Swifty s Report to the Homefront

Transcription

1 Air Mail Par Avion I YOUR NAME 1c Swifty s Report to the Homefront Edition 15 4 Feb Feb 2013

2 What we ve been up to The Marines of the Purple Foxes have been keeping themselves busy as we spent yet another week in Djbouti. The increased Op-tempo was much appreciated as the ACE was able to run several full mission profiles, FMP) to include several days of shooting. It was a whole team effort with Marines of the MACG Det setting up an Intermediate Support Base (ISB) at a local air strip. The MACG Det, along with the Hercules det, provided thousands of pounds of fuel essential to our needed training. shooting high explosive rockets from Cobras, and door guns from the 53s and 46s. The support extended back to Mother Peleliu with the Marines working hard to keep aircraft in top conditions and taking care of always demanding administrative tasks. Setting sail to the open water, the PEL support continued with the CH-46 supporting the Replenishment At Sea (RAS) through vertical replenishment, VertRep carring thousands of pounds of cargo over 400 pallet loads in underslung nets. This repleneshment was crucial for the sustainment of the ship. Serving proudly in the CENTCOM AOR, until next time! Marines from all airframe types were able to participate the two full days of shooting. Operations included dropping 500lb bombs from Harriers, -Capt Matt Davis Your Friendly S-5 Rep

3 Somebody Needs to tell these classy phrog drivers they re stealing the navy s job Box of Skittles Box of missiles

4 S-1 Administration -LCpl Ha enjoys a sunset ashore with fellow Foxes from the MACG Det -LCpl Taylor pitching in to support the MACG Det ashore -LCpl Ha feasts on an MRE at his bivouac site ashore (notice the perma-grin in the field?)

5 S-2 Intelligence -LCpl Bartolacci after another fun day in the S-2 world (Perma-grin not included ) -1stLt Byrd and SSgt Gray posing while Sgt Bias looks on in awe

6 S-2 Intelligence -Cpl Prado making sure a trip to the doctor doesn't include a no on the do you eat fiber question -Cpl Schreiber is hooked on phonics

7 S-4 logistics With this installment of the logistics letters to the home front, we will focus on the exploits of field culinary expertise a-la-mre, cultural interactions with the local fauna of our host nation, and the occasional support of the navy s beard, mustache and hair growing events. Cpl Chambers works on his international relations with the GEICO Geckos Djiboutian cousin.

8 S-4 Follicle Status Sgt Rosadio Dawson Cpl Gas Chambers Cpl Fu Man Chambers For the last several weeks, the navy has had a relaxed standard of head and facial hair. While this has been a blue side only affair, the Marines of the S-4 have chosen go give their My support Postal to the Service cause. With Sgt Rosado displaying his inner silent movie homage, to Cpl Chambers displaying a duplicate of Mr. T and his best impression of Emperor Ming. Of note: SgtMaj walked in 30 seconds after Cpl Chambers highly fashionable Mohawk was documented. Needless to say, his smile disappeared immediately, along with his hollywood please punch my face hair.

9 Culinary tip of the month Djiboutian Bacon Cheese Burger -2 slices Wheat Snack Bread -2 packets Bacon Cheese spread -1 all Beef Patty -Hot sauce (optional) Liberally apply 1 packet Bacon Cheese Spread to each slice Wheat Snack Bread, place Beef Patty on the bread and douse with optional hot sauce. -ENJOY. (caution, may cause blindness, deafness, loss of taste, loss of mind, flatulence, irritability, nausea, back pain, nervousness, toe fungus, hair loss, tachycardia, loss of sensation in the extremities, loss of extremities, acne, backne, mudbutt)

10 Captain Davis too close for rockets, switchin to guns S-5 Public Affairs Captain Adams too close for guns, switching to skittles

11 S-6 Professional Communicators The Communications det spent a week ashore providing command & control support aboard the ACE Intermediate Support Base. GySgt Fulgium and Sgt Beamon flew on the CH-53E as Airborne Radio Operators.

12 DOSS Department of Safety and Standardization Marines, you re probably wondering why I gathered you here today. Well, I want to talk to you about weapons safety. Do you remember your 4 weapons safety rules? That s right: Treat, Never, Keep, Keep. Hanson Pistol Here you can see Maj Pierce with his sidearm properly cleared, slide in locked position. He can disassemble and reassemble his M9 service pistol blindfolded,while hanging upside down from the A-Frame of a hovering CH-53 during a low-light landing to spot 2 Captain Hanson is not impressed

13 Never: Never aim your weapon at anything you don t intend to shoot. As you see here, the.50 cal isn t aimed anywhere near our dear Peleliu, but safely down at the water. Treat: Treat every weapon as if it were loaded. Good thing this.50 cal wasn t loaded. Even better thing: all those Marines were wearing the proper ear protection as a Harrier Jump Jet screamed down the deck for takeoff at what is most certainly 1 million decebels.

