ready Group,
ready to respond as part of a force in
readiness.
Once solely based aboard the USS
Boxer, a detachment of Marines from the squadron
has recently set up shop aboard the USS Green
Bay during the 2011 Western Pacific Deployment.
This detachment provides increased capabilities
for a MEU that can operate independently on two
ships thousands of miles apart.
“We
really expand the capabilities of the Marines
and sailors on ship,” said Capt. Thad D.
Christofer, a pilot with the squadron known as
“Evil Eyes.” “For instance, we can split off as
an individual ship and when we try to go ashore
with [Battalion Landing Team 1/1] we can provide
that rapid deployment. We also have a lot longer
range than other assets here on ship. In any
case we need to sprint ahead or in a CASEVAC
situation we can go in and at a fast. The whole
idea behind the MEU-[Marine Air-Ground Task
Force] concept is that you have the ACE element
embedded with the ground element so there's a
whole lot more we can do whether it's
Non-Combatant Evacuations, Humanitarian
Assistance Operations, fast rope insertion or
other missions organic to the MEU.”
A
dedicated crew of aviation maintainers oversee
and make repairs to sustain four CH-46E “Sea
Knights.” This enables the |
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Aviation maintainers
with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163
(Reinforced), 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit,
help wash down CH-46E “Sea Knights” as part of
daily maintenance aboard the USS Green Bay
(LPD-20) March 19, 2011. Pressure washing the
helicopters prevents the build-up of corrosion
causing salt that builds up from the salty air
at sea.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Carter L. Davis, a corpsman with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced), 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, teaches other corpsmen aboard the USS Green Bay how to quickly and safely load casualties onto a CH-46E “Sea Knight” during a Casualty Evacuation class March 19,
2011. The Sea Knights aboard the Green Bay are capable of providing CASEVAC support during their 2011 Western Pacific Deployment. |
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detachment to operate independent from Boxer. |
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Each day, Marines from the squadron wash down the
helicopters to rid them of corrosive salt that builds up,
caused by the ocean air. Other duties include checking for
foreign object debris or FOD and performing daily
inspections to look for discrepancies on the aircraft. When
the aircraft has been certified by maintenance control, the
pilots sign for the aircraft and flight operations can
commence.
“For years all the little decks [LPD's]
have had flight decks but really those were designed as lily
pads,” said Lt. Col. Craig Wonson, the commanding officer of
BLT 1/1, 13th MEU. “This ship is really designed to have a
sustained albeit small but sustained aircraft support on it.
So not only can we land helicopters on it here. Now we have
a ship that's not a big deck that can sustain an aircraft
for long durations. Now you become a MAGTF. It lends to the
Marine Corps nature of adaptability and versatility.”
The flight deck, hangar bay and maintenance areas aboard
the USS Green Bay provide the detachment with the space
necessary to keep flight operations running.
“Usually when you deploy in country you have more support
from the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons, and more room
for supplies and assets,” said Gunnery Sgt. Angel R.
Montanez, senior maintenance controller and crew chief with
Evil Eyes.
“Here on the Green Bay you have a smaller
contingent of resources and are even more limited than on
Boxer. You have fewer Marines working on each aircraft and
that means they need to work independently and be savvy.
When Marines perform maintenance they need to do it right
the first time. It's a different environment but its
business as usual.”
In spite of these limitations,
the Marines use the opportunity to hone their skills and
learn from each other.
“It's a challenge working on
a ship, period, but the smaller sized staff means we have
more chances for non-commissioned officers to mentor us one
on one and this can help me become a better mechanic,” said
Lance Cpl. Daryl S. Martin, a CH-46E helicopter mechanic
with Evil Eyes. “I'm glad to be here and I wouldn't want to
be on any other ship.”
If aircrews find themselves
conducting HAO's or troop insertions in a distant land,
their success will be shared by not only the pilots and crew
chiefs but by the Marines and sailors who keep flight
operations running as an element of the Green Bay's own
“mini MAGTF.” |
Article and photos by USMC Cpl. Christopher O'Quin
13th
Marine Expeditionary Unit
Copyright 2011 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
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