Operation Striking Hawk wraps up

[thedrifter]

Operation Striking Hawk wraps up
Submitted by: MCAS Yuma
Story Identification Number: 200391816369
Story by Cpl. Kevin Paul



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz.(Sept. 18, 2003) -- A detachment of 1,100 Marines attached to Marine Aircraft Group-14 visited the station recently to take part in Exercise Striking Hawk '03.

The exercise tests the concept of offensive air support and simulates all the nuts and bolts of an air combat element during a Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

According to Gunnery Sgt. Charles B. Ringo, MAG-14 operations chief, more than eight different squadrons participated in the exercise, including Marine Attack Squadrons-231 and 542, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron-167, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-261, Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron-2, Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons-115 and 533, Marine Wing Support Support Squadron-273 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron's-14, 26 and 31.

"We brought 1,100 Marines and have seven different plane model series, including (AV-8B Harriers), (F-18 Hornets), (KC-130 Hercules), (UH-1N Helicopters) and (CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopters)," said Maj. Brian Zacherl, MAG-14 future operations officer.

During the exercise, the Marines performed close-air support, helicopter escorts and strike coordination and reconnaissance on the live-fire ranges around Yuma and El Centro.

"The Yuma and El Centro areas provide for more high-explosive ordnance training," said Zacherl. "There's no (ideal) place on the east coast to drop live ordnance."

Striking Hawk was conceptualized by Maj. Gen. John G. Castellaw, commander of the 2nd Marine Air Wing, and began on Aug. 17. The exercise concluded yesterday.

"We're trying to recoup some of the training we didn't get from (Combined Arms Exercise) and exercises of that nature," said Ringo. "We lost a lot of training opportunities in the rear because everyone went and fought the war."

MAG-14 officials did not have much time to plan since they had just returned from support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, said Zacherl.

"It was a pretty fast turnaround, but it was important we came out here and trained," he said.

During their month-long stay, the pilots of MAG-14 skulked the skies of Yuma, training their steely eyes like hawks for targets around the live fire ranges.

However, MAG-14 had to pack its sea bag and depart to allow the use of the live-fire ranges to other aviators from around the Corps for the upcoming Weapons and Tactics Instructor course, but the training conducted will go a long way toward future operations, said Ringo.

"We're going to be going back with a lot of training," said Ringo. "We're going back much more prepared than we came for any mission the Marine Corps has in store for us."



Marines from Marine Attack Squadron-231 load ordnance onto an AV-8B Harrier. MAG-14 visited the station from Aug. 17 to Sept. 17 to conduct Exercise Striking Hawk, a large-scale aviation training exercise.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Ismael O. Marquez


Sempers,

Roger