Marine, Philippine pilots face off in mock combat

This article appeared in the "Okinawa Marine" earlier this month.

Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Hlavac

CLARK AIR BASE, Republic of the Philippines (November 2, 2007) -- The skies over the Philippines were an open forum for the exchange of ideas Oct. 24 as Philippine Air Force and Marine pilots executed their skills in basic fighter maneuvers.

The dog fight, as it is often called, involved Marine pilots from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 and pilots from the Philippine Air Force's 5th Tactical Fighter Group, 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron.

The training was part of exercise Talon Vision, an annual bi-lateral exercise to enhance the cooperative abilities of U.S. and Philippine forces to promote peace and stability in the region.

The Marines, piloting their F/A-18 Hornets, flew a mock combat engagement with the Philippine pilots who flew the Aermacchi S-211 military trainer jet. The training involved two Marine pilots facing off against two PAF pilots.

The pilots used training scenarios to evaluate their aircraft and their own piloting skills.

"Today was one of the first times we have really conducted bi-lateral training with the Marines," said Philippine Air Force Maj. Manuel Demaclid, a flight examiner with the 5th Tactical Fighter Group. "We focused a lot on air-to-air combat and we also conducted bombing runs in Crow Valley. In addition to extra flying time, the dog fight with the Marines taught us how to fight and deal with different types of aircraft from different countries."

Though the older and smaller S-211s were at a distinct disadvantage against the advanced platform of the F/A-18, it did not stop the PAF pilots from putting everything they had into the training.

"Going up against the Marine F/A-18's with our own trainer jets, we learned to make do with what we have. Training against a harder opponent makes you a better pilot and vastly increases your skill level," said Demaclid.

Though one of the primary purposes of the engagement was for Marine pilots to assist the PAF in developing their skills and procedures for air-to-air combat, the information exchange went both ways.

"Anytime you go flying, you always learn something," said Marine Capt. Casey Dalton, a VMFA-312 pilot. "After conducting the air maneuvers, both groups of pilots spent time discussing each portion of the flight. We discussed everything from our own personal mindsets and maneuvers to where and when we placed our aircraft."

Dalton said the briefs provided an excellent forum for each side to explain why they made the decisions they did in the air, and Dalton added, it was the tenacity of the PAF pilots that he found most impressive.

"The Philippine pilots definitely know how to use their planes and how to push their aircraft to the limit," said Dalton. "The Philippine pilots taught us that if you're facing an opponent who has a superior aircraft, you have to really know your plane and your own skills to achieve victory."

Demaclid said that he and his fellow Filipino pilots look forward to training with the Marines in the future.

"Working with the Marines was a valuable, great experience, and I definitely look forward to working with them again," he said.

Then, with a grin, he admitted he was a bit envious of the Hornet's capabilities.

"I hope next year the Marines think about leaving the F/A-18's with us after they leave," he said.

Military Monitoring Recap; 8-16 November 2007

Hunter AAF
133.550 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
126.200 - Base Ops
32.350 - 3-3 AVN Ops
77.725 - 224 MI Bn "SUNNY OPS"
345.000 - USCG Air Station Savannah Ops
157.175 - Marine VHF Ch. 83 (USCG AirSta Maint.)
406.1625 - Tower/Base Ops
406.7625 - POL
415.1625 - Trans Alert

ARMY 15269 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 45462 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 45464 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 57005 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 57007 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 57008 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 57009 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 03752 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03753 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 26286 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26412 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
GUARD 00296 (CH-47D,B-169 AVN)
COAST GUARD 6533 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6542 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6553 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6575 (HH-65C, Savannah)
ARMY 23140 (Flight Check C-12)
COAST GUARD 1078 (MH-68, HITRON
FLIGHT CHECK 83
GUARD 23760
MARINE 437 (CH-46)


