MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- Marine Attack Squadron 311 is scheduled to return today from MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., after participating in operations Gator Strike and Jaded Thunder.
The AV-8B Harrier squadron left for Florida Oct. 7 with about 80 percent of the squadron, including 10 planes, to prepare for its next deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism, said Capt. Jay Vallario, VMA-311 assistant operations officer.
The exercises also acted as precursors to the upcoming Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 Desert Talon, a semi-annual training evolution, said Vallario.
During Desert Talon, the Marines are going to be evaluated on what they learned in Florida, while still gaining more deployment training.
The training at the Avon Park Air Ground Training Complex, Avon Park, Fla., was divided into two sessions.
“Operation Gator Strike was a two-week block of squadron training. Our focus for this block was night systems and basic air-to-surface training for our new pilots,” said Capt. David Selmo, VMA-311 administration officer.
Specifically, the exercise gave the new pilots who have been assigned to VMA-311 the chance to get their flight qualifications and on-the-job training, said Vallario.
“The biggest challenge (squadrons face) is that pilots come here from a training squadron to one with new aircraft and different weapon systems,” said Vallario, a San Francisco native.
Vallario said his goal was to get the pilots familiar with the aerial tactics and techniques VMA-311 uses, as well as their standard operating procedures.
The pilots learned what they needed to know to function in a deployed, joint-service environment, said Vallario.
All the fun, however, was not just scheduled for the pilots.
The attack squadron’s aircraft support Marines also received their fair share of pre-deployment training.
“We were separated from our supply lines by nearly 3000 miles and it created some challenges for our maintenance department,” said Selmo.
“Parts that we needed for an aircraft were literally on the opposite side of the country and there were delays associated with physically getting our hands on them in order to execute required maintenance,” said Selmo, a Racine, Wis., native.
Selmo pointed out that despite the challenges his Marines faced, they were able to get the job done.
“Our Marines performed in a manner that brings great credit to their dedication and adaptability,” he said.
Sgt. Maj. Richard D. Miller, VMA-311 senior enlisted advisor, said the exercise also helped the Marines to train in embarkation.
Learning to pack up quickly and move out when duty calls is essential to being a “force in readiness,” added Miller.
Deployment is high-paced and more is expected of Marines when they go overseas, said Cpl. Christopher Wingard, VMA-311 airframes collateral duty inspector.
Marines work 12 hours a day and sometimes seven days a week, so it is important for them to learn everything they can prior to deploying.
“I don’t want (my) Marines to take for granted that we are still in the United States,” said Wingard, a Columbia, S.C., native and two-time Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran.
“Here they can take a little extra time (working), but once they hit Iraq, we expect them to keep up,” he said.
Florida gave the Marines who haven’t deployed a taste of what it’s like to work overseas, added Cpl. Luis Torres, VMA-311 powerline collateral duty inspector, referring to the approximately 30 percent of the squadron who have not deployed.
More than 160 Marines deployed to Florida with VMA-311, including some from Marine
Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 ordnance, Marine Air Control Squadron 1 air traffic control and other pilots from Marine Aircraft Group 13.
Selmo said he was glad VMA-311 was able to get away to conduct the training.
“We had the rare opportunity to truly focus on our training and knowledge, as both pilots and maintenance personnel, as there were few distractions in the local area.”
VMA-311 is scheduled to deploy in the spring of 2008, which will mark the third time in two years the attack squadron has gone overseas in support of the Global War on Terrorism.