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U.S. Marines provide airpower to UFG

  • Published
  • By SSgt. Emerson Nuñez
  • 7th Air Force Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  When most people think of U.S. Marines, they tend to think of room clearing infantry men, but the Marines supporting exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2013 are contributing a different type of combat support, airpower.

Marines of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing are currently deployed to Osan Air Base from 14-30 Aug. to take part in exercise UFG. The Marine units come from the equivalent to the Air Force's Air Operations Command, the Tactical Air Command Center, located in Okinawa, Japan. A robust liaison team is currently sent forward to Osan Air Base to facilitate the full integration of Marine Corps aviation firepower into 7th AF's concept of operations as they work with their 7th Air Force, Army, Navy and their Republic of Korea counterparts.

Led by 1st MAW Commanding General Brig. Gen. Steven Rudder, Marines provide combat ready, task organized forces capable of fulfilling aviation operations requirements across all functions of Marine Aviation in naval and expeditionary environments.

"The Marine Corps concept of fighting as a single Marine Air Ground Task Force is absolutely critical to our overall success, and as we integrate into the joint environment it is pivotal for 1st MAW to maintain rapport and exercise tactics, techniques, and procedures with our strong Air Force brethren in order to maximize the full tenets of U.S. air power," said Lt. Col. AnDroy Senegar, 1st MAW senior liaison officer. "From the very onset of any contingency in the region, at a moment's notice, 1st MAW air assets enhance air power capability and as situations evolve to hostilities, our highly flexible, and expedient capability to deliver aviation fire are the ultimate force multiplier."

1st MAW aviators fly a variety of aircraft in order to contribute to exercise UFG such as the FA-18 Hornets, AV-8B Harriers EA-6B Prowler, KC-130J Hercules, CH-53E Super Stallion, AH-1Z Super Cobra, UH-1Y Huey and MV-22 Osprey.

Twenty Reserve Marines from the 4th MAW, Aviation Command and Control team deployed to the 607th Air Operations Command as the III MEF Marine Liaison Element to assist in integrating air power to support Combined Marine Component Command.

Col Joseph Riley, 4th MAW senior LNO, acts as the communication bridge between the Marines and Air Component Command during the exercise.

"The training experience UFG provides Marines of the Aviation Command and Control Team ensures their successful integration into the Hardened Theater Air Control Center and an effective exchange of information between higher headquarters and subordinate units leading to the effective use of airpower," Riley said.