Savannah IAP/CRTC
119.100 - Tower
257.800 - Tower
120.400 - Approach/Departure
380.025 - Approach/Departure
125.300 - Approach/Departure
387.100 - Approach/Departure
118.400 - Approach/Departure
307.225 - Approach/Departure
225.750 - 165th AW CP
225.050 - 165th AW air-to-air/air-to-ground
237.000 - CRTC CP
138.625 - CRTC CP
140.500 - 178th FW air-to-air
141.150 - 178th FW air-to air
142.700 - 178th FW air-to-air
264.625 - Link-11 from TDY RAF E-3

DAWG ## (C-130H, 165th AW)
SABRE 1# (F-16, 178 FW), TDY CRTC
SABRE 2# (F-16, 178 FW), TDY CRTC
SABRE 3# (F-16, 178 FW), TDY CRTC
POISON 11 (T-38), transient
VENUS 42


Fort Stewart/Wright AAF
127.350 - Marne Radio
279.625 - Marne Radio
126.250 - Wright AAF Tower
269.275 - Wright AAF Tower


MCAS Beaufort
118.450 - Approach/Departure
301.200 - Approach/Departure
119.050 - Tower
340.200 - Tower
361.800 - VMFA-115 Base
339.500 - VMFA-115 Tac 1
274.500 - VMFA-115 Tac 3
253.100 - VMFA-122 Base
283.400 - VMFA-122 Tac 1
354.325 - VMFA-122 Tac 2
305.800 - VMFA(AW)-224 Base
250.300 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 1
258.900 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 2
310.200 - VMFA(AW)-533 Base
299.300 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 2
348.825 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 3

BLADE 2# (F/A-18A+, VMFA-122)
NIKEL 3# (F/A-18C, VMFA-122)
BENGAL 4# (F/A-18D, VMFA-224)
HAWK 8# (F/A-18D, VMFA-533)


Charleston AFB
134.100 - Command Post "PALMETTO OPS"
349.400 - Command Post "PALMETTO OPS"
118.150 - North Field CCT
235.775 - North Field CCT

LIFTR ## (C-17, 437th/315th AW)
JOSA 997


Shaw AFB
140.350 - Shaw SOF
252.100 - Shaw SOF
320.525 - 79th FS Ops
138.200 - 79th FS air-to-air

HOOTER (F-16CJ, 77th FS)
MADCAT (F-16CJ, 77th FS)


McEntire ANGB
298.300 - 169th FW Ops "SWAMP FOX OPS"
141.825 - 169th WF V14
143.250 - 169th FW V16
141.925 - 169th FW V17
149.625 - 169th FW air-to-air

MACE (F-16CJ, 169th FW)
VIPER (F-16CJ, 169th FW)
DEMON (F-16CJ, 169th FW)


Ranges/MOAs
228.400 - Townsend Range
343.750 - Bulldog MOA
354.300 - BEEFEATER ECM Range


Sealord (W-157/158)
120.950 - North Primary
284.500 - North Primary
376.900 - W-157 Discrete
385.300 - W-157 Discrete
350.675 - North TACTS Range
384.300 - AWACS Discrete, fighter control


Doubleshot (W-161/177)
127.725 - Primary
279.725 - Primary
258.400 - Doubleshot Discrete
381.350 - Doubleshot Discrete


ARTCC
269.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
273.550 - Jax Center
277.400 - Jax Center Brunswick Low
282.200 - Jax Center Jekyll Low
282.300 - Jax Center Alma High
285.650 - Jax Center Statesboro High
319.200 - Jac Center Aiken High
322.500 - Jax Center Savannah Low
363.200 - Jax Center Allendale Low
323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon


Miscellaneous
143.750 - 23rd Wing A-10 air-to-air
228.225 - ANGEL OPS, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB
228.900 - NORAD Discrete
231.725 - Unknown, RAF E-3 air-to-ground
260.900 - NORAD Discrete
328.550 - VMFA-142 Tac 1
364.200 - NORAD AICC

