HOLTVILLE AIR FIELD, Calif, -- Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 “Purple Foxes” practiced section and division confined area landings at Holtville Airfield, California, May 20.
The unit conducts this training to prepare new pilots and crew chiefs of MV-22B Ospreys to ensure they are mission ready for future deployments.
“It sets the foundation for setting our new pilots up for success as we prepare for deployment,” said Capt. Nathan Frame, a pilot training officer with VMM-364. “We reach those goals to get the squadron to where it needs to be to get ready for upcoming training events as well as future deployments.”
The squadron conducted the CALs to ensure they can aid in transporting, inserting and extracting ground units and cargo into potentially dangerous areas as well as on board ships.
The unit used three Ospreys to practice landings and take offs for several hours to ensure the crew had the necessary skills to operate in real-life situations.
“If the grunts are the spear that gets chucked at the enemy, the MV-22 is the arm that throws it,” said Sgt. Sean Utz, an Opsrey crew chief with VMM-364. “It’s very important for getting the grunts on the ground.”