Posted on 02/02/2006 3:38:00 PM PST by SandRat
AL ASAD, Iraq (Feb. 2, 2006) -- During July 2005, a small group of Marines from Marine Attack Squadron 223 detached to join Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced), the air combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.
They didn’t expect to see their parent squadron again until the end of their deployment, but they were wrong. When the 22nd MEU deployed to northwestern Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, the AV-8B Harriers in the unit relocated to Al Asad, Iraq, the same base their parent squadron deployed to months before.
“Before we left, there was talk we might see them out here,” said Sgt. Leandro S. Crooms, an aviation ordnance technician with ‘261 and North River, N.C., native. “We’re part of the MEU, so we could have gone anywhere. I never thought we would end up in Al Asad with our old squadron.”
At Al Asad, the detachment doesn’t just share a flightline with their old unit, they share the same working space, the same living quarters and sometimes even the same equipment.
“It’s been easier because we’ve had extra support and another opinion when something happens,” said Cpl. Michael J. Mathison, a Seattle native and plane captain with 261. “If we don’t have a tool we need, we can always just go to them to check it out.”
Though the members of the detachment agreed it’s nice to work every day with their old squadron, they’re proud to serve with a MEU.
Marine Expeditionary Units are divided into aviation, logistics and ground combat elements. The 22nd MEU’s aviation combat element is three times larger than normal. It is spaced across Iraq, with detachments in Al Asad and Forward Operating Base Hit, Iraq. During January, the unit flew 1,600 hours, a total the Harrier detachment contributed to significantly.
“We’re flying at levels way above our average,” said Maj. Charles Dezafra, the assistant officer-in-charge of HMM-261(Rein.)’s Harrier detachment. “That’s all possible because of the maintenance guys. Because of the operational tempo, these maintainers are working around the clock. They’re very reliable and they’ve enabled us to accomplish our (assigned missions).”
That tasking has been considerable, said Dezafra. Traditionally, the air combat element of the MEU might be expected to support only MEU assets. But, the large workload of Operation Iraqi Freedom means that HMM-261 has had to support operations all across Iraq.
“We’re supporting the whole effort out here,” he said. “That’s just the nature of this area of operations. Everyone is doing what they can.”
While the Harrier detachment of ‘261 has been operating separately from their parent squadron, they have been the same unit in terms of their shared experiences. After the 22nd MEU’s return to the United States, the detachment will return to VMA-223. Many of the detachment’s members expressed concern that the reunion with their parent squadron would have been awkward had they not spent time together at Al Asad.
“I think not seeing them for eight months would have made it difficult for the transition back into the squadron,” said Crooms. “When a unit is separated for that long, Marines can get out of touch because they have different experiences.”
Now, Crooms said, the transition back into VMA-223 will be easier. But, right now, he and his fellow Marines are looking forward to completing the rest of their tour with the 22nd MEU.
“HMM-261 is a very good unit to be a part of,” said Dezafra. “It’s kind of weird that we’ve been out here with (VMA-223), but it’s been extremely beneficial. We have our separate missions, but we support each other and get them accomplished.”
2nd MEU PING
BTTT
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