thedrifter
02-02-06, 06:16 PM
BTO Company trains to recover downed aircraft
2nd Marine Logistics Group
Story by: Cpl. Matthew K. Hacker
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Feb. 2, 2006) -- Marines with Landing Support Platoon, Beach and Terminal Operations Company, 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, recently conducted a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel exercise at Training Landing Zone Phoenix Jan. 27.
A TRAP mission is specifically designed to recover a downed aircraft’s debris, cargo, passengers or pilots who may be in a hostile environment.
During the operation, a security team posts on the ground around the downed aircraft so a CH-53 helicopter may land. Once it lands, a helicopter support team exits and moves to the downed aircraft, under the security of Marines on the ground.
The HST then attaches hooked cables, which suspend from the bird above, to the piece of debris or cargo they want to move. Before doing this however, they must ground out the cables by attaching another cable that is stuck into the ground. The reason for this is there are 250,000 volts gained from the static electricity created by the speed of the propellers.
After attaching the cargo to the helicopter, the team backs up and braces themselves for the 175 mile-per-hour winds created by the helicopter's lift when it takes off. This, of course, is in a scenario where there is more than one piece of debris on the ground. If, in fact, there were only one piece, the HST would board the helo before it takes off.
Even though the platoon was conducting a TRAP training exercise, the Marines involved confess to its realism and intensity.
“Every time you get under the bird, there’s an adrenaline rush,” said Cpl. Jeffrey S. Cormier of Ellington, Conn., a landing support specialist with the platoon. “It’s pretty scary and potentially dangerous, but you can’t think about that. You have to do what you’ve been trained to do and you’ll be fine.”
Many of Cormier’s fellow Marines agree with his statement that conducting a TRAP mission is scary and can be dangerous, but those who have been to Iraq state it’s much harder during the real thing.
“Conducting a TRAP mission in Iraq, in a hostile environment, can be very dangerous,” said Sgt. James M. Anderson, Jr. of Mobile, Ala., a landing support specialist with the platoon. “Because, most times an aircraft is shot down it’s in a hostile environment, the possibility you’re going to get shot at during the operation is very high. Plus, all the wind sends dust flying everywhere, and you can’t see very well, if at all.”
To get the Marines in the right mindset to take the training seriously, their platoon commander, Staff Sgt. Nathaniel S. Lawless of Wichita, Kan., tells them to prepare for the mental aspect of the operation.
“The mental aspect plays a big role in making these operations work,” said Lawless. “They need to try to make their training reality, so they can practice like it’s a true combat mission.”
The proper mindset is very important during an actual TRAP mission in a hostile environment, because the human body automatically kicks into survival mode when it is being exposed to the harsh winds, dust and gunfire, according to Lawless. It is important for a Marine to learn how to control their thinking before they deploy so they do not panic.
The saying, “Never leave a man behind,” is the motivation for a successful TRAP mission. Although they may be dangerous, the training Marines receive and knowledge they inherit from those who have been to Iraq give them the proper know-how and mindset to complete their mission and support the Marine Corps.
“During a TRAP mission you really can’t know what to expect,” said Sgt. Larry S. Greeley of Mesa, Ariz., the platoon sergeant. “Even though you’re trained to complete the mission, you can’t train for every single scenario out there, because new scenarios present themselves all the time. You just need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”
2nd Marine Logistics Group
Story by: Cpl. Matthew K. Hacker
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Feb. 2, 2006) -- Marines with Landing Support Platoon, Beach and Terminal Operations Company, 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, recently conducted a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel exercise at Training Landing Zone Phoenix Jan. 27.
A TRAP mission is specifically designed to recover a downed aircraft’s debris, cargo, passengers or pilots who may be in a hostile environment.
During the operation, a security team posts on the ground around the downed aircraft so a CH-53 helicopter may land. Once it lands, a helicopter support team exits and moves to the downed aircraft, under the security of Marines on the ground.
The HST then attaches hooked cables, which suspend from the bird above, to the piece of debris or cargo they want to move. Before doing this however, they must ground out the cables by attaching another cable that is stuck into the ground. The reason for this is there are 250,000 volts gained from the static electricity created by the speed of the propellers.
After attaching the cargo to the helicopter, the team backs up and braces themselves for the 175 mile-per-hour winds created by the helicopter's lift when it takes off. This, of course, is in a scenario where there is more than one piece of debris on the ground. If, in fact, there were only one piece, the HST would board the helo before it takes off.
Even though the platoon was conducting a TRAP training exercise, the Marines involved confess to its realism and intensity.
“Every time you get under the bird, there’s an adrenaline rush,” said Cpl. Jeffrey S. Cormier of Ellington, Conn., a landing support specialist with the platoon. “It’s pretty scary and potentially dangerous, but you can’t think about that. You have to do what you’ve been trained to do and you’ll be fine.”
Many of Cormier’s fellow Marines agree with his statement that conducting a TRAP mission is scary and can be dangerous, but those who have been to Iraq state it’s much harder during the real thing.
“Conducting a TRAP mission in Iraq, in a hostile environment, can be very dangerous,” said Sgt. James M. Anderson, Jr. of Mobile, Ala., a landing support specialist with the platoon. “Because, most times an aircraft is shot down it’s in a hostile environment, the possibility you’re going to get shot at during the operation is very high. Plus, all the wind sends dust flying everywhere, and you can’t see very well, if at all.”
To get the Marines in the right mindset to take the training seriously, their platoon commander, Staff Sgt. Nathaniel S. Lawless of Wichita, Kan., tells them to prepare for the mental aspect of the operation.
“The mental aspect plays a big role in making these operations work,” said Lawless. “They need to try to make their training reality, so they can practice like it’s a true combat mission.”
The proper mindset is very important during an actual TRAP mission in a hostile environment, because the human body automatically kicks into survival mode when it is being exposed to the harsh winds, dust and gunfire, according to Lawless. It is important for a Marine to learn how to control their thinking before they deploy so they do not panic.
The saying, “Never leave a man behind,” is the motivation for a successful TRAP mission. Although they may be dangerous, the training Marines receive and knowledge they inherit from those who have been to Iraq give them the proper know-how and mindset to complete their mission and support the Marine Corps.
“During a TRAP mission you really can’t know what to expect,” said Sgt. Larry S. Greeley of Mesa, Ariz., the platoon sergeant. “Even though you’re trained to complete the mission, you can’t train for every single scenario out there, because new scenarios present themselves all the time. You just need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”