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Marines touch down at JB MDL

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dennis L. Sloan
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Marine Helicopter Light Attack Squadron 773 and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 have landed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as a part of Marine Aircraft Group 49.

With the Marines arrival, here all branches of the Department of Defense are represented at JB MDL along with the U.S. Coast Guard.

The HMLA-773 came over from Johnstown, Pa., and the HMH-772 came over from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove. Both squadrons provide support to Marine unit's in deployed locations.

"The mission of the Light Helicopter Squadron is to provide offensive air support, utility helicopter support, armed escorts and airborne supporting arms coordination during naval expeditionary operations or a joint and combined operations," said Maj. Clay Bollinger, HMLA-773 AH-1 Whiskey pilot.

The Mission of HMH-772 is to provide the active component a combat ready force to augment and reinforce regular forces in major regional contingency and to provide relief to these forces during times of high tempo operations. Training must be such that this integration is seamless. Additionally, HMH-772 reaches out to the community in which it serves to tell the Marine Corps story, establish a civilian support base, and when so tasked, to provide assistance to the community during emergencies or disaster relief.

"We look forward to continuing our mission here at JB MDL," said Capt. Jeffrey Speakman, HMLA-773 AH-1 W pilot. "The facilities and services available to us are great and will be utilized by all our Marines."