PDA

View Full Version : 212 Lancer Go Live in Okinawa



thedrifter
02-17-07, 09:43 AM
212 Lancer Go Live in Okinawa
Marine Corps News | February 16, 2007

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan -- An array of ranges on Okinawa offer military units a wide variety of training opportunities, and the Lancers of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212 took full advantage of them during a month-long training evolution that concluded Feb. 15.

A detachment of Marines with the unit, based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, trained and operated out of Kadena Air Base. While here, they dropped more than 200,000 pounds of explosive ordnance on ranges located on uninhabited islands 50 miles west and 200 miles south of Okinawa.

Because of the unavailability of live-fire ranges at Iwakuni, Okinawa is an ideal training location for them.

"This is a chance to keep all the pilots current on their training by dropping multiple types of ordnance, including laser and (Global Positioning System) guided weapons," said Lancer pilot Capt. John H. Helm, Jr. "We do the training in Okinawa because the air-to-ground ranges here allow us to drop live ordnance we can't drop back at Iwakuni."

The squadron's aviation ordnance Marines also benefited from the unique live fire experience.

"Out here we can get into what the job really is," said Staff Sgt. Nickolas Battaglia, an aircraft ordnance technician with the squadron. "The Marines can get hot and heavy with hands on training out here."

Despite the long hours, the Marines worked during the training evolution, many appreciated the opportunity to put their skills to the test.

"We've been starting early in the morning and putting in 14-15 hour days," said Sgt. Tom Williamson, an aviation ordnance technician with VMFA-212. "It's great training for the pilots, but we also get a lot out of it, especially our new guys who learn about different types of ordnance and how to load it."

The squadron also trained with local units at Camp Hansen. Together they conducted urban close air support drills at the Central and Northern Training Areas.

The squadron comes to Okinawa to train about three times a year.