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HMLA-773 'Red Dogs: mission accomplished'

  • Published
  • By Pascual Flores
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Marines and Sailors from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst N.J. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773, recently returned from an overseas deployment highlighting a successful mission with NATO and African forces.

From Aug. 19 through Nov. 17, 2013, 33 Marines and Sailors from three of HMLA-773's detachments deployed with two UH-1N Hueys, from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst along with 62 Marines from Second Assault Amphibian Battalion from Camp Lejeune, N.C.

"This was the first time U.S. armed forces deployed on a Dutch ship and my first time deploying in non-combat role," said U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Charles Watkins, HMLA-773 pilot and security cooperation task force officer in charge for African Partnership Station 13.

After a week stay in Rota, Spain, the Marines spent time polishing up their skills in Marine Corps Martial Arts, fast roping, helicopter operations and running the obstacle courses before joining their counterparts from Holland, Spain and the United Kingdom aboard the Royal Netherlands Navy landing platform dock HNLMS Rotterdam.

Operation APS 13 began August 30, as part of a three-month comprehensive effort to strengthen capabilities with African partner forces along the West Africa coast.

"We had an extremely enjoyable experience integrating with the other NATO forces, as well as working hand-in-hand with the African forces," said Watkins, of Jamestown, N.Y.
The ship and the combined security cooperation task force conducted practical application exercises in security techniques and tactics alongside forces from partner nations Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Benin and Cameroon.

"We are building relationships between the United States and NATO forces and African military government agencies," said Watkins. "In this particular instance, mostly to build and improve maritime security better suited to combat their maritime contingencies such as pirating activities."

The SCTF was split up into separate air and ground elements consisting of JB MDL Marines who provided casualty evacuation capability and 2nd AABn Marines from Camp Lejeune who conducted the ground training. Both the ground and aviation units conducted their own Marine-essential task training and afterwards, came together to do some integrated training.

"The 2nd AABn conducted training in their specialty; mostly amphibious assault landings, jungle warfare, hand-to-hand combat, humanitarian assistance, exchanging best practices in infantry tactics and ship boarding operations training," said Watkins.

For the "Red Dogs" of HMLA-773, the training aboard the Dutch ship involved aircraft handling and safety and non-combatant evacuations.

"My Marines from HMLA-773 conducted themselves extremely well, our aircraft were maintained at 100 percent readiness and we did not drop a single frag," said Watkins. "We were able to conduct everything asked of us."

The HMLA-773 is the Marine Corps' largest deployable light attack helicopter squadron, operating in separate detachments at three different East Coast bases: Detachment A out of New Orleans, Detachment B out of JB MDL and the squadron headquarters out of Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

"Being able to combine different forces from different nations and see how we work together is really a good experience for everybody," said Marine Staff Sgt. Esteban Amezquitazamora, HMLA-773 flight chief, a California native.

The leathernecks of HMLA-773 form the one and only Marine Corps Reserve light attack helicopter squadron, flying and maintaining AH-1W Super Cobra attack and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters.

"We actually conducted one evacuation mission when a Dutch Marine got injured during training at the jungle warfare center and had to be flown to the ship's hospital facility," said Watkins.

APS, established in 2007, is an international security cooperation initiative aimed at strengthening global maritime partnership through training and collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.