MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 recently returned from participating in an Integrated Training Exercise that took place at Twentynine Palms, Calif.
“Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 is, as far the ITX package goes, very focused on getting back to the Marine Corps’ skills and integrating all of our assets into a combined-arms maneuver to accomplish whatever objective is out there,” said Maj. Gary Humphries, S-3 operations officer for MWSS-171. “One of the exercises we did was to do a (forward armored refueling point). What that allowed the Marines to see was that they can take the refueling capability that they do here on the airfield all the time and run it 100 miles forward into the battle space, cutting that cycle time down, so the guys out there closing with and destroying the enemy have the air support they need.”
Humphries mentioned the importance of being able to strike targets in preparation of maneuver forces going in and then providing close air support.
“In that construct, the (Air Combat Element) then has several missions,” said Humphries. “One is being able to strike those targets deemed necessary in support of the (Ground Combat Element) and then, once that is taken care of, those air assets, whether it be helicopters, rotary wing or fixed-wing, will turn to running support for the maneuver piece.”
With many different facets going into the ITX, MWSS-171 still plays an integral and vital part to ensure accomplishment of the exercise.
“Our main mission at ITX is to run the airfield and make sure the ACE has everything they need as far as the operations of running that airfield,” said Humphries. "Air traffic control, fuels, communications, (Expeditionary Air Fields) and (Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighters), all those pieces run the airfield.”
According to Humphries, while a unit such as MWSS-171 normally brings approximately 100 Marines to the ITX, his plans varied to support the special needs of a support squadron based out of Iwakuni.
“We showed up with about 300 Marines,” said Humphries. “Here in Iwakuni, we don’t even have a rifle range. Maintaining a lot of the Marine Corps common skills and things that are deemed mission essential tasks for MWSS-171, I can’t really train do here. To put tactical trucks on the road in Japan is a political hurdle, to say the least."
Humphries said that there are 13 functions of aviation ground support and six activities, most of which cannot be trained to while aboard Iwakuni.
"Long story short, there is a whole laundry list of training pieces that are not very easily accomplished here in Iwakuni because I do not have the training area in my back yard as if I was at Pendleton or Lejeune, so we go heavy to ITX," said Humphries. "Therefore, we increase the efficiency of the unit and increase the lethality of each individual Marine.”
While stationed aboard MCAS Iwakuni, some service members could succumb to complacency. Recent occurrences in Afghanistan couldn’t prove it any clearer that “Every Marine a rifleman,” is not only a motto, but a requirement for all Marines.
“When the attack at Bastion airfield happened, who was it that actually closed with and countered that attack? It’s the guys on the ground at the air field,” said Humphries. “It is most definitely important that my Marines understand what it is to combat glide, close with, click off safe and pull the trigger. The two things I am concerned about is accomplishing our mission and bringing our Marines home. The ITX provided that training.”
Cpl. Oscar Lugo, a maintenance management chief with MWSS-171, was one of the Marines given the opportunity to hone his Marine Corps Common Skills.
"The training was awesome," said Lugo. "Over there, we were actually doing patrols and convoys. I learned how to search for (Improvised Explosive Devices) and identify IEDs."
In addition to receiving classes on the M1A1 Abrahams, amphibious landing vehicles and several weapons systems, Lugo mentioned the use of a red cell, which operated as the opposing force for many of the training evolutions.
"We not only had the chance to do patrols and convoys, but we actually got to test the Marines and their capabilities," said Lugo. "I saw, first hand, how the Marines actually dealt with an IED and an ambush at the same time. Their response was so quick and accurate, it was almost like a movie."