MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- As the Marines of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing stream out of the plane, they are suddenly struck by the awesome power of the Arizona sun and immediately realize, they aren’t in North Carolina anymore.
Marines from all over the East Coast have migrated to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma for exercise Desert Talon. The exercise is 25 days of demanding training. The purpose: to prepare the Marines for weather similar to the deserts of Iraq and give them an opportunity to work alongside Marines from all over the Corps in a high operational tempo.
“I just got back from Iraq at the end of January,” said Staff Sgt. Donna L. Dineley, the tactical electronic reconnaissance processing evaluation systems maintenance staff noncommissioned officer in charge at Marine Tactical Electronic Squadron 2, who is serving as the barracks manager for Exercise Desert Talon.
“I was out here last year and it was a great opportunity to prepare for Iraq. We got a chance to put our theories to the test. Desert Talon also gives us a little more of an idea for planning; if you forget something out here it’s not as big of a deal as if you do in Iraq.”
Dineley said the Marines who participate get a chance to practice all the same operations they will in the deserts of Iraq.
“They get a real taste of the heat,” said Dineley. “You don’t experience the same kind of heat at Cherry Point. Here, it’s a lot closer to what it will be like in Iraq. The heat forces you to focus on how to properly hydrate.”
The large amount of Marines wearing camelbacks testifies to Dineley’s statement on the need to properly hydrate.
“It’s the same kind of dry heat as it is in Iraq,” said Lance Cpl. Lee Wadsworth, a mortar man from Camp Lejeune who recently returned from Iraq and is at Desert Talon to conduct tactical recovery aircraft personnel training. “Here you sweat and it evaporates. You don’t realize how much water your losing, and that’s dangerous. I saw people get dehydrated in Iraq, you just don’t realize that it’s happening and then it hits you.”
There are more than 2,600 Marines arriving for Desert Talon, and for many it is their first experience with the heat and realities of life in the desert.
“I’m excited to come out here and see exactly how to train for Iraq,” said Pfc. Justin Kirksey, from Marine Air Group-29, who will serve as administrative support for the exercise. “This is my first time on the West Coast and my first reaction getting here was, ‘hopefully it will cool down,’ but I know it’s only going to get hotter.”
MCAS Yuma, is a big change for Marines coming here from North Carolina. More than just the weather and operational tempo, its smaller size creates more of a community atmosphere.
“I knew it was going to be hot, but the layout here surprised me; everything is really close to each other. It’s all in walking distance,” said Lance Cpl. Jeremy Eyler, crisis management force, MCAS Yuma. “I was at Cherry Point for schooling. Yuma is my first duty station. It’s very different. I already know half the people on this base, and I’ve only been here a couple months.”
Eyler said that Yuma becomes a madhouse of activity during Desert Talon.
“Bringing in 2,600 Marines packs the barracks,” said Eyler. “Everybody comes here because it’s the best place to train. I’m sure it’s a lot like this out in Iraq. I think this a great opportunity for Marines to train together.”