GATOR ## (F/A-18, VMFA-142)
JUICY 55 (unknown)
IMAGE 51 (RAF E-3 backend)
MUNG (A-10, 23rd Wing)
PORK (A-10, 23rd WIng)
RHET 42 (KC-135, 19th ARG)
SOLEX 01 (RAF E-3)
VENOM (JTAC, 165th ASOS)


USCG
156.800 - Marine VHF Ch. 21
157.050 - Marine VHF Ch. 22
345.000 - USCG Air Station Savanna Ops


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Savannah River Closed for 15 Hours

The Savannah River was closed for 15 hours yesterday, blocking entry to the port of Savannah. On the way to work yesterday shortly after 0600 local, I heard Station Tybee telling someone on Ch. 16 that the river was closed but I was well out of range to hear any of the response traffic. I guess I know now why the river was closed...

The story from the Savannah Morning News:
http://savannahnow.com/node/405391


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Hunter AAF Tower Frequency Change

Hunter Army Airfield's tower frequency has changed from 133.550 to 124.975. According to a NOTAM, the change occured on 21 November 2007. I was working midnights last week, so between that and the holiday, my monitoring was limited and I didn't notice the change until this past weekend. Some users haven't seemed to have noticed the change and have still been calling on 133.550. Additionally, Base Ops' radio is still multicasting on 133.550 with 126.200 when the tower is closed.

133.550 is now being used as an ARTCC frequency. I'm not sure which center or sector it might be, but I've heard traffic reporting over 40,000 feet.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

General Class Upgrade

I've finally decided to upgrade my amateur radio license. I ordered the General Class License manual last week, it arrived in the mail today. I've also downloaded some General Class "podclasses" from www.hamradioclass.org. It may take me awhile to do this, but I'm looking forward to learning from the studying rather than just memorizing test answers. I'll do the same thing I did 10 years ago when I got my Technician license; I'll take my time going chapter by chapter and I'll take the test when I'm satisfied that I've learned the material. I think some folks at the time thought I moved too slow, but that's just the way I do things...

The main reason I've decided to upgrade is that it will help me better justify the purchase of a multi-band radio. I'd like to be able to do some 6-meter and 2-meter all mode work, but I haven't been able to convince myself to buy a multi-band, multi-mode radio without being able to utilize 70% of the radio's transmit range. With a General Class license (whether I actually use the HF portion or not) at least I'll have the option of using it.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Military Monitoring Recap; 1-7 November 2007

Hunter AAF
133.550 - Tower
279.575 - Tower
126.200 - Base Ops
32.350 - 3-3 AVN Ops
77.725 - 224 MI Bn "SUNNY OPS"
123.475 - 224 MI Bn air-to-air
38.150 - B-169 AVN "HURRICANE OPS"
345.000 - USCG Air Station Savannah Ops
157.175 - Marine VHF Ch. 83 (USCG AirSta Maint.)
406.1625 - Tower/Base Ops
406.7625 - POL
415.1625 - Trans Alert

ARMY 15246 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 15269 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 15280 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 45474 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 57005 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 57007 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 57008 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 57009 (AH-64D, 3-3 AVN)
ARMY 03752 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 03761 (MH-47G, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26189 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26286 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26366 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
ARMY 26412 (MH-60L, 3-160 SOAR)
SUNNY ## (RC-12N, 224 MI Bn)
GUARD 00252 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
GUARD 00295 (CH-47D, B-169 AVN)
COAST GUARD 6533 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6542 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6553 (HH-65C, Savannah)
COAST GUARD 6575 (HH-65C, Savannah)
ARMY 23867
ARMY 26764 (UH-60L)
COAST GUARD 6019 (HH-60J)
GUARD 20482 (AH-64, 1-151 AVN)
KING 15 (HC-130, 71 RQS)
NAVY JV 834 (C-40, VR-58)
PEACH 02 (E-8C, 330 CTS)


