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Ready for the Call

By Vertical Mag

by Skip Robinson | January 9, 2013

Published on: January 9, 2013
Estimated reading time 8 minutes, 56 seconds.

A recent Marine embassy/hostage evacuation training exercise showed the V-22s capabilities in completing the type of mission for which it was created

Ready for the Call

By Vertical Mag | January 9, 2013

Estimated reading time 8 minutes, 56 seconds.

Two MV-22Bs insert themsleves into a parade area of 29 Palms, during initial insertion of U.S. Marine security forces.
Two MV-22Bs insert themsleves into a parade area of 29 Palms, during initial insertion of U.S. Marine security forces.
Its over 30 years since the American Embassy Hostage crisis in Tehran, Iran, took place; an event generally acknowledged as precipitating the development of the V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor. The failure of Operation Eagle Claw the attempt to rescue the 52 Americans held captive during the crisis was never forgotten by the United States Marine Corps, who are often first requested to perform an embassy evacuation or hostage rescue. And with the continuing disquiet in the Middle East and North Africa resulting in heightened diplomatic security after attacks this Fall on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, and the consulate in Benghazi, Libya, the unique capabilities of the Osprey have once again been called into focus. 
With the MV-22B, the Marines have the ability to travel long distances at high speed. Fully-operational MV-22B squadrons have deployed successfully both in Afghanistan and with Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU). An MEU is a group of three U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships led by an LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) assault carrier, which carries MV-22Bs, CH-53Es, UH-1Y Hueys, AH-1Z Zulu Cobras and a flight of AV-8B Harriers. Next is the LPD (Landing Platform Dock), a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a Marine Corps landing force. Finally, the LSD (Dock Landing Ship) is an amphibious warfare ship with a well dock to transport and launch landing craft and amphibious vehicles. Destroyers, submarine and supply ships normally travel with the main package of ships of an MEU. An MEU equipped with MV-22Bs can accomplish an Operation Eagle Claw-type mission in hours instead of days, and has the capability to place itself virtually anywhere in the world.
To practice and refine these mission profiles, the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS 1) Weapons and Tactics Instructor course recently organized a non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO) embassy/hostage rescue exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms, Calif. The training premise was a U.S. Embassy under assault in the Middle Eastern, with the Marines having orders to evacuate the facility. 
During a real scenario, an MEU would be positioned offshore and be tasked with the mission. For this exercise, the participating aircraft were land-based. Multiple aircraft types took part, including MV-22B Ospreys, AV-8B Harrier jets (for close air support) and a KC-130 Tanker (used as an armed weapons platform). UH-1Y Hueys provided the sniper and command and control platform. Close to 300 Marines and 18 aircraft were involved.
When Marines are called upon to evacuate an American embassy, its in support of the State Department and American citizens. During this chain of events, the U.S. Ambassador becomes the senior authority for the execution, completion and success of the evacuation. It is a complex operation with many political and diplomatic factors involved and, because of this, the Marine ground and air forces need to be well integrated and require realistic rehearsals for all eventualities. As there is a good likelihood that a mission of this type would take place at night, the use of night vision devices by aircrews and ground forces was incorporated into the training.
“We are bringing out American citizens as well as other aid workers and Red Cross personnel from the embassy, with terrorist action and turmoil around its perimeter, said 1st Lt Jeremiah Peters (MAWTS 1) operations officer. It’s a unique opportunity for us to integrate both our aviation and our ground assets. 
First in are a Marine security team flown in on MV-22B Ospreys to secure the embassy perimeter. Evacuees are then registered and sorted before being transported to a safe location. This all takes time, while the other players in the scenario the local populace, are attempting to confuse and obstruct the Marines on the ground. The Marines are purposely stressed during the entire operation with gunman and enemy snipers outside the embassy trying to cause havoc and gain access. Up above, UH-1Y Huey helicopters provide high cover, and command and control during the operation. The Hueys are armed with rockets, machine guns and carry snipers to provide direct support upon request. Above the Hueys are Harrier attack jets and a KC-130J to provide air refueling, with the capability to provide heavy weapons support, too. Once the Marines bring embassy staff, citizens and any other personnel together, they are prepared for transport. The MV-22Bs are called back in to start the lift back offshore to the ships. Depending on the number of evacuees and number of lift aircraft, the amount of time to complete the evacuation could be anywhere from minutes to hours. The mission is only complete when the last member of the Marines security team is lifted out safely.
After the exercise, ***Vertical*** spoke with Twentynine Palms base spokesman and public affairs officer Capt. Nicholas Mannweiler. “It was a tremendous opportunity for 29 Palms Combat Center to host this non-combatant evacuation exercise [NEO], he said. Marine Aviation Weapons Training Squadron 1 (MAWTS 1) has a great responsibility in developing the advanced skills and concepts necessary to integrate our aviation and ground operations. Providing them with realistic training venues to put their students through their paces is one of the best ways we can support them. NEOs are highly complex operations and they require a lot of practice in order to get all of the pieces coordinated so it runs smoothly. Given the diplomatic influence necessary to order a NEO in a foreign country, it’s a mission that deserves the level of concentration we gave it here today.”

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