ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE BASE TOWNSVILLE, Australia -- Japan-based Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Detachment A continued operations at the flight line here in support of exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 by providing ground-controlled approaches to pilots of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314.
Talisman Sabre is a biennial exercise designed to test and improve on the Australian and American forces’ ability to conduct joint-combined task force operations. The exercise focuses on improving combat readiness and interoperability of the participating units.
MACS-4 Detachment A Marines support the pilots by providing the landing aircraft with safe approaches toward the flightline here during inclement or cloudy weather.
“My Marines have been doing an outstanding job,” said Master Sgt. Paul J. Watson, MACS-4 Detachment A air traffic control maintenance chief. “They’ve trained hard for this deployment, and it’s really showing and paying off. Their performance has been outstanding.”
Watson said Talisman Sabre has given his Marines a chance to work with some of the other equipment they are less experienced in using.
During the exercise, the MACS-4 Marines set up an expeditionary air traffic control site next to the flight line. The site is small with approximately 20 Marines running it at a time and they are able to guide pilots through inclement weather back to the airfield via radar signals.
“If (MACS-4) wasn’t here, it would be a safety concern because of the limited approaches the Australians have,” said Capt. Riccardo Scalise, a VMFA-314 pilot and squadron aviation safety officer. “I would say it’s a necessity for them to be here. Them being here provides a huge safety buffer and allows us to increase our tactical proficiency in supporting troops on the ground.”
Scalise said although weather here has been great, pilots have trained with MACS-4 to ensure they stay proficient at what they do.
Scalise believes MACS-4 has done a superb job.
During their time here, the MACS-4 Marines had the opportunity to train with some of their Australian counterparts.
“Seeing how they work has been very impressive,” said Australian Air Force Flight Lt. Gerard Bonaventura, a 452 Squadron Townsville Flight air traffic control officer. “It’s very different from how we do it here in Australia.”
Bonaventura said he’s never conducted the type of ground-controlled approaches the MACS-4 Marines have been doing and believes the side-by-side training is beneficial for both sides.
“If I ever go overseas and they tell me ‘Hey, the Marines want to come through here and do a ground-controlled approach, is it difficult?’ I can say this is what we have to do,” said Bonaventura. “I know now what’s required from our side and I know what the Marines can bring and what they can provide.”
Many of the MACS-4 Marines also appreciated the different training opportunities they have had during Talisman Sabre.
Lance Cpl. Brian Martinez, a MACS-4 Detachment A radar technician, said he has gained a better understanding of the gear they work with because of all the extra takeoffs conducted during Talisman Sabre.
“Here, we’re training every day,” said Martinez. “It’s a lot more hands-on training where we can use our skill and perfect it. It’s also important for the pilot because he needs to feel that security in landing safely with other people supporting him rather than him just flying alone.”
American and Australian forces are slated to continue training in support of exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 throughout Queensland, the Northern Territory and neighboring naval areas until July 29.