ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE BASE TINDAL, Australia -- Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal is one of Australia's most important defense installations. With an excellent location, gorgeous weather and great ranges, it offers one of the most valuable training opportunities for both new and experienced pilots.
No unit knows this better than Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212, which has taken full advantage of the optimal training environment and facilities offered by Tindal during this year's Exercise Southern Frontier.
"RAAF Base Tindal is one of only a few places in the western pacific where we can conduct our air to ground training," said Maj. Jon D. Rabine, VMFA-212 operations officer. "I can't say enough about being able to get out here and conduct this training. All of our pilots are receiving great training."
The Lancers have used their time in the valuable training environment conducting low altitude training, air-to-ground training, basic air-to-surface deliveries, close air support training, long range power projection strikes, and various other sorties.
"Delamere range is a scored range and is all low altitude capable. This is the only place where we can conduct true low altitude training and for us, the only time of the year we can get this training knocked out for our young pilots," said Rabine. "LAT training is required training per our training and readiness manual, so being able to knock out the training is really valuable for us. We will have every single one of our pilots LAT qualified and LAT current by the time we leave here."
According to Rabine, all pilots are receiving great training helping them earn section and division lead qualifications, as well as mission commander qualifications.
"While here I've gotten current on LAT again. I haven't flown LAT since 2001 so getting current and working toward earning my mission commander qualification has been great," said Capt. Alejandro R. House, VMFA-212 logistics officer. "Dropping high explosive ordnance and working with the 5th Anglico (Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company) Marines has been the most valuable training to me. Having been to Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, it has reminded me of how important it is to know what's going on, on the ground and in the air so you can put bombs on target."
The younger pilots have especially appreciated the wide variety of training available, but the experience and extra hours in the cockpit aren't the only things the young pilots walk away with.
"I've been thrown into a busy flight schedule out here and I've been able to put a lot of flight hours under my belt, building a steady foundation for myself," said 1st Lt. Tom J. Cunningham, VMFA-212 squadron pilot. "But, the biggest thing for me about down here, is with being a new person in the squadron this deployment is a quick and efficient way to get to know all the personalities, and to me that's a real blessing."
With plenty of important training already under their belts, 212 doesn't intend to rest on their laurels.
With a few weeks left in the exercise, the Lancers will continue to conduct priceless training building their pilots with confidence and experience.
"We will continue to conduct various sorties while deployed here and work on our vital mission areas," said Rabine. "Some of the training we get out here is training we couldn't get anywhere else, and the experience has been amazing for us."