The heavy beating of propeller blades from the MV-22 Osprey resound throughout the desert while patrolling the landscape. A puff of smoke or reflection gives notice to where a crew from a downed aircraft is possibly hiding, awaiting safe passage back home.
As the Osprey circles the area, the descent begins. Rotor wash kicks up the rocky underbrush and flattens almost all vegetation in the area. The landing zone is established as Marines pour from the back of the tilt-rotor craft into the surrounding area. Another flash of light from a mirror catches the eye of the team leader as he moves to investigate with security detail in tow.
On heightened alert to the dangers of possible enemy in the area, the platoon commander identifies a missing pilot with his crewmen and quickly escorts them to the safety of the waiting aircraft. As quickly as the security had set it’s foothold in the mountainous desert terrain, they collapse to the Osprey with their mission accomplished.
Time from start to finish…two minutes, 30 seconds.
The Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel, or TRAP platoon, from Headquarters Company, Regimental Combat Team 8, completed a two-day training evolution in conjunction with Weapons and Tactics Instructors course 1-11, Oct. 29-30, to allow the pilots and crew of CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters, as well as the Ospreys, the opportunity to locate and rescue downed air crew as part of their course evaluations.
With only a few days’ notice, the regiment received the order calling for a TRAP platoon to be formed.
“We really only had two days advanced notice,” said 1st Lt. Greg Meyer, the executive officer for Headquarters Company and the TRAP platoon commander. “We had a lot to do within a short amount of time.”
According to Meyer, the company reacted robustly, quickly formulating a plan for the mission as well as tracking down the specific requirements such as stretchers and communication assets. Next, the call went out to the Marines of the company for volunteers to participate and form the TRAP platoon.
“We asked for volunteers from the company and it only took about 30 minutes to get all the Marines necessary for the mission,” said Meyer.
The term “rifleman first” took on a whole new meaning when the TRAP platoon came together for the first time. According to Meyer, the role of TRAP platoon usually falls to an infantry platoon and becomes an everyday task for them when they are deployed.
“We had a true melting pot of (military occupational specialties) in the platoon,” said Meyer, referring to the duty backgrounds of the Marines that ranged from infantrymen to administration clerks.
Once the platoon was formed, preparation for the coming mission was at hand. The Marines rehearsed the missions they might have faced during the real endeavor.
“We rehearsed varying scenarios that could be thrown at us while in the bird, or on the ground during the mission,” said Meyer. “This put everyone on the same page and allowed us to adapt to changing missions.”
Following a day of practice drills, the platoon seemed confident in their training and ready for the next step…the mission.
“The worst part was playing the waiting game for the mission to get called,” said Meyer. “We sat on the bird and did as we were told until we hit the ground, then it was our time to shine.”
The Marines didn’t waste any time when the aircraft landed. With the perimeter set in, the personnel being rescued were identified, collected and brought back to the aircraft for the flight to safety.
“Two and a half minutes…that’s a benchmark most units would strive to get,” said Meyer. “I was pleasantly surprised to how well we worked together considering only three or four of us knew what a TRAP was beforehand. From the (private first class) to the gunny, all of the Marines performed admirably.”