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20 <a href="http://www.mca-marines.org/gazette">www.mca-marines.org/gazette</a> M a r i n e C o r p s G a z e t t e • M a y 2 0 0 9 IDEAS & ISSUES (AVIATION) Marine KC–130Js for aerial refueling, these F/A–18s and AV–8Bs provided aviation support to coalition forces op- erating throughout the entire Iraqi the- ater of operations, which included Multinational Division-North (MND- N), MND-Baghdad (MND-B), MND-Central, and MND-South East (MND-SE) AOs. I MEF(Fwd) aviation provided sup- port during U.S. Navy carrier air wing maintenance days and port calls, com- pensating for the loss of Navy air wing F/A–18 sorties to MNC-I and CFACC. Marine EA–6B Prowler squadrons, OpCon to Marine Forces Central Command and tactical control to CFACC, also contributed to the JFC by conducting over 2,900 sorties in direct support of MNC-I’s fight against improvised explosive devices. When Basrah, the second largest city in Iraq, erupted into a hostile se- curity environment during the March- April 2008 time frame, MNF-W responded with Marine air liaison offi- cers (MarLOs) in support of MND- SE. Ground commanders and air officers in southern Iraq projected an increase in F/W and rotary-wing (R/W) operations, while ACE MNF- W provided the required aviation com- mand and control (AC2) capabilities that were lacking in the Basrah area of the MND-SE AO. Through joint op- erational planning team meetings with MNC-I joint operations center in Baghdad and the combined air and space operations center at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, MNF-W responded with a Marine air command and con- trol system air support element (ASE) capability. This light, mobile, and ex- peditionary AC2 capability enabled MND-SE to effectively command and control all aviation operations in the vicinity of Basrah with numerous air- crew responding that this was the best air control they had received to date. In addition to MarLO and ASE support, MNF-W provided a medevac capabil- ity to MND-SE. Already an economy of force in the Al Anbar Province, MNF-W assumed risk and deployed three UH–60s to Basrah International Airport. Within hours of arrival these assets began conducting critical mede- vac missions in support of MND-SE units and Iraqi Security Forces. To en- sure continuous logistical support for all of the MNF-W units operating in the Basrah area, I MEF(Fwd) estab- lished weekly MV–22B Osprey and KC–130J flights in support of de- ployed units (FISDUs). On many oc- casions, the Marine FISDUs con- ducted en route missions at airfields, such as Baghdad International Airport and Tallil Air Base, in order to assist MNC-I and MND-SE with their com- bat resupply efforts in southern Iraq. When Operation DEFEAT AL- QAEDA IN THE NORTH (OpDAN) commenced, MNC-I requested MNF- W support. Early on in the battle, MNF-W established a forward arming and refueling point aboard Forward Operating Base Speicher, extending R/W time on station capabilities and increasing TacAir support to ground units operating along the Tigris River Valley. Highlighting the expeditionary nature of Marine aviation, MNF-W es- tablished rapid replenishment points (RRPs) in temporary AO Mameluke in support of GCE, ACE, and logistics command element operations. In ad- Helicopter gunships were also provided for MNF-W aviation missions. (Photo by Cpl Zachary Dyer.) Ground commanders and air officers in south- ern Iraq projected an in- crease in F/W and rotary-wing (R/W) oper- ations. . . .
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