'Vipers' provide venom for Marine Aircraft Group-40

Photo By Sgt. Samuel A. Nasso | A UH-1N Huey with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 "Vipers," hovers over a refueling point here July 2. The "Vipers," made up of Hueys and AH-1W Super Cobras, mission is to provide rotary wing support for the ground combat element of 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, as well as other units within International Security Assitance Force.  

CAMP BASTION, AFGHANISTAN

07.02.2009

Story by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso 

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing   

CAMP BASTION, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — As the providers of close air support for Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, the "Vipers" from Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 remain coiled and ready to strike.

"Our job is to make sure the ground guys are taken care of," said Maj. Jim Isaacs, HML/A-169 executive officer. "We are the eyes and ears for the battalion commanders; spotting IEDs and ambushes before Marines encounter them."

The unit from Marine Aircraft Group 40 supports various forces within NATO's International Security Assistance Force.

"We support any Marines or troops who need us, including infantry Marines, Special Forces, U.S. soldiers and British troops," said Sgt. Maj. Mark Byrd, squadron sergeant major.

As a dominant force in the air, the squadron has faced several obstacles and worked day-in and day-out to be that force. One obstacle was that some of its personnel and equipment are still in Iraq.

"We've acquired aircraft from HML/A-167, have some still in Iraq and have ours from home, so overall we've spent a lot of time working on our helicopters, making sure they are good to go," explained Byrd about how the squadron is adapting and overcoming to the mission at hand.

The "Vipers" have been having parts for their helicopters sent from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., to Iraq, and from Iraq to here.

"To ensure our helicopters were operational and combat ready, we had to get the replacement and additional parts sent a long way," said Byrd. "Putting our helicopters together took a lot of work and we've been successful."

The flight line Marines take pride in the helicopters they work on, especially when they hover in from a successful mission.

"It's rewarding to see the Marines' work pays off when a pilot comes back from a mission safely," said Byrd. "When there are troops in contact, it doesn't matter if they are eating or half-asleep, the maintenance Marines give 110 percent."

Gunnery Sgt. Stephen Pojda, the flight line division chief, said 90 percent of the squadron's helicopters wouldn't be flying without the hard work and the dedication from the flight line Marines.

And the executive officer agrees.

"Our Marines work 12 hours on-12 hours off, busting their humps, working on metal that gets hot, turning engines in 106 degree weather," said Isaacs.

Even though the squadron had never deployed to Afghanistan before, they were in Iraq 10 months prior to this deployment.

"I became a Marine aviator to directly support the guy on the ground, "said Capt. Justin Jackson, an AH-1W pilot. "It's a unique experience."

The squadron is projected to return to California in the fall and is working hard to make the conditions better for the Marines who will replace them.

"When we first got here, we barely had enough to accommodate our squadron," said Byrd. "We have our jacks-of-all-trade Marines who have been building so many different things to make this place better than it was when they got here."

• Date Taken: 07.02.2009
• Date Posted: 07.22.2009 22:34
• Story ID: 36688
• Location: CAMP BASTION, AF