'Ugly Angels' Carry Their Weight In Combat Operations
(January 12, 2011) |
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| CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan (MCN - 1/9/2011) — When coalition
forces and supplies need to be moved quickly throughout the
Regional Command (Southwest)'s area of operations, the
Marines of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine
Aircraft Wing (Forward), are here to carry the weight. |
Using the CH-53D Sea Stallion, the “Ugly Angels”
of HMH-362 provide assault support transport of
combat troops, supplies and equipment during
expeditionary operations.
“Our primary
mission is assault support, which boils down to
people and cargo,” said Capt. Salvador Jauregui,
a pilot with the Ugly Angels. “Everybody has
their contribution to make, otherwise the
machine doesn't work.”
HMH-362's
contributions to supporting operations are the
daily tasking missions of transporting coalition
forces, local Afghans, Afghan National Police,
civilians and any |
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A CH-53D Sea Stallion assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), prepares to land during a general support mission. HMH-362 transports coalition forces, local Afghans, Afghan National Police, civilians and any type of cargo the aircraft can lift. |
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type of cargo the aircraft can lift. The
aircraft is capable of internal and external
lifts of cargo ranging from mail to High
Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles. |
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“We support the infantry; it's our whole purpose in life,”
said Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Starky, the squadron's operations
chief.
When the infantry is traveling long distances,
the fastest way to get there is by helicopter, instead of
going via convoy, added Starky.
To ensure the gear
and personnel traveling get where they need to go on time,
HMH-362 Marines start planning flights about two days in
advance.
Once an assault support request is received,
the Marines must consider several factors including weight,
flight time and the amount of fuel needed. Other
considerations are the required inspections and maintenance
the planes need to ensure they are able to fly, explained
Starky.
Once planning is complete, it is up to the
aircraft's enlisted crew to ensure things run smoothly
throughout the flight.
“As a crew chief, it's just
about keeping track of the ASR, knowing where we're going
and what will change when we get there,” said Lance Cpl.
Kyle Taylor, an Ugly Angels crew chief. “It is a lot of
common sense. Look at what you have and where you're taking
it.”
The crew spends an average day flying from four
to seven hours.
Sometimes the shorter days can turn
into a longer one depending on the ASRs and how flights can
change, explained Taylor, who is originally from Oak Lawn,
Ill.
When the Marines fly for that many hours in a
combat environment, they use a combination of mental and
physical effort.
“You see all the mud huts and most
of the areas we go into are populated, so you constantly
have to be looking for threats,” said Starky, who is
originally from Tecumseh, Mich. “It's more mentally draining
because you are always thinking. Whether you are looking for
threats or figuring out how to organize cargo.”
The
Marines complete these tasking missions each day to ensure
they are doing their part to keep the coalition forces
supplied and transported where ever they need to go. |
Article and photo by USMC Sgt. Deanne Hurla
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego
Copyright 2011 | |
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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