MARINE CORPS AIR ST -- A group of Marines from Marine Attack Squadron 513, Marine Air Control Squadron 1 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 deployed for six months to Al Asad, Iraq, Feb. 23.
A detachment of Marines from MACS-1 will be venturing outside of their military occupational specialty and providing security and MALS-13 will support a variety of aviation units in the area.
VMA-513 will attach to Marine Aircraft Group 16 while in Iraq. It’s their mission to provide close air combat support for ground units.
“I think we are very well prepared. We’ve had the time to get ready and have been very methodical about our preparation,” said Maj. Eric Austin, executive officer, VMA-513. Austin also believes, without a doubt, that the unit is ready for the deployment.
“We had the opportunity in December to get our pilots trained through the Desert Talon course,” added Austin, a native of Portland, Ore. “The pilots went through an Iraq-specific type training. At the same time in December, we had the opportunity to fly a representative, or maybe little more aggressive, flight schedule (of what) we will be facing in Iraq. On the maintenance side, we’ve been through several inspections, so we had a lot to help get us prepared.”
Even though the MACS-1 Marines will be deployed with the Nightmares, their mission in Iraq will vary.
“In Iraq MACS-1 is going to serve as a provisional rifle platoon providing security,” said Maj. Ken Steinke, MACS-1 remain behind commander and native of Orlando, Fla. “The Marines will be providing security around Al Asad and for convoys in the western area of Iraq.”
Steinke added the Marines spent the better part of the last three months preparing for their deployment to Iraq.
“Every Marine is a rifleman and they have all been working outside of their MOS to get ready for this deployment,” Steinke said. “They are going to do great. This is the second time for some of them since we deployed around this time last year. Quite a few of the Marines extended their (end of active service) so they can deploy with the squadron. So they are good-to-go. I am real confident the squadron is going to do a good job.”
“I am pretty excited about this one,” said Cpl. Luke Erickson, a MACS-1 data system repairman, who is on his third deployment to Iraq. “I actually extended to come out for this one. Part of the reason I extended was because of the money and also to go one last time with the other Marines of the squadron.”
Just as some Marines look forward to the chance to deploy, others dread it because of the time spent away from family.
“Certainly one of the most important things to do before deploying was to get all the families ready,” said Austin. “We’ve had the opportunity to do that with the family readiness expo, LINKS training and other mechanisms that Marine Corps Family Team Building has helped us with.”
Sgt. Juan Castro, ground support equipment, VMA-513, said he’s excited to be going to Iraq and doing his part but not about leaving his family.
“(I’ve been) explaining to (my wife) exactly what I’m going to be doing in Iraq so she doesn’t get too stressed out,” he added. “She will be more at ease knowing that I’m not in too much danger where the rounds are flying back and forth.”
Abigail Castro, Castro’s wife, said she plans on moving back to Texas in the meantime and staying with her family.
“I plan on getting the children involved in any available community activities,” she said. “While in Texas, I will be spending time with family and trying to keep myself busy.”