AL ASAD, Iraq -- Whether turning wretches, loading ordnance, building airframes or flying combat missions, the Marines at Al Asad, Iraq, are all building a record of excellence.
The more than 2,000 Marines in Marine Aircraft Group 26 have consistently had their various aircraft ready to fly for more than seven months, surpassing 50,000 mishap-free, combat flight hours.
“Marines’ lives depend on our support,” said Col. David J. Mollahan, the commanding officer of MAG-26. “Ranging from casualty evacuation to direct support alongside troops in combat, the Marines on the ground are getting all the aviation support they ask for.”
Marine Aircraft Group 26 is capable of conducting all functions of Marine aviation, including offensive air support, assault support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and reconnaissance.
“You can’t achieve this without every Marine doing his or her part,” said Mollahan, a native of Ontario, Ore. “This wasn’t a goal we sought to achieve, it’s a result of us providing the support we were asked to provide.”
The Marines of MAG-26 achieved this milestone in less than eight months. Under combat conditions, they have flown more than they would in an entire year stateside.
“This achievement is unbelievable due to both the harsh climate and the general wear and tear on the airframes and engines,” said Master Sgt. Robert Wilke, MAG-26’s operations chief, and native of Chicago, with more than 20 years of experience. “I’m in awe of the maintenance Marines keeping these birds flying under these conditions. It makes me proud to be a part of this team.”
Mollahan said it was no surprise his Marines are thriving in a combat environment. The Marines are simply doing what they are trained and prepared to do, execute combat operations.
“We are working our (rears) off,” said Sgt. Zachary D. Germershausen, a crew chief with the maintenance flightline division of Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 167. “We live for this. As far as experience goes, a lot of us, including myself, have been out here before. The new guys are getting trained very quickly out here and are on the ball.”
Mollahan said his Marines are highly motivated. He said they know they are contributing to a good cause and feel good about the mission they’re accomplishing.
“From my experiences, talking with the grunts who have had us fly in combat with them, they are pretty grateful,” said Germershausen, a native of Kent Island, Md. “The sound of our rotors flying over them gives them what I call a ‘warm fuzzy.’ Me personally, whenever I see a military aircraft in the air I feel a sense of protection.”
To provide that ‘warm fuzzy’ and feeling of protection, the Marines of MAG-26 are working long hours around a nonstop flight schedule.
The 50,000 mishap-free hours, to Mollahan, is just another indication of how hard his Marines are working. He said the Marines in every squadron know they are doing a great amount of flying and they are all contributing to the overall effort.
“It’s our responsibility to make sure everything is correct and the bird is safe to fly,” said Cpl. Austin Melcher, a mechanic with HMLA-167. “We have to work on both the Huey and the Cobra and to do that, you have to be highly qualified. Marines are constantly teaching each other and learning new skills out here.”
As a mechanic, Melcher has to work on engines and drive systems, as well as inspect the aircraft for anything that would make it unsafe for flight.
Germershausen credits Melcher with thoroughly inspecting the AH-1W Super Cobras and UH-1
Hueys, with an especially sharp eye for finding cracks on the air frames.
“We operate in a high tempo environment,” said Germershausen. “We are maintaining high quality work and accomplishing our mission, providing the pilots with safe aircraft.”
Of the many things that could cause a mishap, the Marines of MAG-26 are simply not letting them happen, and the pilots are able to accomplish their missions, without making any mistakes of their own.
“We aren’t trying to achieve any flight hour goal,” said Mollahan. “We are trying to successfully accomplish every mission. All this number tells you, is that there has been a lot of activity, and there is a collective effort across the entire group to provide the support they have been asked to provide.”
The Marines from MAG-26 are doing what they have trained to do.
“In Iraq, there are no distractions,” said Wilke. “You are focused on your job. You are here to take care of business. The CO’s policy of making sure our first mission at MAG-26 is to support the flying squadrons, so they concentrate on combat, is what allowed us to get here.”
Mollahan, however, accredits this accomplishment to the high quality of young people coming into the Marine Corps.
“As a commander, I’m proud of every single Marine,” said Mollahan. “(I am proud of) the fact that everything they do has been a success. These are hard-working, good people becoming Marines, who believe in what we are doing here, who believe in what we do as a Corps, and in what the Corps is doing to protect our national defense.
“In my mind, every American ought to be equally proud of the (service members) who are participating in this mission and the effort they are putting in.”