thedrifter
01-05-06, 08:26 AM
Bulldogs clamp down on insurgency
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Story by:Cpl. Micah Snead
AL ASAD, Iraq(Jan. 5, 2006) -- The Bulldogs of Marine Attack Squadron 223 are taking a bite out of the insurgency in western Iraq.
The AV-8B Harrier squadron deployed to Al Asad, Iraq, from its home at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., during August. Since arriving, the squadron's pilots and maintainers have worked hand in hand to ensure the squadron's bite is worse than its bark.
"These Marines have been busting their butts," said Capt. Marc F. Arnold, a '223 pilot and Auburn, Ohio, native. "Witnessing all the work they do to keep the squadron up and running is amazing."
Aside from their usual stateside duties of maintaining the squadron's Harriers, the Bulldogs have faced an extra challenge in Iraq.
"They have changed 11 engines so far, and that will be up to 13 soon," Arnold said. "It's just amazing to see their professionalism and work ethic."
As an attack squadron, the Bulldogs' success depends on the readiness of their aircraft. Arnold said the maintainers take that to heart and do their best to make sure their jets are in the air, supporting Marines and Soldiers on the ground.
"We can only fly as much as our jets can handle," Arnold said. "We are totally dependent on the health of our jets to keep our support up, and there is a lot of support required out here. We probably fly more in four months here than during an entire year in the states."
The Bulldogs have supported more than a dozen ground operations in the Anbar province along with lower level operations, convoys and reconnaissance missions. Although the pilots are separated from the ground forces by several thousand feet, a common connection can be felt even if it only materializes through the radio, Arnold said.
"There is nothing more exciting than coordinating with the forward air controllers and laying down ordnance in direct support of the guys on the ground," Arnold said. "After one raid, a company commander actually came on the radio to tell us they appreciated us and felt safer knowing they had our support. Nothing is more motivating than that."
The Bulldogs tackled two exercises, Desert Talon in Yuma, Ariz., and Joint Red Flag in Nellis, Nev., to prepare for the deployment. Arnold said the experiences of the pilots and maintainers are a culmination of the training and hard work that goes into preparing the squadron for a combat deployment.
"Everyone has gotten a lot of experience on this deployment," said Lance Cpl. Jeromy Artz, an airframe mechanic with the Bulldogs and a Morrisville, Mo., native. "The amount of work out here is double what we normally do, but it's worth it. Things have gone pretty well so far, we're looking forward to keeping up the same pace until we get out of here."
Artz also found time to sharpen his own skills and recently won the squadron's Marine of the Quarter board. Artz said there is always time to focus on your individual skills as a Marine, even if it means mixing one job with another.
"The Marines I work with would help me prepare for the board by quizzing me constantly," Artz said. "I'd be out working on a jet and they'd fire off a question about Marine Corps history. It made it easier to prepare because your mind is constantly working over a lot of things."
While the maintainers can't see the results of their hard work firsthand, they always want to hear as much as they can from pilots returning from missions, Arnold said.
"They are all extremely interested in how effective our squadron is," Arnold said. "Marines from every section always want to know exactly what their work is going into. We try and tell them as much as we can about results of strikes and reconnaissance because we know it motivates them."
Arnold said the combat environment also allows the pilots and maintenance Marines to work closer and spend more time together.
"The pilots don't have quite as much administrative duties when we're deployed so that's more time to spend around the Marines," Arnold said. "I like making that personal connection. I think it helps make us a better unit all around."
The Bulldogs have worked through birthdays, anniversaries and holidays during the deployment, with few breaks from the steady workload for pilots and maintainers alike. The unit grilled hamburgers and hotdogs for a joint Christmas-New Year's celebration, Dec. 30. Many of the maintainers only stopped working long enough to grab something to eat before heading back to the flightline.
"When we're out there working those hard days, we just have to think about Marines on the ground to remember why we do this," Artz said. "We know what we're doing matters, and we'll all be able to go home before long."
