EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- In a welcome change from the stifling heat of a Yuman summer, more than 180 Marines traveled to Alaska’s cooler climate to take part in Exercise Red Flag-Alaska June 14.
The Marines from Marine Attack Squadron 214 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 arrived with 10 AV-8B Harriers to take part in the 10-day multinational, joint-service combat operations exercise designed to train pilots and air crews in some of the most advanced air-to-air combat techniques.
While here, the squadron took part in several aerial missions alongside units from the Air Force and Army, as well as squadrons from the Italian Air Force and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force.
“Any time you have the opportunity to work in a joint environment, you have to take full advantage of it,” said Sgt. Maj. Leonard Maldonado, VMA-214 sergeant major. “It’s been a positive experience all the way around. It took a few days, but the barrier was broken down by a few Marines, and now I see them interacting with their counterparts on a regular basis.”
Five squadrons were housed in one large hangar known as the Thunderdome, including the Marines, Air Force, Italian Air Force and Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. The Harrier, being such a unique aircraft, piqued the interest of many of the participants in the exercise, who were curious about how the jets work.
While performing maintenance in the Thunderdome, Marines often found themselves answering questions asked by their foreign counterparts. In return, the Marines were given an up-close view of the Tornado IDSs and F-15Js flown by the other participating squadrons.
“We wanted to see what we do different,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Barker, MALS-13 nondestructive inspection technician, as he looked over a Tornado IDS with Italian Air Force First Marshal Daniele Mazeo, his Italian counterpart. “It’s amazingly about the same.”
While learning about another country’s aircraft and techniques could help them in the long run, service members also learned about the rank structures of the various military branches represented at the exercise.
Cpl. Austin McGee, VMA-214 avionics technician, helped JASDF Staff Sgt. Tetsuya Asano, aviation ordnance technician, better understand the insignia for his equivalent rank in the Marine Corps by drawing it for him in Asano’s notebook.
While many Marines are used to sleeping at night, Alaska’s northern latitude causes near constant daylight in summer months, making several Marines seem to lose track of time. Going to sleep in what seems like midday sun isn’t easy for people unaccustomed to it. Even the shades of the Marines’ rooms couldn’t completely block out the sun.
“It’s confusing,” said Lance Cpl. Thomas Dipprey, VMA-214 powerline mechanic. “When you’re used to going to bed and it’s dark outside, but it looks like it’s 3 o’clock in the afternoon, it throws you off. You almost have to set two alarms; one to get up and one to remind you when to go to sleep.”
Nothing, however, could stop the Blacksheep from accomplishing their missions, not even the squadron’s gear arriving nine days late.
The squadron returned to Yuma on June 28.