MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. – Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 visited Landing Zone Star, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., for training operations by setting up Forward Arming Refueling Points in support of Scorpion Fire Phase II.
In combat, FARP provides support any time of the day or night to ensure aircraft do not have to return all the way to base to refuel, but can reenter the fight more quickly.
“We're actually not conducting training,” said Sgt. Jason Bacha, a bulk-fuel specialist with MWSS-373 and a Pittsburgh native. “We're in support of training pilots who are going to be deploying sometime soon.”
Even though the training is not specifically for MWSS-373, they still benefit from the exercise.
“It's good training for us, especially me since I'm coming straight out of the school house,” said Pfc. Adam Farley, a bulk-fuel specialist with MWSS-373 and a Burt, N.Y., native.
FARPs are the only time bulk-fuel Marines actually conduct hands-on refuel training. At military occupational specialty school, bulk-fuel specialists mostly do in-classroom work, and the only hands-on training they receive is setting up the equipment, explained Gunnery Sgt. Erick Lee, the FARP officer in charge with MWSS-373 and a Fairfax, Va., native.
“There is no aircraft refueling at the school house,” said Lee. “As far as the young Marines, this is pretty much where they'll learn all the safety precautions, and they'll learn all the procedures for refueling.”
Safety is the most important part during the training evolution. Bulk-fuel Marines must ground the aircraft before beginning fueling operations due to static electricity produced from the rotor blades.
“Anything can go wrong during training, especially with hot refueling points, which means the birds don’t shut down,” said Farley.
Bulk-fuel specialist also conduct cold refueling, during which the aircraft is shut down.
“There’s a lot of dangers when the aircraft is still on,” said Lee. “You have the rotor blades still running, and when dealing with small aircraft like the cobras or hueys, their tail rotors sit really low. If you’re not paying attention, you could run into the tail rotors.”
MWSS-373 not only provides fuel for the aircraft, but they are there to provide safe support for the pilots to return to their mission.
“The most important thing is these pilots are getting the experience they need to go into a combat zone, and have the confidence they need to fly out and carry on with whatever their mission is,” said Bacha.
Scorpion Fire is a two-week training evolution to provide support for pilots’ pre-deployment training. Though the mission is not necessarily conducted for MWSS-373, they are benefitting from the training by sustaining individual proficiency.