thedrifter
06-05-09, 07:22 AM
Lejeune to open urban close-air support range
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June 4, 2009 - 6:17 PM
AMANDA HICKEY
Lejeune Marines will no longer have to go to Arizona to train to drop ordnance, Lejeune officials say.
Instead, they can get the job done much closer to home
An eight-acre urban close air support training complex is scheduled to open in late June approximately two miles off Sneads Ferry Road.
"It should give them a true workout without deploying to the west coast," said Mark Maloney, deputy director of range development.
Nearly 119 colorful buildings constructed out of shipping containers have been erected for Marines from II Marine Expeditionary Force and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing to train on air to ground ordnance delivery and forward air control, according to information from Camp Lejeune.
Throughout the facility are junk cars and silhouette targets holding rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.
The Marine Corps' only other similar facility is in Yuma, Ariz., Maloney said.
Maloney expects that the training facility, which is "very similar to what we do in real life," to be used by the entire 2nd MAW. The facility is also open to the Air Force, Navy and Army.
The facility, which Maloney said costs approximately $14 million, will require maintenance every four to five years.
"We think we're going to have to do substantial maintenance in recurring cycle," he said.
Construction began in August 2008 as part of the Range Modernization and Transformation Program.
Contact Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461 or ahickey@freedomenc.com. Read the Lejeune Deployed blog here.
Ellie
Comments 1 | Recommend 1
June 4, 2009 - 6:17 PM
AMANDA HICKEY
Lejeune Marines will no longer have to go to Arizona to train to drop ordnance, Lejeune officials say.
Instead, they can get the job done much closer to home
An eight-acre urban close air support training complex is scheduled to open in late June approximately two miles off Sneads Ferry Road.
"It should give them a true workout without deploying to the west coast," said Mark Maloney, deputy director of range development.
Nearly 119 colorful buildings constructed out of shipping containers have been erected for Marines from II Marine Expeditionary Force and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing to train on air to ground ordnance delivery and forward air control, according to information from Camp Lejeune.
Throughout the facility are junk cars and silhouette targets holding rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.
The Marine Corps' only other similar facility is in Yuma, Ariz., Maloney said.
Maloney expects that the training facility, which is "very similar to what we do in real life," to be used by the entire 2nd MAW. The facility is also open to the Air Force, Navy and Army.
The facility, which Maloney said costs approximately $14 million, will require maintenance every four to five years.
"We think we're going to have to do substantial maintenance in recurring cycle," he said.
Construction began in August 2008 as part of the Range Modernization and Transformation Program.
Contact Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461 or ahickey@freedomenc.com. Read the Lejeune Deployed blog here.
Ellie