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26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs
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U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Chance Trombetti, a 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit CH-46 Sea Knight pilot conducts post-flight inspections on a CH-46 Sea Knight at Pano Aqil Cantonment, Pakistan. The U.S. Marine Corps’ 15th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units have been operating CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters in the Sindh province since early September bringing relief supplies to those in need. Since Aug. 5, U.S. military helicopters have transported more than 12 million pounds of supplies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kali Gradishar)
PANO AQIL CANTONMENT, Pakistan (October 27, 2010) — For more than a year, CH-46 Sea Knight crew chiefs are taught and tested on every aspect of their career field – from the mechanics of the Sea Knight to flight operations – before they actually enter into the world of being a crew chief.
In training, scenarios are given to represent possible real-world situations. But until those real-world situations present themselves, training often involves preparing for the unexpected. Since the U.S. Marine Corps HMM-165-Reinforced, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived at Pano Aqil Cantonment, Pakistan, to support the Pakistan government and military flood relief operations, they have put that training to use.
“We did a lot of heavy preparation for this deployment so we could come out with no issues to fly to the fullest capability,” said Lance Cpl. Nicholas Zeigler, a 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit CH-46 Sea Knight crew chief with more than 600 flight hours.
“We did a lot of [confined area landing] training when we were in Camp Pendleton, [Calif.]. In training we were required to land in a small area, clearing the pilots left and right as if we were landing 15 feet from power lines or near a wall,” said the lance corporal, who has been in the Marine Corps three years as of Sept. 11. “Operations here have been a true utilization of all that training.”
The first destination for the CH-46s and the 15th MEU to support relief operations was Ghazi Air Base in northern Pakistan. The Marines began making the transition south to Pano Aqil Cantonment in early September. Though the geography between the two areas is vastly different, there were still similarities in the missions the Marines encountered.
“Around Ghazi, the people were out in the hills where roads were cut off, bridges were destroyed, and a lot of houses near the river were taken out,” said Cpl. Dominic Camacho, a 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit CH-46 Sea Knight crew chief. “It’s different here because it’s mostly flat land, but it’s the same because there are a lot of people affected here, too, with fields and homes under water.”
The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s CH-46 aircrews and maintainers have been working around the clock alongside 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit CH-53 Super Stallion aircrew and maintainers, which arrived in October, as well as all the support functions required to maintain a steady flow of operations.
Since early September, Marines at Pano Aqil Cantonment have been bringing relief supplies to people in need to sustain themselves now and hopefully through the winter. Transporting that many supplies means an intense pace for the 15th and 26th MEU's to try to reach as many people as possible.
“We were [initially] doing five runs, delivering over 10,000 pounds of food, or 20,000 pounds between the two [aircraft]. That was standard for the first three weeks we were here, and the tempo has remained very high, very fast-paced,” said Zeigler, a native of Olathe, Kan. “Of the places we’ve landed, some of the towns are intact, but they are completely surrounded by water and all the roads to that town are washed out. It’s like seeing 150 to 200 people on an island. So we were dropping off what we could to those people who were isolated.”
Whether it’s doing confined area landings or basic maintenance, the Marines are applying the vast training they receive to good use as they scour the submerged Sindh province for dry spots to land to deliver relief supplies.
“We trained for quite some time before we deployed, and being here really changes the tone of what we’re doing – it’s more visceral and validates what we’ve gone through,” said Zeigler, “Plus we’re getting the opportunity to help people.
“It’s rewarding to be helping Pakistan in the aftermath of this natural disaster – to be out here feeding people and putting out training to use,” he said.
The Earthquakes in Haiti (January), Chile (February), and Indonesia (October) - The destructive power of nature was shown in these massive earthquakes and the aftermath of these disasters. The earthquake in Haiti caused the greatest suffering. Once again Americans responded with concern and generosity. The funds raised by celebrities, however, have often times not reached those in need. These tragedies have faded from the mainstream view. Christians were there before, during, and after the quake in Haiti. How true we find the words of Paul in Romans 8.20-23 to be: "For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to son-ship, the redemption of our bodies."
The Collapsing Western European Socialist Economy as exemplified most drastically in the bailout of Greece (April) and Ireland (November) - Margaret Thatcher was correct: "Eventually you run out of other people's money." The economic collapse will have far-reaching effects in all of Europe and the different countries attempt to prop up each other and save themselves. No longer can the governments provide everything to their citizens.
The Local, State, and National Elections in the United States (November) - This mid-term correction at the national level provides hope for a return to fiscal responsibility and reaches far down into state legislatures and governorships, as well as local governing bodies. Fueled by the "Taxed Enough Already" people and groups, this historic change is a reaction to the economic and political trends. It gives energy to the attempt to repeal the national health care legislation and has already had an impact on federal income taxes.
The Arizona Immigration Law(SB 1070 signed into law in April) - This law focused the frustration of the American people on illegal immigration and the apathy of the federal government. The Arizona Law and the challenge to it by the federal government sets up a constitutional conflict that will be resolved in 2011.
The Enactment of Health Care Legislation(March) - This new legislation will have far reaching consequences -intended and unintended, foreseen and unforeseen. The legislation does nothing to improve medical care, but it will have serious impacts on the economy, the medical profession, and the health of individuals. Challenges to the legislation will continue into 2011 in the judicial and political areas.
The Wiki-Leaks Information Dump (July and November) - The leaks and the lethargic response of the US government are alarming. Publicly the US government has not been damaged, but embarrassed. The leaks make diplomacy and the war more difficult.
The Aggression of North Korea as exemplified in the attack of the South Korean Navy ship (March) and the artillery shelling of the South Korean island (November) - North Korea has always been an unstable rogue nation. The upcoming change in leadership and North Korea's development of a deliverable nuclear weapon will cause greater instability in Asia.
The British Petroleum Oil Spill (April) - This spill certainly had immediate economic and natural consequences. The negative results of the spill were exacerbated by the slow immediate response of the Obama Administration and the long term response of the administration that has blocked much of the oil production in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Floods from the Monsoon in Pakistan (July) - This devastating natural disaster caused great suffering to that struggling nation. The devastation reminds one of the Haitian earthquake. Again I am reminded of Romans 8.20-23.
The Eruption of the Volcano in Iceland (Aptil) - Though this event had no great loss of life, the eruption and the spread of volcanic ash through the atmosphere brought air travel in Europe to a standstill for about two weeks. Once again saw the power of Creation over human endeavors, and once again I was reminded of Romans 8.20-23.
