Photo Information

Two crew chiefs refuel their Bell UH-1Y Venom during Marine Wing Support Squadron 272’s forward arming and refueling point in Engelhard, N.C., Feb. 12, 2015. The squadron’s FARP exercise is designed to get the Marines to refuel landed helicopters as quickly as possible, so the aircrafts can quickly take off after filling up.

Photo by Cpl. Scott Whiting

MWSS-272 executes FARP

20 Feb 2015 | Cpl. Scott Whiting The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

A group of Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, traveled to a civilian air strip in Engelhard, North Carolina, Feb. 11, 2015, to establish a forward arming and refueling point.

The Marines arrived at the air strip and set up their area of operations. The next day, multiple helicopters from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadrons 467 and 269, also from MCAS New River, landed at the FARP to receive fuel and take off as quickly as possible. 

“This exercise lets us evaluate the Marines and see how quickly and effectively they can do their jobs, while still working under safe conditions,” said Staff Sgt. William Friddle, a bulk fuel chief with MWSS-272. 

They established four refueling points for helicopters, which were spaced out according to their safety guidelines. There were two fuel trucks, and each truck was responsible for providing fuel for two points.

“It was very fast-paced once the helicopters started landing,” Friddle said. “After calming down the Marines and getting them focused, they did their job extremely effectively.”

When the aircrafts landed in the designated refuel points, the Marines ran out with the fuel hoses. The crew chiefs on the helicopters would then insert the hoses and begin fueling. After the process completed, they would take off, and the Marines with MWSS-272 would wait for another helicopter to land. 

“We don’t always get to do our jobs like this, so anytime we’re able to practice our specialty, we do it as well as we can,” Friddle said. “We have some great Marines here who always do what is asked of them, and they get the job done.”