Photo By Staff Sgt. Shaun Hostutler | Marines break up old cement using a jack hammer during a rapid runway repair course...... read more read more
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Story by: Senior Airman Shaunlee Hostutler
OKINAWA, Japan - Kadena Air Base’s Detachment 1, 554th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operationsl Repair Squadron Engineers Squadron, 36th Contingency Response Group, 36th Wing, Pacific Air Forces, recently partnered with Marines from Engineer Operations Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, to conduct joint training at Kadena’s Silver Flag site.
RED HORSE instructors hosted the week-long training camp for the Marines, teaching various techniques in heavy equipment operation and rapid runway repair methods that are unique to the Air Force.
The 554th RHS is a highly mobile and self-sufficient response force specializing in rapid civil engineer deployment as well as heavy operational repairs.
According to Maj. Lynn Moriarty, the 554th RHS Detachment 1 commander, joint training not only saves the Department of Defense money by combining efforts but also helps to build understanding and positive relations between sister services.
“In a fiscally-constrained environment, this type of training enables us to support and develop the integration of joint operations between the Air Force and the Marine Corps to better support future contingency or humanitarian missions across the Pacific,” Moriarty said. “This training is the foundation from which we will build future successes.”
Marine Staff Sgt. Frederick Henson, a company gunnery sergeant for MWSS-172, explained how his Marines are responsible for general engineering operations and construction projects at home station and in deployed environments.
“EOPS Marines provide the MAW with various capabilities from the construction and maintenance of airfields and landing zones to demolition operations, explosive and non-explosive obstacle removal and airfield-damage repairs,” he said.
The training provided by Kadena’s RED HORSE Squadron not only saves DOD money, it also provides Marines a unique opportunity.
“Airfield repair is one of the cornerstones of our mission at MWSS-172,” Henson continued. “The Marine Corps doesn’t have a facility in the states where we can conduct rapid runway repair. Having the opportunity to train our young [noncommissioned officers] and junior Marines in rapid runway repair at the RED HORSE facility greatly improves our capabilities, making us a force multiplier within 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.”
Tech. Sgt. Russell Jamieson, a RED HORSE cadre, said that while many of the junior Marines lacked experience, instructors at the squadron were impressed with their “go get ‘em” attitude.
“The Marines came here with a lot of motivation, and they were willing to learn our methods,” said Jamieson. “Although they didn’t have much experience with certain areas, they picked up concepts relatively quickly and were able to apply those new skills immediately.”
Jamieson explained how he and other cadres would like to see Marines at the RED HORSE facility more often, emphasizing how training like this can help the DOD to successfully execute future missions.
“To ensure construction operations are accomplished effectively and with minimal adverse impact, joint training is a necessity,” Jamieson added. “It fosters a better working relationship and understanding between the services and is the best way we can become familiar with how our sister services operate.”
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2011 23:01 |
| Story ID: | 71449 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 189 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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