Stories

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HMLA-367 returns to Al Taqaddum mission ready

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 officially returned to Al Taqaddum, Iraq, Oct. 14, taking over the responsibilities of providing close air support and casualty evacuation escort missions from HMLA-169, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). “Our advance echelon and HMLA-169 really smoothed our

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Sgt. Luis C. Cardenas takes an oil sample from a piece of Ground Support Equipment gear at Al Taqaddum, Iraq, Aug. 30. Cardenas is a hydraulic mechanic with the Ground Support Equipment section, Detachment A, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and is responsible for 115 pieces of equipment that Marine helicopter squadrons use to test, troubleshoot and transport helicopters at Al Taqaddum. He is a Houston native. - Sgt. Luis C. Cardenas takes an oil sample from a piece of Ground Support Equipment gear at Al Taqaddum, Iraq, Aug. 30. Cardenas is a hydraulic mechanic with the Ground Support Equipment section, Detachment A, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and is responsible for 115 pieces of equipment that Marine helicopter squadrons use to test, troubleshoot and transport helicopters at Al Taqaddum. He is a Houston native.

GSE keeps the tools in aircraft mechanics hands

As Marines carry out flight missions in the Iraqi desert, an essential part of operations is constant maintenance of the aircraft using specialized tools, vehicles and mobile electric power plants. Ground Support Equipment Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, are tasked with the

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Flight equipment remains lifeline for pilots

Flight equipment technicians maintain the gear that saves the lives of pilots and their crews when everything else goes wrong. Their mission is to sit in a room and tape, re-wire, stitch and inspect anything and everything crews wear for their survival if they crash, said Lance Cpl. Joseph W. Smith, flight equipment technician, Marine Medium

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Ordnance Marines from Marine Attack Squadron 513 load a 500-pound, general-purpose bomb on to an AV-8B Harrier April 3, at Al Asad, Iraq. The bomb is equipped with the Joint Direct Attack Munitions which will turn a regular bomb into a global positioning satellite guided munition. - Ordnance Marines from Marine Attack Squadron 513 load a 500-pound, general-purpose bomb on to an AV-8B Harrier April 3, at Al Asad, Iraq. The bomb is equipped with the Joint Direct Attack Munitions which will turn a regular bomb into a global positioning satellite guided munition.

Flying Nightmares target terrorism with new munitions system

Sweat slowly drips off of the Marines as they carefully raise the 500- and 1000-pound munitions to the weapons carriage on the AV-8B Harrier - the Flying Nightmares are readying for action. Marine Attack Squadron 513, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is the first Harrier squadron to employ the Joint Direct Attack Munitions in a

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Sgt. Nicholas Bourque inspects the communication radio on a pilot's flight vest at Al Asad, Iraq, Sept. 29. Bourque is a flight equipment technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, Carrier Air Wing One, Carrier Strike Group Twelve. Bourque is a native of Charleston, S.C. - Sgt. Nicholas Bourque inspects the communication radio on a pilot's flight vest at Al Asad, Iraq, Sept. 29. Bourque is a flight equipment technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, Carrier Air Wing One, Carrier Strike Group Twelve. Bourque is a native of Charleston, S.C.

Flight equipment shop vital to pilot's mission in Iraq

As pilots suit up, their main focus is mission accomplishment. With their minds continuously rehearsing strategies, it does not give them much time to think about their gear being properly equipped. It's up to the Marines of the flight equipment shop with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, Carrier Air Wing One, Carrier Strike Group Twelve, to

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Lt. Cmdr. Darian Rice has Cpl. Charles Abernathy lay down to allow him to check for abdominal pain during the aid center's sick call at Al Asad, Iraq, Oct. 6. Rice is a flight surgeon with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273, Marine Wing Support Group 37 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). Abernathy is a supply administration and operations clerk with 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, MWSG-37. Rice is a native of Pensacola, Fla., while Abernathy hails from Texas City, Texas. - Lt. Cmdr. Darian Rice has Cpl. Charles Abernathy lay down to allow him to check for abdominal pain during the aid center's sick call at Al Asad, Iraq, Oct. 6. Rice is a flight surgeon with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273, Marine Wing Support Group 37 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). Abernathy is a supply administration and operations clerk with 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, MWSG-37. Rice is a native of Pensacola, Fla., while Abernathy hails from Texas City, Texas.

Flight surgeon becomes general surgeon for four units

After two months of training with the Sweathogs, their flight surgeon was given a new mission upon arriving at Al Asad, Iraq. Originally stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., Lt. Cmdr. Darian Rice, flight surgeon, Marine Wing Support Squadron 273, Marine Wing Support Group 37 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), became the

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Fighting Continues In Battle of the Bands

AL ASAD, Iraq- Constant preparation and hard work paid off for the military personnel who competed in the hard-hitting "Battle of the Bands" held by Morale, Welfare and Recreation at the base theater here August 14. Five different bands rocked the venue and entertained a capacity crowd of Marines and Sailors in an event that lifted the morale of

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Master Gunnery Sgt. Roger Werthmann (left) shaks the hand of his newly promoted son, Sgt. Greg Werthmann, May 1,2006, at Qayyarah West Airbase, Iraq. Greg was promoted from specialist to sergeant by his father, Roger, who made the special trip from Al Asad. - Master Gunnery Sgt. Roger Werthmann (left) shaks the hand of his newly promoted son, Sgt. Greg Werthmann, May 1,2006, at Qayyarah West Airbase, Iraq. Greg was promoted from specialist to sergeant by his father, Roger, who made the special trip from Al Asad.

Father travels great lengths to promote son

When a family is separated from their military children during a time of war, it usually takes months, or possibly years, for a father to see his son again. This holds true even throughout Iraq, where fathers and sons serve in the U.S. Armed Forces fighting the War on Terrorism during Operation Iraqi Freedom. However, in rare cases, there are

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Lance Cpl. Jonathan N. Alphin tightens the lug nuts on the high-power ramp at Al Asad, Iraq, July 14. Alphin, an expeditionary airfield Marine, Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, Marine Wing Support Group 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is responsible for maintaining the ramp, which is used by AV-8B Harrier jets to get their engines up to full power for maintenance inspections. - Lance Cpl. Jonathan N. Alphin tightens the lug nuts on the high-power ramp at Al Asad, Iraq, July 14. Alphin, an expeditionary airfield Marine, Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, Marine Wing Support Group 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is responsible for maintaining the ramp, which is used by AV-8B Harrier jets to get their engines up to full power for maintenance inspections.

EAF Marines ensure pilots safety on runways at Al Asad

An EA-6B Prowler finishes its mission and starts to return to Al Asad. As the jet closes in on the air base, the pilot realizes there is a problem -- one of the landing gears won't lower. He has to call for an emergency arrestment. The expeditionary airfield Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 get the call. The aircraft begins to descend

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DOSS keeps safety top priority for Marine aviation

Marine Corps aircraft conducting operations in Iraq are worth tens of millions of dollars. Their crews are worth millions in training dollars and are priceless to their families and friends, which is why the Corps has a group of Marines and sailors devoted to the safety of those aircraft and crews. The Department of Operational Safety and

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