MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Essex Amphibious Ready Group conducted a field exercise Sept. 17 at the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni flight line.
The Amphibious Ready Group Exercise involved a tactical ground refueling of two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters by a KC-130 Hercules while the ARG team provided security in the surrounding area.
"The ARGEX is a scheduled, routine part of the training cycle, culminating with the Special Operations Capable Exercise," said Capt. Neil Peterson, 31st MEU public affairs officer. "SOCEX is a formal evaluation of the MEU/ARG team leading to the MEU's designation as Special Operations Capable."
Iwakuni was selected for this particular exercise because the Station provided a convenient site for the refueling operation as the MEU headed to northern Japan, according to Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Terry, operational coordinator.
"MCAS Iwakuni was an ideal site for this exercise because it's a Marine base, and it took little coordination between the MEU and the Station to get the aircrafts here," said Terry. "The exercise was also intended to represent refueling at a remote sight, so we provided security as if it were the real thing for the training mission."
"Before any exercise there is a risk assessment and if the risks are too high the exercise is reevaluated," he added. "This particular exercise poses the basic risks of pumping fuel into an aircraft that is running but with any military exercise."
The Commanding Officer of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st MEU, Col. Paul Damren, said the exercise, which took a crew of six to seven Marines only 45 minutes to complete, went smoothly.
"Exercises usually go perfect when you have Marines running them," added Damren.
Lance Cpl. Jose Lizardo, a field radio operator with the 31st MEU, seemed just as excited about the MEU's performance during the exercise.
"The unit did an awesome job," he said.
"There were no problems at all."