CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina --
Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302,
stationed aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, teamed up
with landing support specialists from several Combat Logistics Battalions to
perform external lifts aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 16-18.
The exercise included the use of a 6,000 pound cargo load,
which was used to give student pilots and landing support specialists a
real-life simulation to further enhance their training.
“External operations are integral to every student who
progresses through the syllabus,” said Capt. Mike Caceres, a CH-53E Instructor
Pilot with HMHT-302. “We start off the students on the aircraft with daytime
exercises, showing them how a CH-53E crew handles moving an external load from
one place to another as a team. Solid communication skills and situational
awareness are a must.”
Learning the ropes aboard the aircraft were two student
pilots under the supervision of Caceres, while landing support specialist
worked in small helicopter support teams during the exercise to perform the
lifts from the ground.
“Let’s play out the scenario that a reconnaissance unit
needs ammunition, but the roads are riddled with known IEDs,” said Caceres.
“Ground convoys would most probably be an unsafe option in this case; making
the CH-53E the primary choice for any mission planner. It severely cuts down on
time and spares Marines the danger of traveling by ground.”
External lifts have the potential to increase efficiency
while decreasing expended resources, said Sgt. Christopher Dutzer, a platoon
sergeant with CLB-2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2.
“In my opinion, helicopter support teams are extremely
valuable tools that are underutilized,” said Dutzer. “They can be used to move
gear, vehicles or supplies to and from a location in minutes, a process that
would take hours to transport by vehicle.”
Caceres said that the units have a close working
relationship and often support each other to provide their Marines with quality
training.
“We take teaching these skill sets very seriously,” said
Caceres. “External operations are fairly unique to Naval Aviation and provide
the Marine Air-Ground Task Force with heavy lift capabilities that sets the
CH-53E community apart.”