Photo By Staff Sgt. Andy Orozco | Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 272 prepare to conduct a hot forward...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. - Getting fuel and ordnance to an aircraft as fast as possible in a remote site, whether it be in a combat situation or during a training exercise, is the purpose of a forward arming and refueling point (FARP).
Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 272 conducted FARP training exercises aboard Camp Davis Airfield Seizure Facility March 24 through 28.
“The training exercise was designed to get fuel to a remote site expediently without having to put a lot of fuel bags on the ground, or use a lot of personnel,” said Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Brown, MWSS-272 fuels officer in charge (OIC). “We use the FARP to go out and refuel the warfighters on the front lines. The key to making a FARP successful would be the bulk-fuel Marines, the refuel Marines and the ordnance Marines, because it wouldn’t be a FARP without the fuel and ordnance.”
Brown went on to explain the different types of FARPs such as hot, cold and static.
“During a cold FARP the aircraft are powered down and then fueled and supplied,” said Brown. “As for a static FARP the aircraft land, remain on and are fueled and supplied at the same time at the landing point.”
The squadron only refueled and provided ordnance to two types of helicopters, the AH-1W Super Cobras and UH-1Y Hueys, during the training exercise due to the different set ups required for the MV-22B Ospreys and CH-53E Super Stallions.
“Ospreys and 53s need more space. Right now the way we are set up its 150 feet out, but Ospreys and 53s need 300 feet,” Brown said.
Although MWSS-272 was responsible for the refueling of the aircraft, the training exercise would not have been possible without some help and ordnance from Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 29.
“The FARP training exercise was a combined effort of MACS (Marine Air Control Squadron) 2 Marine Air Traffic Control Mobile Team (MMT), MWSS-272 Aircraft rescue and fire fighters (ARFF), bulk fuel, motor transportation and MAG-29 ordnance Marines,” said Brown.
During the exercise, safety was paramount according to Sgt. Dustin Kureska, MWSS-272 mobile refueler.
“Most of the Marines we have out here are pretty knowledgeable about what they are doing, and I trust them to do the right thing when they are supposed to,” said Kureska. “I have a lot of confidence in the Marines that are out here.”
During a FARP it is not only important for the Marines with boots on the ground to be aware of what is going on during the exercise but for the pilots receiving fuel and ordnance as well according to Capt. Jonathan Zasadny, HMLA-167 Super Cobra pilot.
“Some of the main things to look out for during a FARP is spot availability, where the winds are coming from and fuel and ordnance availability but also getting in and out of the FARP as safely as possible,” said Zasadny.
Setting up a FARP on Davis is also a big convenience for the pilots during training operations according to Zasadny.
“Before the FARP on Davis, if we had to go to the range, pilots would have to fly out to Cherry Point in order to receive ordnance and then fly back to Lejeune to conduct our training,” Said Zasadny. “Now, we fly five minutes out to Davis, top off on fuel and ordnance, and we are on our way. It expands our operational areas and keeps everyone more proficient overall and working more effectively as a wing.”
| Date Taken: | 03.25.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.27.2014 15:09 |
| Story ID: | 122842 |
| Location: | JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 143 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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