Stories

Lance Cpl. Philip Buttiens leans over one of the two tail fins on an RQ-2B Pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle to return a wrench to his toolbox at Al Taqaddum, Iraq, May 2, while disconnecting the engine from the plane. The Pioneer is capable of flying up to 15,000 feet and 100 miles away, being controlled only by radio frequencies from a ground control station designed like a cockpit of a full-scale aircraft. Buttiens is an UAV mechanic with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 38 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. He is a 21-year-old native of New Town, Pa. - Lance Cpl. Philip Buttiens leans over one of the two tail fins on an RQ-2B Pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle to return a wrench to his toolbox at Al Taqaddum, Iraq, May 2, while disconnecting the engine from the plane. The Pioneer is capable of flying up to 15,000 feet and 100 miles away, being controlled only by radio frequencies from a ground control station designed like a cockpit of a full-scale aircraft. Buttiens is an UAV mechanic with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 38 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. He is a 21-year-old native of New Town, Pa.

Pioneer scouts way ahead, increases safety for followers

Another day on the sand-bitten streets of a small town in Iraq lapsed for the passersby, who carelessly walked to and from their normal routine tasks. A few insurgents entered the town, choosing it as their safe haven while preparing their next strike against the U.S. service members. Cruising just below its ceiling at approximately 15,000 feet, a

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Plane captains ensure aircraft are safe to fly

While flying aircraft and maintaining them can be daunting tasks, the responsibilities of being the last person to inspect an aircraft's well-being and to make the call as to whether it will fly or not falls on neither the pilots or the mechanics. A few well-trained, confident-proven Marines, who go by the title of plane captains, have the duty of

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Chief Warrant Officer 3 Charles A. Whitlock picks up unexploded ordnance that will be destroyed in a demolition blast outside of Al Asad, Iraq, March 24. The purpose of this blast was to destroy damaged and hazardous ammunition as well as unexploded ordnance collected on and around the base. Whitlock is the officer-in-charge of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, Marine Wing Support Group 37 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The mission of the unit is to provide the capability to neutralize all threats to the United States and foreign conventionals from chemical, biological, nuclear and improvised explosive devices that present a threat to installations, personnel and equipment. - Chief Warrant Officer 3 Charles A. Whitlock picks up unexploded ordnance that will be destroyed in a demolition blast outside of Al Asad, Iraq, March 24. The purpose of this blast was to destroy damaged and hazardous ammunition as well as unexploded ordnance collected on and around the base. Whitlock is the officer-in-charge of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, Marine Wing Support Group 37 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The mission of the unit is to provide the capability to neutralize all threats to the United States and foreign conventionals from chemical, biological, nuclear and improvised explosive devices that present a threat to installations, personnel and equipment.

Ordnance disposal; the never-ending battle

A "BOOM" is heard in the distance and a cloud of smoke rises outside the perimeter here, as Marines with Explosive Ordnance Disposal destroy items that could harm U.S. forces March 24, 2006. "We had to dispose of unexploded explosive ordnance as well as damaged or hazardous ammunition," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Charles A. Whitlock,

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New Yorker reflects on 9-11 while fighting war on terror

Engraved in the minds of many, September 11, 2001 is a date that will forever be remembered as the day the war on terrorism was brought to American soil. For the vast majority of people populating New York City during the time of the attacks on the World Trade Towers, the tragic sequence events left permanent emotional scars. Lt. j.g. John E.

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Cpl. Justin W. Schaeffer prepares the six computers for use in Marine Attack Squadron 513's Internet cafe March 25 at Al Asad, Iraq. Schaeffer is an aviation information specialist for VMA-513, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and is in charge of getting the Internet cafe up and running. - Cpl. Justin W. Schaeffer prepares the six computers for use in Marine Attack Squadron 513's Internet cafe March 25 at Al Asad, Iraq. Schaeffer is an aviation information specialist for VMA-513, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and is in charge of getting the Internet cafe up and running.

Nightmares makes communication between Marines, loved ones easier

While life at Al Asad could be a lot worse, there are still many luxuries service members are forced to go without. For many, one of these is a consistent form of communication to loved ones back home. The Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 513, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, are attempting to remedy that problem

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Dressed in random uniforms and clothing as part of their maintenance day, 11 Marines pose as a group in front of their commanding officer's CH-53D Sea Stallion at Al Asad, Iraq, July 8. The 11 Marines are with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and make up part of the 12 percent of Marines in the squadron who originally come from New York. - Dressed in random uniforms and clothing as part of their maintenance day, 11 Marines pose as a group in front of their commanding officer's CH-53D Sea Stallion at Al Asad, Iraq, July 8. The 11 Marines are with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and make up part of the 12 percent of Marines in the squadron who originally come from New York.