Practicing Resupply Makes For Perfect Drops
Often times, when Marines train in the field for an extended
period of time, supplies run short. In order for training schedules
or operations to be carried out as planned, air delivery of goods
is essential to replenish units.
On a recent training operation in the Philippine
Interoperability Exchange exercise here, Marines of 3rd Air
Delivery Platoon practiced delivering boxes of Meals Ready-to-Eat
(MREs) into an open field, preparing for a real world
situation.
"Air delivery is practiced a lot so when it comes to the real
deal, we do it right every time and we have a good feel for the
operation," said Lance Cpl. Chris M. Kadolph, parachute rigger, 3rd
Air Delivery, Landing Support Company, Transportation Support
Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group.
Just like getting ready for a big game, training hard is the key
element to success when the rubber hits the road, said Kadolph.
"We train the way we would perform in a real world operation so
we don't have to think about it when it really happens. It will
just be a natural action to go out there and deliver," said Cpl.
Shawn E. Rabel, crew chief, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-463,
Marine Aircraft Group-12.
Drop Or Drop-In
Airlift delivery is accomplished by two basic
modes, air-land or aerial delivery. Air-land is the most frequently
used delivery method and encompasses all situations where personnel
and cargo are on-loaded and off-loaded, while the aircraft is on
the ground.
Aerial delivery includes all methods of delivering personnel,
equipment, and supplies from an airborne aircraft.
"We can drop anything small enough that can fit into the
helicopter, but our goal is to be able to support small
Reconnaissance units," said Staff Sgt. Jason E. Cornelison, platoon
sergeant, 3rd Air Delivery, Transportation Support Bn., 3rd Force
Service Support Group.
"This (training operation) we dropped two bundles of four boxes
of MREs to a field for practice," Cornelison said.
Look Out Below
After the air delivery operation, Cornelison and a
group of Marines from 3rd Air Delivery Platoon jumped from the
helicopter, practicing their own landing skills, in addition to the
MRE drop.
"Overall, the drop went well and landed in the targeted area. I
have no doubt in my mind that we could do this in a real world
situation," Cornelison said.
American soldiers are participating in joint training exercises
with Philippines troops who are fighting a fierce war against
guerillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Approximately 300 soldiers are deployed in the southern
Philippines. Officials in that southern Pacific country expect more
American troops to be deployed - some, perhaps to fight in combat
for the first time there - sometime later this Spring.