MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- CAMP FUJI, Japan — Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, air operations company bulk fuel shop along with the Ninjas of the U.S. Army 78th aviation battalion from Camp Zama conducted a Forward Arming Refueling Point training exercise here, June 24.
When a helicopter is providing close air support during a combat operation, having to stop in order to refuel, resupply or rearm is something which must be done as fast as possible in order for the helo to get back to the fight. Often times the main base is too far and would take the aircraft to much time to refuel and return to the battle.
“Anytime we go to combat, FARPs play a major role in operations,” said Chief Warrant Officer Ronald Groen, MWSS-171 air operations officer. “That way the helos can support the grunts with close air support leaving the helos on the front lines for a longer period of time.”
A FARP ensures aircraft are fueled and armed by bringing the refueling and rearming equipment to the front lines.
“A FARP is basically like a Nascar pit for helos on the front line,” said Cpl. Mario Diaz, MWSS-171 bulk fuel specialist. “The helos come in and refuel, they get rearmed or if they need chow or supplies for the grunts they get it. As a bulk fuel specialist it’s my job to ensure the helos get what they need and get back to the fight as fast as possible.”
Located more than 3 miles away from the MWSS-171 base camp, Landing Zone Dove was transformed from a large mud pit to a full service FARP for the incoming UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters of the Ninjas in less than three hours.
The site was set up with an Air Refueling Capable vehicle, which can hold up to 5000 gallons of fuel and contains a filter separator to separate all the different types of fuel without contaminating each other. Connected to the ARC was a two-inch diameter fuel hose, which waited to refuel the incoming Blackhawk.
When the Blackhawk arrived, the bulk fuel Marines hastily ran to the side of the aircraft with the hose in hand and pumped more than 200 gallons of fuel into the aircraft.
“Coming out here to work with the Marines gives us a great opportunity for inter service training,” said Chief Warrant Officer Brian Mceonough, 78th Aviation Battalion Blackhawk pilot. “If we end up in the desert there’s no telling who we’d get fuel from. It could be an Army FARP or it could be a Marine Corps FARP. By helping out these Marines with training it also helps us with future operations.”
Once the Blackhawk was refueled, the Ninja pilots lifted off the ground and continued to take more than 10 passes of the LZ in order for the Marines to get a chance to use their hand and arm signals which direct incoming pilots while they are landing.
“The hand and arm signals are way to keep communication with the pilots while they are landing or taking off,” said Lance Cpl. Ruben Saucedo, MWSS-171 bulk fuel specialist. “If the pilot can’t see you or you don’t know what your doing the pilot won’t know where to land or direction to take off in.”
The Blackhawk was directed to eight safe landings and takeoffs by the bulk fuelers.
“The Marines did an awesome job,” said Diaz. “Most of them are straight out of school and they remember everything they were taught, but sometimes the school doesn’t cover every single thing. So when we are able to set up a FARP like this they’re going to take away a few things that they weren’t taught in school.”
When the FARP was complete they Balckhawk pilots took all the Marines from the air operations company up for a little taste of what the Blackhawk is capable of.
“The Blackhawk ride was absolutely awesome,” said Saucedo. “They were going up and down so fast it was like a roller coaster ride only better.”
As the last training evolution of the two-week training exercise, many Marines felt it was a suitable end to a successful deployment.
“This was a great way to end the exercise,” said Groen. “We got some good training with the FARP and also got to have a little fun with the helo rides. Great way to leave the field.”