The Marines and Sailors of Marine Gentle Assault Helicopter Squadron 169 and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, third Marine Plane Wing, returned from deployments in help of the Unit Deployment Program and thirty first Marine Expeditionary Unit to their house stations of Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton and MCAS Miramar, California, respectively, earlier this month.
The HMLA-169 “Vipers” and HMH-462 “Heavy Haulers” demonstrated adaptability and flexibility by task-organizing their squadrons into parts for 2 totally different deployments every.
The Heavy Haulers additionally hooked up the remaining third of their squadron to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, yielding a bolstered assault help squadron, which supported a bilateral train and reduction efforts within the Philippines this summer season.
“The Vipers executed an aggressive marketing campaign that emphasised distributed operations throughout the Indo-Pacific theater,” Lt. Col. Thomas Duff, commanding officer of HMLA-169.
UDP enhances america’ ahead presence and offers a constant and speedy response functionality. This system goals to take care of fight readiness, deter aggression, and strengthen alliances and partnerships within the Indo-Pacific area. UDP reinforces the Marine Corps’ capability to maneuver to key maritime terrain quickly, set up resilient air command and management, and generate aviation fight energy from distributed areas.
The thirty first MEU is the Marine Corps’ solely completely forward-deployed MEU and is the nation’s expeditionary pressure in readiness within the Indo-Pacific area.
The Vipers’ UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper plane and the Heavy Haulers’ CH-53E Tremendous Stallions operated throughout the Indo-Pacific, demonstrating the operational attain of Marine aviation.
They participated in workouts together with Marine Aviation Assist Exercise, Talisman Sabre, Fuji Viper, Tremendous Garuda Defend, and Korean Marine Change Program, and carried out coaching in Okinawa, together with a wide range of flight operations and {qualifications}; maritime integration; and joint and Marine Air-Floor Process Drive integration.
“The Vipers executed an aggressive marketing campaign that emphasised distributed operations throughout the Indo-Pacific theater,” stated Lt. Col. Thomas Duff, commanding officer of HMLA-169. “We utilized strategic airlift, amphibious delivery, and self-deploying detachments to help 5 bilateral workouts and improve interoperability with our companions within the area.”
Picture by Cpl. Tyler M. Andrews
U.S. Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Drive rappel from a UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Gentle Assault Helicopter Squadron 169 throughout particular patrol insertion and extraction coaching at Touchdown Zone Starling, Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 21, 2023. Helicopter rope suspension methods train Marines correct knots, rappelling methods and construct confidence for maneuvering from air to floor.
The Vipers and Heavy Haulers performed a key function in fostering relationships with allies and companions within the area, demonstrating a ahead presence within the Indo-Pacific, and enhancing capabilities for mission units throughout the vary of army operations.
“Mobility is an recognized problem within the Western Pacific, particularly within the First Island Chain, that’s essential for america to advertise regional stability and strengthen alliances with accomplice nations whereas in Nice Energy Competitors,” stated Lt. Col. Jonathan Bryant, commanding officer of HMH-462. “Over the previous seven months, the Marines and Sailors of HMH-462 met this problem head-on by constantly demonstrating the Marine Corps’ capability to conduct long-range assault help and heavy carry operations for III MEF because the Stand-In-Drive in INDOPACOM.”
Marines and belongings from third MAW, the biggest wing within the Marine Corps, are consistently forward-deployed in help of operations and coaching across the globe. Able to battle tonight and win, third MAW is poised to reply when referred to as upon.