MWSS-372 Builds Up Camp Dwyer, Increases Flexibility for MAG-40

2/25/2010 By Lance Cpl. Samuel Nasso , Marine Aircraft Group 40

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan

An evolution has been underway, as Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 "Diamondbacks", Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, have tirelessly made significant changes to the airfield here.

Since the Diamondbacks arrived in Afghanistan in late September, they have been responsible for the continued improvement of the runway here for Marine Aircraft Group 40's assets.

In just over four months, they have built a parking ramp for KC-130 Hercules aircraft, repaired the runway, built a parking ramp for rotary and tiltrotor aircraft, installed a Tactical Airfield Fueling Dispersing System and connected all the ramps to the runway by building taxiways for the various aircraft.

The improvements to the C-130 parking ramp consisted of laying approximately 145,000 square feet of aluminum matting, increasing the amount of incoming troops and supplies that can be brought in.

"The C-130 ramp allows more than one C-130 to be on station at one time," said Master Sgt. Daniel DeVries, the staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the MWSS-372 detachment here. "Two can park on the ramp and one can take off or land on the runway, creating more flexibility and allowing more supplies to flow in."

The north parking ramp was expanded with more than 340,000 square feet of aluminum matting, which increased the amount of aircraft that can park at the airfield. Additionally, the ramp increases traffic flow by acting as a taxiway for aircraft to access the newly-installed TAFDS when another aircraft is landing or taking off on the runway.

The TAFDS is a fuel pit with the square footage of nearly one and a half football fields and the ability to refuel multiple aircraft at the same time. The TAFDS also provides triple the amount of fuel of previous fueling pits, minimizing the amount of time an aircraft needs to spend on the ground.

The work the Diamondbacks have done to Camp Dwyer has not come easily. The squadron was working diligently on three major earthmoving projects only to encounter a new obstacle in the middle of December. They had to pull up the old landing strip and parking ramp due to the wear resulting from the high volume of traffic on the airfield.

"Our Marines were in high gear, working nonstop to get multiple projects done to meet timelines," said DeVries. "With all of our forward momentum coming to a dead stop, it was like being kicked in the teeth."

Before the Marines had to halt their other projects, their Air Force counterparts took charge to lead a combined effort to get the runway operational again.

The 809th Expeditionary RED HORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers) Squadron assisted MWSS-372 by preparing all of the groundwork, which allowed the expeditionary airfield Marines to lie matting simultaneously.

"The work that RED HORSE did freed our Marines to focus on laying aluminum matting for the runway and C-130 ramp, but also to focus on the multiple other projects that had to be done to meet the timelines," Devries said.

Currently, the Diamondbacks are working on expanding the runway and adding a south parking ramp similar to the north parking ramp.

"We can't overlook the capabilities of these projects," said DeVries. "[They] extend the ability for the air combat element to reach the entire area of operations."

The Diamondbacks are responsible for placing more than one million square feet of aluminum matting here so far, with more projects in store for the future.

"The Marines never stop and don't complain," said 2nd Lt. Chad Presley, the heavy equipment platoon commander. "They came in and did exactly what I expected from them."

After four months, more than one million square feet of aluminum matting, close to 101,000 cubic yards of dirt, and countless man hours, the Diamondbacks' Camp Dwyer evolution has improved the capabilities of MAG-40 as operations in Afghanistan continue to expand.

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan-Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, conduct on and off drills on CH-53D "Super Stallion" helicopters from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 40, MEB-Afghanistan, here Jan. 23. The north parking ramp, recently constructed by Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, MAG-40, MEB-Afghanistan, allows increased flexibility for units within MEB-Afghanistan to conduct drills like this involving Marines from the ground combat element and aviation combat element to work together and build rapport with one another. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso), Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 1/23/2010 12:01 PM
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan-Lance Cpl. Travis Vliet, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, covers and aligns a bag of concrete for the expansion of the C-130 runway here, Jan. 23. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso), Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 1/23/2010 8:30 AM
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan-Lance Cpls. Bryce Allen, a combat engineer for Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, watches fellow combat engineer, Lance Cpl. Travis Vliet, drop a bag of concrete while expanding the C-130 runway here, Jan. 23. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso), Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 1/23/2010 8:30 AM
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan-CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan - Lance Cpl. Bryce Allen, a combat engineer for Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, breaks open a bag of concrete for the expansion of the C-130 runway project here, Jan. 23. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso), Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 1/23/2010 8:33 AM
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan-Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, work on expanding the C-130 runway here to enable a fully-loaded KC-130J "Super Hercules" aircraft to take off and land, Jan. 23. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso), Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 1/23/2010 8:40 AM
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan-Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, spread concrete during the expanding of the C-130 runway here, Jan. 23. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso), Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 1/23/2010 8:42 AM
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan-Lance Cpls. Brandon Gromala, (left) and Jack Cardenas, both engineer assistants with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, survey the dirt to ensure the expeditionary airfield Marines are laying concrete in a straight line here, Jan. 23. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso), Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 1/23/2010 8:47 AM
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan-Pfc. Christopher Rainboat, a heavy equipment operator for Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, prepares the tape sweep area with a 130 Grader here, Jan. 23. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso), Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 1/23/2010 8:50 AM
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan-Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, conduct on and off drills on a pair of CH-53D "Super Stallion" helicopters from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 40, MEB-Afghanistan, here Jan. 23. The north parking ramp, recently constructed by Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, MAG-40, MEB-Afghanistan, increases the ability of an aviation squadron to work with an infantry battalion while supporting operations in southern Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso), Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 1/23/2010 12:02 PM
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan-Bulk fuel Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, fuel a KC-130J "Super Hercules" aircraft with the Tactical Airfield Fueling Dispersing System for the first time here, Jan. 23. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso), Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 1/24/2010 11:35 AM
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan-For the first time, not one KC-130J "Super Hercules" aircraft, but two refuel at the Tactical Airfield Fueling Dispersing System recently established at Camp Dwyer by the Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, Jan. 23. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso), Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 1/24/2010 11:40 AM