Par Avion

Air MailI

Swifty’s Report to the Homefront

Edition 154 Feb 2013 – 22 Feb 2013

YOUR NAME

1c

The Marines of the PurpleFoxes have been keepingthemselves busy as we spentyet another week in Djbouti.The increased Op-tempo wasmuch appreciated as the ACEwas able to run several fullmission profiles , FMP) toinclude several days ofshooting.

It was a whole team effort withMarines of the MACG Detsetting up an IntermediateSupport Base (ISB) at a localair strip. The MACG Det, alongwith the Hercules det, providedthousands of pounds of fuelessential to our neededtraining.

Marines from all airframe typeswere able to participate the twofull days of shooting.Operations included dropping500lb bombs from Harriers,

shooting high explosiverockets from Cobras, and doorguns from the 53s and 46s.

The support extended back toMother Peleliu with the Marinesworking hard to keep aircraft intop conditions and taking careof always demandingadministrative tasks.

Setting sail to the open water,the PEL support continued withthe CH-46 supporting theReplenishment At Sea (RAS)through vertical replenishment,“VertRep” carring thousands ofpounds of cargo over 400 palletloads in underslung nets. Thisrepleneshment was crucial forthe sustainment of the ship.

Serving proudly in theCENTCOM AOR, until nexttime!

-Capt Matt DavisYour Friendly S-5 Rep

What we’ve been up to…

SomebodyNeeds to tell these classy phrog drivers they’re stealing the navy’s job… Box of Skittles…

Box of missiles…

S-1 Administration

-LCpl Ha enjoys a sunset ashore with fellow Foxes from the MACG Det

-LCpl Taylor pitching in to support the MACG Detashore

-LCpl Ha feasts on an MRE at his bivouac site ashore (notice the “perma-grin” in the field?)

S-2 Intelligence

-LCpl Bartolacci after another fun day in the S-2 world (Perma-grin not included…)

-1stLt Byrd and SSgt Gray posing while Sgt Bias looks on in awe

S-2 Intelligence

-Cpl Prado…making sure a trip to the doctor doesn't include a “no” on the “do you eat fiber” question…

-Cpl Schreiber is hooked on phonics…

S-4 logistics

Cpl Chambers works on his international relations with the GEICO Geckos Djiboutian cousin.

With this installment of the logistics letters to the home front, we will focus on the exploits of field culinary expertise “a-la-MRE,” cultural interactions with the local fauna of our host nation, and the occasional support of the navy’s beard, mustache and hair growing events.

S-4 Follicle Status

My Postal Service

For the last several weeks, the navy has had a relaxed standard of head and facial hair. While this has been a blue side only affair, the Marines of the S-4 have chosen go give their support to the cause. With Sgt Rosado displaying his inner silent movie homage, to Cpl Chambers displaying a duplicate of Mr. T and his best impression of Emperor Ming. Of note: SgtMaj walked in 30 seconds after Cpl Chambers highly fashionable Mohawk was documented. Needless to say, his smile disappeared immediately, along with his hollywood“please punch my face” hair.

Sgt Rosadio Dawson

Cpl Gas Chambers Cpl Fu Man Chambers

Culinary tip of the month…-2 slices Wheat Snack Bread-2 packets Bacon Cheese spread-1 all “Beef” Patty-Hot sauce (optional)

Liberally apply 1 packet Bacon Cheese Spread to each slice Wheat Snack Bread, place Beef Patty on the bread and douse with optional hot sauce. -ENJOY. (caution, may cause blindness, deafness, loss of taste, loss of mind, flatulence, irritability, nausea, back pain, nervousness, toe fungus, hair loss, tachycardia, loss of sensation in the extremities, loss of extremities, acne, backne, mudbutt)

Djiboutian Bacon Cheese Burger

S-5Public Affairs

Captain Adams…too close for guns, switching to skittles…

Captain Davis…too close for

rockets, switchin’ to guns…

S-6 – Professional Communicators

The Communications det spent a week ashore providing command & control support aboard the ACE Intermediate Support Base.

GySgt Fulgium and Sgt Beamon flew on the CH-53E as Airborne Radio Operators.

DOSS – Department of Safety and Standardization“Marines, you’re probably wondering why I gathered you here today. Well, I want to talk to you about weapons safety. Do you remember your 4 weapons safety rules? That’s right: Treat, Never, Keep, Keep.”

Here you can see Maj Pierce with his sidearm properly cleared, slide in locked position. He can disassemble and reassemble his M9 service pistol blindfolded ,while hanging upside down from the A-Frame of a hovering CH-53 during a low-light landing to spot 2…Captain Hanson is not impressed…

Pistol…

Hanson…

Treat: Treat every weapon as if it were loaded. Good thing this .50 cal wasn’t loaded. Even better thing: all those Marines were wearing the proper ear protection as a Harrier “Jump Jet” screamed down the deck for takeoff at what is most certainly 1 million decebels.

