thedrifter
07-05-08, 07:47 AM
Marines training at YPG
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July 4, 2008 - 5:25PM
Although Yuma Proving Ground is known as one of the military's premier testing facilities, nearly 100 units from all branches of the armed forces visit annually to engage in realistic training in a harsh desert environment.
"YPG has substantially increased its capability to support training in the last five years," said Luis Arroyo, YPG training coordinator. "But we've been supporting training since the 1940s, when mechanized forces came here."
Next month the 1120th Transportation Battalion of the Arizona National Guard will use YPG for its annual training, and the recently reconfigured 158th Infantry Battalion will practice patrols here. The Marine Corps also stages a biannual Weapons Tactics Instruction at YPG.
YPG is currently hosting about 425 men and women of Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 of Beaufort, S.C., as they participate in training missions that simulate conditions in Iraq, where they will deploy in September.
MWSS 273, which also trained at YPG two years ago, provides aviation ground support through aircraft salvage, incident response, and the establishment of Forward Area Refueling Points.
The Marines are training in how to function at a forward operating base, or FOB, and for this exercise, they're using a fenced 23-acre compound maintained by YPG's Training Exercise Management Office.
The compound has several permanent structures to accommodate visiting units like MWSS 273, including two logistics and operations buildings, a shaded dining area, a field armory, an ammunition holding area, four maintenance and two shower trailers, 32 concrete tent pads, and a vehicle-loading ramp.
Currently, the FOB contains more than 50 large tents erected by the Marines, vehicle repair areas, a hospital, a chapel, food preparation and dish washing trailers, and a vast array of data, wire and voice communications equipment.
During their stay, the members of the squadron sleep on cots in tents with 15-25 fellow Marines, rise at 4 a.m., eat two prepared hot meals a day and engage in a variety of training maneuvers and exercises, some of which include live fire and last for multiple days.
The FOB even has a course to train Marines in the detection of improvised explosive devices. The course, built in the desert terrain, includes actual devices that had been planted by insurgents in Iraq.
The motor transport company has approximately 70 vehicles, from four different types of High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (Humvees) to Logistics Vehicle Systems, all serviced by 29 mechanics. MWSS 273's mission is heavily reliant on transport vehicles, and it is the responsibility of the mechanics to keep the vehicles maintained and operational.
"Every time a truck comes back from being on the road, we check everything inside and out as preventative maintenance," said Sgt. Jesse Smith, the head mechanic. "If a vehicle breaks down on the road, we'll go out and try to fix it on the spot."
The area's triple-digit summer temperatures gave the Marines a hint of the heat they'll endure in Iraq, but they said they still appreciated the opportunity to use the YPG facilities to prepare for their deployment.
"This was definitely good training," said expeditionary airfield technician Lance Cpl. Joshua Johnson.
Ellie
Comments 0 | Recommend 0
July 4, 2008 - 5:25PM
Although Yuma Proving Ground is known as one of the military's premier testing facilities, nearly 100 units from all branches of the armed forces visit annually to engage in realistic training in a harsh desert environment.
"YPG has substantially increased its capability to support training in the last five years," said Luis Arroyo, YPG training coordinator. "But we've been supporting training since the 1940s, when mechanized forces came here."
Next month the 1120th Transportation Battalion of the Arizona National Guard will use YPG for its annual training, and the recently reconfigured 158th Infantry Battalion will practice patrols here. The Marine Corps also stages a biannual Weapons Tactics Instruction at YPG.
YPG is currently hosting about 425 men and women of Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 of Beaufort, S.C., as they participate in training missions that simulate conditions in Iraq, where they will deploy in September.
MWSS 273, which also trained at YPG two years ago, provides aviation ground support through aircraft salvage, incident response, and the establishment of Forward Area Refueling Points.
The Marines are training in how to function at a forward operating base, or FOB, and for this exercise, they're using a fenced 23-acre compound maintained by YPG's Training Exercise Management Office.
The compound has several permanent structures to accommodate visiting units like MWSS 273, including two logistics and operations buildings, a shaded dining area, a field armory, an ammunition holding area, four maintenance and two shower trailers, 32 concrete tent pads, and a vehicle-loading ramp.
Currently, the FOB contains more than 50 large tents erected by the Marines, vehicle repair areas, a hospital, a chapel, food preparation and dish washing trailers, and a vast array of data, wire and voice communications equipment.
During their stay, the members of the squadron sleep on cots in tents with 15-25 fellow Marines, rise at 4 a.m., eat two prepared hot meals a day and engage in a variety of training maneuvers and exercises, some of which include live fire and last for multiple days.
The FOB even has a course to train Marines in the detection of improvised explosive devices. The course, built in the desert terrain, includes actual devices that had been planted by insurgents in Iraq.
The motor transport company has approximately 70 vehicles, from four different types of High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (Humvees) to Logistics Vehicle Systems, all serviced by 29 mechanics. MWSS 273's mission is heavily reliant on transport vehicles, and it is the responsibility of the mechanics to keep the vehicles maintained and operational.
"Every time a truck comes back from being on the road, we check everything inside and out as preventative maintenance," said Sgt. Jesse Smith, the head mechanic. "If a vehicle breaks down on the road, we'll go out and try to fix it on the spot."
The area's triple-digit summer temperatures gave the Marines a hint of the heat they'll endure in Iraq, but they said they still appreciated the opportunity to use the YPG facilities to prepare for their deployment.
"This was definitely good training," said expeditionary airfield technician Lance Cpl. Joshua Johnson.
Ellie