Ellie
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Story by:Cpl. Micah Snead
AL ASAD, Iraq(Jan. 5, 2006) -- The Bulldogs of Marine Attack Squadron 223 are taking a bite out of the insurgency in western Iraq.
The AV-8B Harrier squadron deployed to Al Asad, Iraq, from its home at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., during August. Since arriving, the squadron's pilots and maintainers have worked hand in hand to ensure the squadron's bite is worse than its bark.
"These Marines have been busting their butts," said Capt. Marc F. Arnold, a '223 pilot and Auburn, Ohio, native. "Witnessing all the work they do to keep the squadron up and running is amazing."
Aside from their usual stateside duties of maintaining the squadron's Harriers, the Bulldogs have faced an extra challenge in Iraq.
"They have changed 11 engines so far, and that will be up to 13 soon," Arnold said. "It's just amazing to see their professionalism and work ethic."
As an attack squadron, the Bulldogs' success depends on the readiness of their aircraft. Arnold said the maintainers take that to heart and do their best to make sure their jets are in the air, supporting Marines and Soldiers on the ground.
"We can only fly as much as our jets can handle," Arnold said. "We are totally dependent on the health of our jets to keep our support up, and there is a lot of support required out here. We probably fly more in four months here than during an entire year in the states."
The Bulldogs have supported more than a dozen ground operations in the Anbar province along with lower level operations, convoys and reconnaissance missions. Although the pilots are separated from the ground forces by several thousand feet, a common connection can be felt even if it only materializes through the radio, Arnold said.
"There is nothing more exciting than coordinating with the forward air controllers and laying down ordnance in direct support of the guys on the ground," Arnold said. "After one raid, a company commander actually came on the radio to tell us they appreciated us and felt safer knowing they had our support. Nothing is more motivating than that."
The Bulldogs tackled two exercises, Desert Talon in Yuma, Ariz., and Joint Red Flag in Nellis, Nev., to prepare for the deployment. Arnold said the experiences of the pilots and maintainers are a culmination of the training and hard work that goes into preparing the squadron for a combat deployment.
"Everyone has gotten a lot of experience on this deployment," said Lance Cpl. Jeromy Artz, an airframe mechanic with the Bulldogs and a Morrisville, Mo., native. "The amount of work out here is double what we normally do, but it's worth it. Things have gone pretty well so far, we're looking forward to keeping up the same pace until we get out of here."
Artz also found time to sharpen his own skills and recently won the squadron's Marine of the Quarter board. Artz said there is always time to focus on your individual skills as a Marine, even if it means mixing one job with another.
"The Marines I work with would help me prepare for the board by quizzing me constantly," Artz said. "I'd be out working on a jet and they'd fire off a question about Marine Corps history. It made it easier to prepare because your mind is constantly working over a lot of things."
While the maintainers can't see the results of their hard work firsthand, they always want to hear as much as they can from pilots returning from missions, Arnold said.
"They are all extremely interested in how effective our squadron is," Arnold said. "Marines from every section always want to know exactly what their work is going into. We try and tell them as much as we can about results of strikes and reconnaissance because we know it motivates them."
Arnold said the combat environment also allows the pilots and maintenance Marines to work closer and spend more time together.
"The pilots don't have quite as much administrative duties when we're deployed so that's more time to spend around the Marines," Arnold said. "I like making that personal connection. I think it helps make us a better unit all around."
The Bulldogs have worked through birthdays, anniversaries and holidays during the deployment, with few breaks from the steady workload for pilots and maintainers alike. The unit grilled hamburgers and hotdogs for a joint Christmas-New Year's celebration, Dec. 30. Many of the maintainers only stopped working long enough to grab something to eat before heading back to the flightline.
"When we're out there working those hard days, we just have to think about Marines on the ground to remember why we do this," Artz said. "We know what we're doing matters, and we'll all be able to go home before long."
Ellie