14 Keep: Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire. Keep: Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire. Thank you, former DOSS member Capt Rateike for illustrating proper weapons handling. Do you have anything else to add? Keep those doggone barrels pointed to the deck when you get on my 53, nasty!!! Thanks for reading and remember, safety first!

15 HM1 Mayer sweeps out the quadcon before washdown Medical Professionals HN Sovereign says goodbye to HM3 Johnson before her week ashore HN Sovereign and Cpl Davie move cases during the cleaning of medical quadcons Sovereign Johnson

16 The Tower of Power! Cpl Coon, Controller, MMT, MACG-38 Det, relaxes in between aircraft hits at Chebelley Airfield, Djibouti

17 SSgt Pinney, MMT Det SNCOIC, HMM-364 (REIN), measures a potential Landing Zone (LZ) using a pace count.

18 Mobile Team, austere and crazy mobile! SSgt Pinney, MMT Det SNCOIC, MACG-38 Det, prepares to mark an LZ with a green smoke grenade to assist a MEU KC-130 on station.

19 MMT First There! Marines with Mobile Marine Air Traffic Control Team, HMM-364 (REIN), and augments from TACRON-11, mark the LZ with air panels and smoke to assist the safe arrival of Purple Fox aircraft.

20 AC2 Dunlaplowery and AN Larson, TACRON-11 MMT augments, snappin necks and cashin checks with MMT

21 You stay classy Purple Foxes!

22 Green Bay Det The Green Bay Det started February by participating in Exercise Red Reef, a multinational exercise focusing on fast rope insertions of ground forces. Following Red Reef, the Green Bay pulled into Abu Dhabi, UAE for a liberty port. Some of the activities that Marines participated in while in Abu Dhabi included desert safaris, sand boarding, visiting local landmarks and attending the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX). IDEX is a multinational arms show in which the Green Bay and a UH-1Y were part of the display. After returning to sea, the Marines and sailors of the Foxes turned their focus toward maintenance and training with the embarked Marines.

23 Green Bay Marines at work Sergeant Champ is afraid of no rotor system

24 Abu Dhabi Skyline IDEAL FOR HOME DEFENSE! Phearless Phrogs in the sands of Saudi Arabia Chinese section IDEX ITS FUNNY BECAUSE THEY CAN T SPELL!!! Green Bay Marines at PLAY! Grand Mosque

25 Maintenance Stash - what else can I say, something in the water is conducive to lip hair growth. Rogaine move aside!!! LCpl Olson, CH53E Avionics poser house troubleshooter. He has the Midas touch if a bird wants to get fussy, LCpl Olson gets sent on deck and BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE just like that no more issues

26 QUALITY ASSURANCE Newly promoted SSgt Gibson poses with the CO after his official ceremony CONGRATS!

27 FLIGHTLINE Sgt Tobiason relaxes after a long night of flying and mustache growing

28 AIRFRAMES (46/53)

29 Cobras Hueys

30 AIRFRAMES (H-1)

31 The Purple Cobras, like any good Marine chopper jocks, train to fight at night Plane captain and avionics Marines watch for the evening launch.

32 Captain Logan Davis because the night time is the right time Purple Cobras getting ready for the evening shoots at DJ.

33 harriers SSgt Schissle from AV-8 Powerline LCpl Tapia, Segura and Case from AV-8 Airframes

34 AIRFRAMES (AV-8) These glasses are busted

35 AV-8 Airframers checking out tools for a new work project Cpl Cawley The speed and power of the Harrier takes a toll on the aircraft s essential systems these Leathernecks keep the jets combat ready with technical and tactical know-how and inventiveness

36 Parts professionals

37 SSgt Casebolt and SSgt Johnson incorporate a teamwork PT session. The session allows the Marines to take charge and work together. If one of them fails they all pay the price, so communication is key to their success.

38 THERE S NO PLACE LIKE HOME THERE S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

39 I m not sure where the gym Is, Do you know?

40 GOOSE ICE MAN MAVERICK (SNOOKIE?) the Marines of ALSS standing in their POOP SUITS watching Top Gun they must be big fans of the movie and the suits

41 Because anyone can do work on a flight line these Marines are forward deployed aboard amphibious shipping working in the most challenging environment known to man! Cpl Stone

42

43 SSgt Johnson hard at work. Sgt Grajeda and LCpl Smith studying MCMAP tie ins.

44 One of the biggest resupplies in Navy history 364 Supply Department handles it with ease

45 Powerplants off duty Nerd time!

46 That s it for now! Tune in right after St. Patty s day for our next Report to the Homefront!!!