Posted on 03/09/2003 10:16:53 AM PST by SMEDLEYBUTLER
Back in Bagram, Harriers Take the War to the Terrorists
By R. R. Keene
On the wind-swept plains 35 miles north of Kabul, there's a flutter of a canvas tent flap caused by a gush of thin, cold air as it races along the 5,000-foot-high plateau. It rattles the razor wire encircling the sandbagged tent camp at the airfield outside Bagram, an encampment to more than 200 "Flying Nightmares" of Marine Attack Squadron 513. It is a long way from their home at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Ariz.
The tents, 16 feet by 32 feet general purpose, shiver but hold their own in Afghanistan's winter, thanks in no small part to being reinforced with wooden frames and proper construction provided by the leatherneck utilities/engineer detachment from MCAS, Miramar, Calif.-based Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 373 assigned to VMA-513. Inside, the tents are heated and home to eight or nine leatherneck cots, whose occupants lead a reasonably Spartan existence and consider themselves "living high for Marines."
Out on the edge of the tarmac is a clamshell expeditionary hangar. Around it, the high-pitched whine from Rolls-Royce Pegasus jet engines revving to 23,400 pounds of vectored thrust enables the squadron's AV-8B Harrier II, short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) attack jets to defy the thin air and wind and lift, with a load of ordnance, on yet another mission over the mountains of Afghanistan.
The Flying Nightmares of VMA-513, with more than 200 Marines forward deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan, are operating in the cold, thin air of the mountains more than 5,000 feet above sea level. Two of those leathernecks are GySgt Jeffrey A. Hranek (right) and Cpl Richard M. Bean, who routinely work 12-plus hours a day to keep their AV-8B Harriers flying. (Photo by GySgt Shannon Arledge)
This is what being in the Marine Corps Harrier community is all about, explained Lieutenant Colonel James A. Dixon, the squadron skipper and veteran Harrier pilot: "Close air support missions, convoy escort and reconnaissance."
His only regret is that his Nightmares are not flying in direct support of brother Marines on the ground. The Harrier squadron is the only Marine Corps attack squadron that directly supports Combined Joint Task Force 180 and its coalition forces in the war on terrorism (Operation Enduring Freedom). In early January after having been in country since October 2002, the half-dozen Harriers had racked up well over 1,200 hours in combat sorties, unleashing laser-guided bombs, rockets and 25 mm Gatling gunfire onto remnants of the Taliban and al-Qaida.
But a mission is a mission, and flying in support of other than Marines is no less rewarding and challenging work. Close air support today is similar to previous wars in one aspect. Dixon said that "the mere presence of U.S. airpower is sometimes sufficient to keep the enemy at bay. Just knowing the noise of our jets keeps soldiers safe, and the [Taliban and al-Qaida] on the run has made the trip all worthwhile."
It also takes teamwork. Dixon explained that while the "Marine Corps as a fighting force is task-organized for what is requested," in Afghanistan the Nightmare squadron relies on the professional skills of others. The going would be a lot tougher "if we didn't have full support provided by the Army and work closely with forward air controllers on the ground."
But it is more than noise and calling on forward controllers. The close air support of today brings a lot of new technology to the battlefield. It was only months ago that the squadron's planes were equipped with new technology in the form of the Litening II Targeting Pod.
This targeting system with its infrared imaging gives pilots the ability to see into the night, which allows them the ability to use precision-guided weapons with laser-guided beams, all from reasonably safe altitudes.
"This precision capability to spot targets, [locate and identify enemy positions] and self-designate weapons has put us in high demand," said Dixon, who explained that the targeting system makes the Harriers a close air support platform requested by Coalition and sister service forces who want "Litening Pod." "We have dropped several laser-guided bombs and all were direct hits."
LtCol Dixon added that because the Harrier with its STOVL capabilities can be deployed farther forward than other tactical jet aircraft, it has a quick response time to the target, often accurately delivering ordnance in less than 10 minutes.
The pilots and planes are able to do this because the only things working harder than the Harrier aircraft are the men and women who keep them flying.
"The jets are performing," said Gunnery Sergeant Michael V. Ewell, chief of flight equipment, who has 13 years working with Harriers. "We're checking and triple checking everything."
Triple checking is just something that people who work on Harriers learn to do according to Ewell: "We've been doing well. The standard 12 hours are similar to what we were working back at Yuma, except we're at a higher elevation."
Staff Sergeant Sean E. Sayegh of the Nightmares' aviation life-support division said essentially the same thing to the public affairs chief, GySgt Shannon Arledge, during a January interview: "The jets are running great. Aside from routine maintenance, they are running safely and effectively. We're putting the aircraft through the paces and gaining a lot of knowledge for future deployments."
The Harrier has been the close air support workhorse of the Corps for 31 years. A recent feature article in the Los Angeles Times called it "The Widow-Maker" and cited it as "the most dangerous airplane flying in the U.S. military today." Military pundits with background in other services piled on. This prompted Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), who heads the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, to call the aircraft's record a "disaster" and press the Corps to justify the need for the Harrier.
