Aircraft Shortage forces Recon to jump from Civvie Planes...
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  1. #1

    Aircraft Shortage forces Recon to jump from Civvie Planes...

    Aircraft shortage forces Recon Marines to jump from civilian planes

    Recon Marines are training for some of the Corps' most challenging tactical jumps by leaping from a civilian skydiving plane.

    Unable to use the Corps' KC-130J Super Hercules transport and tanker planes for training because those aircraft are tapped out with forward-deployed operations, the Marines from 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, have entered into a contract with a civilian company to ensure they get the jump time before deploying.

    The jump training will take place in two waves, according to 2nd Marine Division spokesman 1 st Lt. Johnny Henderson. The first iteration, running from Sept. 20 to 22, is a static low-line and military free fall involving roughly 50 Marines.

    The second wave is planned from Sept. 30 through Oct. 22 near Raeford, N.C., where Paraclete Aviation, the skydiving company, is based.

    Marine Forces Command said the shortfall is due to the KC-130J being a “critical enabler for forward deployed Marine Air-Ground Task Force success.”

    Aerial refueler transport squadron detachments are currently dedicated to the Special-Purpose MAGTFs assigned to cover European, Africa, and Central commands.

    “Global demand signal associated with the ‘new normal’ increases the number of deployed KC-130 detachments, adding pressure to personnel tempo and reducing capacity to support [continental United States] Marine Expeditionary Force requirements,” the command said in a written response to Marine Corps Times.

    Marine Corps officials did not say how often civilian aircraft have been used in similar jumps in past years. Reconnaissance officials declined to comment on the matter.

    Under the terms of the contract, the company will equip its aircraft with certain items common to any military jumper. The Marines will use a CASA C-212 ramp-style aircraft configured for day and night operations and equipped with oxygen for pilots and aircrew.

    The planes have red and green jump lights in the cargo compartment and the pilots are certified to land and operate out of military airfields.

    The training will involve a number of tactical insertions, including difficult and risky High Altitude High Opening, or HAHO, operations and High Altitude Low Opening, or HALO, jumps. They will use the SF-10A multi-mission parachute system, which includes a drogue to slow freefall, as well the Tandem Offset Resupply Delivery System, or TORDS, a parachute that can carry more than 500 pounds of gear.

    Cargo delivery such as door bundles will take place, as well, according to the contract.

    The Marine Corps does not expect to return to optimal aviation readiness levels until at least 2020, assuming the service gets necessary funding.

    Mission-capable rates for all but one of the Marine Corps' 12 fixed-wing, rotary and tiltrotor airframes have fallen since the end of fiscal 2009, according to data obtained by Marine Corps Times via Freedom of Information Act request.

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  2. #2
    Isn't this just peachy king.

    There aren't enough amphibious ships for the Navy to transport Marines either. Some are being deployed aboard Merchant Marine vessels with civilian crews.

    But, we sure as hell can afford to cover the cost of transgender's sex change surgeries, meds, and rehab. No problems.


  3. #3
    I guess there were no CH-53s available for the static line jumps. Not sure why they could not coordinate with Fort Bragg to strap hang on a C-130/C-17 for HAHO/HALO.


  4. #4
    Fort Bragg more than likely doesn't have the air craft . Why should have
    equipment all we need is an open door an welcome everyone in that will fix the
    world problems an tell the world how bad we have been in the pass


  5. #5
    we can't afford another year of sequester that takes most of the money from the Def. budget.. the O needs to be kidnapped and dropped in a hole and buried.. IMO


  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by irpat54 View Post
    we can't afford another year of sequester that takes most of the money from the Def. budget.. the O needs to be kidnapped and dropped in a hole and buried.. IMO
    Absolutely without a doubt....

    Without any hesitation or reservations...!!!



  7. #7
    Did you write this? If not will you please cite your source?


  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by devilbones2 View Post
    Did you write this? If not will you please cite your source?
    At the bottom of the article the last paragraph stated that the information was requested by Marine Corps Times via FOIA...!!!

    3 days ago...

    Lance M. Bacon is senior reporter for Marine Corps Times. He covers Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Marine Corps Forces Command, personnel / career issues, Marine Corps Logistics Command, II MEF, and Marine Forces North. He can be reached at lbacon@marinecorpstimes.com

    Searching information is quite simple these days.....!!!



  9. #9
    All I see here is jarheads doing what they've always done. Finding a way to get what they need, even when the government fvcks us.


  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by FoxtrotOscar View Post
    At the bottom of the article the last paragraph stated that the information was requested by Marine Corps Times via FOIA...!!!

    3 days ago...

    Lance M. Bacon is senior reporter for Marine Corps Times. He covers Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Marine Corps Forces Command, personnel / career issues, Marine Corps Logistics Command, II MEF, and Marine Forces North. He can be reached at lbacon@marinecorpstimes.com

    Searching information is quite simple these days.....!!!
    It can be considered plagiarism if you dont provide the source to an article and it helps us that are looking into more information if you provide the link where you obtained this information. Why should we be searching on information that you brought here? Its not fair to the author when you dont include this and its dishonest. That is why you are required to cite sources.


  11. #11
    well it was all over the news, I believe FOX did a segment on it as well as CNN (surprise, surprise,,lol) and their was a write up on my Yahoo page as well..

    Just FYI, DOC..lol


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