Savannah IAP/CRTC
119.100 - Tower
257.800 - Tower
120.400 - Approach/Departure
380.025 - Approach/Departure
125.300 - Approach/Departure
387.100 - Approach/Departure
118.400 - Approach/Departure
307.225 - Approach/Departure
225.750 - 165th AW CP
225.050 - 165th AW air-to-air/air-to-ground
237.000 - CRTC CP
138.625 - CRTC CP
139.4125 - CRTC ground net (FM)
141.8125 - CRTC ground net (FM)
149.1625 - CRTC ground net (FM)

DAWG ## (C-130H, 165th AW)
SABRE 08 (E-8C, 16th ACCS)
SABRE 1# (F-16, 178 FW)
SABRE 2# (F-16, 178 FW)
SABRE 3# (F-16, 178 FW)
STEEL 81 (KC-135, 171 ARW)


Fort Stewart/Wright AAF
127.350 - Marne Radio
279.625 - Marne Radio
126.250 - Wright AAF Tower
269.275 - Wright AAF Tower


MCAS Beaufort
118.450 - Approach/Departure
301.200 - Approach/Departure
119.050 - Tower
340.200 - Tower
281.800 - Base Ops
358.900 - MAG-31 Base
361.800 - VMFA-115 Base
339.500 - VMFA-115 Tac 1
225.675 - VMFA-115 Tac 2
274.500 - VMFA-115 Tac 3
253.100 - VMFA-122 Base
283.400 - VMFA-122 Tac 1
354.325 - VMFA-122 Tac 2
305.800 - VMFA(AW)-224 Base
250.300 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 1
258.900 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 2
336.225 - VMFA(AW)-224 Tac 3
310.200 - VMFA(AW)-533 Base
299.300 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 2
348.825 - VMFA(AW)-533 Tac 3

BLADE 2# (F/A-18A+, VMFA-122)
NIKEL 3# (F/A-18C, VMFA-122)
BENGAL 4# (F/A-18D, VMFA-224)
HAWK 8# (F/A-18D, VMFA-533)


Charleston AFB
134.100 - Command Post "PALMETTO OPS"
349.400 - Command Post "PALMETTO OPS"
306.925 - Charleston App/Dep
118.150 - North Field CCT
235.775 - North Field CCT

GRITS ## (C-17, 437th/315th AW)


Shaw AFB
381.300 - Shaw AFB CP
320.525 - 79th FS Ops

GUNNER (F-16CJ, 77th FS)
HELLCAT (F-16CJ, 77th FS)


McEntire ANGB
298.300 - 169th FW Ops "SWAMP FOX OPS"
141.825 - 169th WF V14
143.625 - 169th FW V15
143.250 - 169th FW V16
141.925 - 169th FW V17
125.125 - 169th FW V19? (possibly changed from V1)

MACE (F-16CJ, 169th FW)
VIPER (F-16CJ, 169th FW)
HEAT (F-16CJ, 169th FW)
DEMON (F-16CJ, 169th FW)


Robins AFB
311.000 - BLACK KNIGHT CONTROL (19 ARG)
225.725 - JSTARS Discrete
341.750 - JSTARS Discrete
355.250 - JSTARS Discrete
372.150 - JSTARS Discrete
376.125 - JSTARS Discrete
381.000 - JSTARS Discrete
388.225 - JSTARS Discrete
395.150 - JSTARS Discrete

PEACH 02 (E-8C, 330 CTS front end)
STARGATE (E-8C, 330 CTS back end)
STRIKESTAR (E-8C, 16 ACCS back end)
OPEC 76 (KC-10, McGuire)


Ranges/MOAs
228.400 - Townsend Range
343.750 - Bulldog MOA


Sealord (W-157/158)
120.950 - North Primary
284.500 - North Primary
267.500 - South Primary
385.300 - W-157 Discrete
350.675 - North TACTS Range


Doubleshot (W-161/177)
127.725 - Primary
279.725 - Primary
258.400 - Doubleshot Discrete
381.350 - Doubleshot Discrete