Proponents of the Harrier look with some suspicion at where such remarks come from. It appears they are coming after 31 years of operation and at a time when dollars for aircraft are harder to come by and the services are squaring off for turf battles and debating future technologies. The Marine Corps is the only U.S. service to buy the Harrier for its inventory, and now it also is looking to purchase the STOVL model of the Joint Strike Fighter. Other services have opted for continued use of tactical aircraft that take off and land in a conventional manner.
Supporters of the Harrier say the plane's STOVL capability is unique in that it provides greater basing flexibility and sortie generation rates than any other tactical jet aircraft in the world. This is especially essential to Marine expeditionary units often operating independently on foreign shores with only a detachment of Harriers to provide fixed-wing, close air support.
Proponents insist that the short take off and landing capabilities give the Harrier unparalled battle prowess over other tactical aircraft. The feisty but rugged aircraft, named after a low-flying marsh hawk, proved itself in Desert Storm where the Harrier was the most forward-deployed attack aircraft in that theater of war. It operated from amphibious assault ships and two expeditionary airfields. Located and fighting almost next to leatherneck trigger pullers, the Harriers recorded the fastest response time of any aircraft employed. When Marines call for air, more often than not they need it desperately and at that moment. During the Gulf War, Harriers responding from a remote and forward base were over the target in less than 10 minutes.
Additionally, AV-8Bs flew combat missions over Kosovo during Operation Allied Force and, due to the advanced global positioning system integration, were one of the few aircraft permitted to deliver ordnance from above the weather. When Marine ground forces pulled out of Afghanistan, a detachment of Harriers returned to provide the Corps' brand of close air support to U.S. Army and coalition forces pursuing Taliban and al-Qaida in the thin air of Afghanistan's rugged mountain ranges at altitudes that sorely tested the Army's close air support helicopters.
General James L. Jones Jr., who recently stepped down as Commandant of the Marine Corps, said Congressional hearings would provide a forum "to share the good-news story" of the aircraft and cited progress made with the Harrier, saying that it is now "doing extremely well" in supporting troops in Afghanistan. He told the Los Angeles Times in January, "I'm personally and professionally satisfied that we have made the fixes that are required to guarantee that the Harrier will get us safely to the Joint Strike Fighter."
LtCol Dixon said, "The Harriers [in Afghanistan] have been maintained the best ever." He added that the Harrier has been "a great aircraft and our readiness rate is above normal." And that's with a lot of flying too. Both Dixon and his pilots have gotten used to catnapping when they can. "Pilots fly 'round the clock, night and day, long missions—most of which require refueling."
Meanwhile, back on the ground and in camp, the Army provided some assistance, and a U.S.-based contractor provided some additional services. The tent camp, however, is typically Marine in that it is nearly self-sufficient.
"We made due," said Ewell. "Explosive ordnance disposal personnel cleared an area and we moved in."
The Nightmares are responsible for their own security as well as a portion of the Bagram flight line. Consequently, they have done everything from stringing wire, filling sandbags and building bunkers to putting up tents with heaters and cots. They have built shower and laundry facilities as well as storage areas and have installed the Internet and telephones. They have even raised an impromptu dining facility where everyone looks forward to "mid-rats."
At a time when some in the Marines' sister services made headlines, complaining that conditions of various camps in Afghanistan were not what they were normally accustomed to, Lance Corporal Julia M. Dring, a generator mechanic and member of MWSS-373, and one of seven women assigned with the squadron in Bagram, said, "We have gotten compliments about the quality of our camp and how well it is put together." She added with pride, "MWSS utilities [section] Marines also put in a steam bath (sauna), and just about built the entire camp."
Corporal Brian E. Young, who when at Yuma is a member of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 and is on assignment with VMA-513, is thankful to have tents. "We weren't expecting to have such nice ones. Good thing we have heaters or we would be hurting at night."
And while there isn't much time off, Marines find ways to entertain themselves and keep busy.
"We PT, lift weights, play sports, clean rifles and study our military knowledge," said Young.
"The term of being a Marine '24/7' has never been more true than here," said Dring. "In addition to our regular jobs, we stand watch twice a week: two six-hour guard shifts. When we're not working, we are always in PT gear, studying, getting mail, keeping in touch with the people back home and sleeping."
GySgt Ewell said the Harrier community is small, so he knows and has served with many of the 38 fellow staff noncommissioned officers with him in Bagram. "We get together and talk shop, read, do correspondence courses and provide professional military instruction."
"It is 110-percent effort by everyone here to accomplish the mission," said Young.
Dring considers herself very lucky. "It is a privilege to come out here. Marines back at Miramar who didn't get to come were upset."
GySgt Ewell added, "It is gratifying to know you're doing your part. Hopefully mistake-free."
LtCol Dixon said, "I got the easiest job there is."
It would be interesting to hear Rep. Lewis' thoughts and initial feelings after a visit to the Marines who fly and keep the Harriers flying in Afghanistan.
Editor's note: GySgt Shannon Arledge, PAO, MARFORCENTCOM, contributed to this article.
© 2003 Marine Corps Association. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.