Never: Never aim your weapon at anything you don’t intend to shoot. As you see here, the.50 cal isn’t aimed anywhere near our dear Peleliu, but safely down at the water.

Keep: Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire.

Keep: Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire.

Thank you, former DOSS member Capt Rateike for illustrating proper weapons handling. Do you have anything else to add?

“Keep those doggone barrels pointed to the deck when you get on my 53, nasty!!!”

Thanks for reading…and remember, safety first!

Medical Professionals

HN Sovereign and Cpl Davie move cases during the

cleaning of medical quadcons

HM1 Mayer sweeps out the quadconbefore washdown

HN Sovereign says goodbye to

HM3 Johnson before her week

ashore

Sovereign

Johnson

The Tower of Power!

Cpl Coon, Controller, MMT, MACG-38 Det, relaxes in between aircraft hits at Chebelley Airfield, Djibouti

SSgt Pinney, MMT Det SNCOIC, HMM-364(REIN), measures a potential Landing Zone(LZ) using a pace count.

Mobile Team, austere and crazy mobile!

SSgt Pinney, MMT DetSNCOIC, MACG-38 Det, prepares to mark an LZ

with a green smoke grenade to assist a MEU

KC-130 on station.

MMT…First There!

Marines with Mobile Marine Air Traffic Control Team, HMM-364 (REIN), and augments from TACRON-11, mark the LZ with air panels and smoke to

assist the safe arrival of Purple Fox aircraft.

AC2 Dunlaplowery and AN Larson, TACRON-11 MMT augments, snappin necks’ and cashin’

checks with MMT

You stay classy Purple Foxes!

Green Bay Det

The Green Bay Det started February by participating in Exercise Red Reef, a multinational exercise focusing on fast rope insertions of ground forces.

Following Red Reef, the Green Bay pulled into Abu Dhabi, UAE for a liberty port. Some of the activities that Marines participated in while in Abu Dhabi included desert safaris, sand boarding, visiting local landmarks and attending the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX). IDEX is a multinational arms show in which the Green Bay and a UH-1Y were part of the display.

After returning to sea, the Marines and sailors of the Foxes turned their focus toward maintenance and training with the embarked Marines.

Green Bay Marines at work

Sergeant Champ is afraid of no rotor system…

Abu Dhabi Skyline

Chinese section IDEX…ITS FUNNY BECAUSE THEY

CAN’T SPELL!!!

Phearless Phrogs in the sands of Saudi

Arabia

Grand Mosque

Green Bay Marines at PLAY!

IDEAL FOR HOME DEFENSE!

Maintenance

LCpl Olson, CH53E Avionics poser house troubleshooter. He has the “Midas” touch…if a bird wants to get fussy, LCpl Olson gets sent on deck and BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE

just like that…no more issues

Stash - what else can I say, something in the water is conducive to lip hair growth. Rogaine move aside!!!

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Newly promoted SSgt Gibson poses with the CO after his official ceremony

CONGRATS!

FLIGHTLINE

Sgt Tobiason relaxes after a long night of flying and mustache growing

AIRFRAMES (46/53)

CobrasHueys

AIRFRAMES (H-1)

Plane captain and avionics Marines watch for the evening launch.

The Purple Cobras, like any good Marine chopper jocks, train to fight at night…

Purple Cobras getting ready for the evening shoots at DJ.

Captain Logan Davis…because the night time is the right time…

Harriers

SSgt Schissle from AV-8 Powerline

LCpl Tapia, Segura and Case from AV-8 Airframes

AIRFRAMES (AV-8)These glasses are busted…

AV-8 Airframers checking out tools for a new work project

Cpl Cawley

The speed and power of the Harrier takes a toll on the aircraft’s essential systems…these Leathernecks keep the jets combat ready with technical and tactical know-how and inventiveness…

Parts Professionals

SSgt Casebolt and SSgt Johnson incorporate a teamwork PT session. The session allows the Marines to take charge and work together. If one of them

fails they all pay the price, so communication is key to their success.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME…THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME…

I’m not sure where the gymIs, Do you know?

…the Marines of ALSS standing in their POOP SUITS watching “Top

Gun”…

…they must be big fans of the movie…and the suits…

ICE MAN MAVERICK (SNOOKIE?)

GOOSE

…Because anyone can do work on a flight line…these Marines are forward deployed aboard amphibious shipping…working in the most challenging environment known to man!

Cpl Stone

Sgt Grajeda and LCpl Smith studying MCMAP tie ins.

SSgt Johnson hard at work.

One of the biggest resupplies in Navy history…364 Supply Department handles it with ease…

Powerplants off duty Nerd time!

That’s it for now!Tune in right after St. Patty’s

day for our nextReport to the Homefront!!!