ARTCC
256.900 - Jax Center (between Townsend and Moody AFB)
269.550 - Jax Center Columbia Low
277.400 - Jax Center Brunswick Low
278.300 - Jax Center Ridgeway Ultra-High
281.550 - Jax Center Florence
282.200 - Jax Center Jekyll Low
282.300 - Jax Center Alma High
285.650 - Jax Center Statesboro High
319.200 - Jac Center Aiken High
322.500 - Jax Center Savannah Low
346.300 - Jax Center Moultrie Ultra-High
351.700 - Jax Center Summerville High
363.200 - Jax Center Allendale Low
323.000 - Atlanta Center Macon


Miscellaneous
225.450 - 71st RQS, Moody AFB
228.225 - ANGEL OPS, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB

GATOR ## (F/A-18, VMFA-142)
GUARD 20512 (AH-64, 1-151 AVN)
LAMB(?) 13 (on Jax Center Ultra-High)
MAGIC 61 (E-3, NATO)
MARAUDER 5# (AH-64D, 1-151 AVN)
OTIS (KC-130, VMGR-252)
SCOUT 11 (E-3)
TOPCAT 02 (S-3B, VS-31)


USCG
156.800 - Marine VHF Ch. 21
157.050 - Marine VHF Ch. 22
345.000 - USCG Air Station Savanna Ops


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Exercise Southern Fury News Article

This article about the Southern Fury exercise from last week appeared in the "Beafort Gazette." The AH-64s mentioned in the story were in fact from 1-151 AVN at McEntire JNGB rather than from Hunter AAF.

Realistic training exercise helps soldiers prepare for battle
By DAN HILLIARD

Marine Cpl. Richard Arellano has been to Iraq twice, and, each time the conflict's nature has become more intense. Insurgents have developed better bombs and better ways to deploy them; they've learned to freeze mortars over their launch tubes so they can escape before the ice melts and the mortar launches; and they've found a way to fashion bombs disguised as bricks.
Arellano expects to go back next summer as a convoy driver, and said constant training is necessary to stay on top.

To that end, Arellano joined Marine drivers and pilots from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in a three-day combat cooperation exercise with representatives from all four military branches last week at Townsend Bombing Range near Ludowici, Ga., about 100 miles from Beaufort.

About 28 drivers from Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 and 80 pilots making up four squadrons worked with nearly 600 Army, Navy and Air Force participants to run a mock convoy through the imaginary hostile town of Georaqi.

Marine F/A-18 fighter jets and Apache helicopters from Hunter Army Airfield circled a five-vehicle convoy of Marines as they made a two-hour, 25-mile trip from the range to a truck turnaround near Ludowici. Navy corpsmen were on hand to deal with medical emergencies.

Along the way, the Marines stopped to investigate potential "threats" -- suspicious vehicles parked on the side of the road and likely ambush points.

When a "threat" was identified, the Marines fanned out, formed a perimeter around the lead Humvee and called for an air strike against the target.

This allowed the Marines, the pilots, the Air National Guard traffic controllers and everyone in between to simulate a live combat situation, said Capt. Dennis Dalton, Marine Aircraft Group 31 commander.

"We're running scenarios that are similar to what they'll see in Afghanistan and Iraq," he said. "This is a No. 1 priority for the Marines in the Anbar province -- support the convoys as much as possible. We take what we learn in the theater and the things that are happening now and apply them in the scenario."

According to air station spokesman Sgt. Rob Sell, about 50 of Squadron 273's 250 personnel are deployed at any one time on a rotating basis. Some personnel returned from a nine-month deployment in April, and they are scheduled to make another late next summer.

Dalton said most of the military personnel training Tuesday have not seen combat.

"Exercises like this help us better prepare for cooperation in combat," he said.

"We're not for any one service here. There are some times when they make mistakes, but that's why we train. You want to make your mistakes here, not in combat."

Because of the evolving nature of the Iraq war, combat simulations have to be run and adapted often, said Lt. Col. Bill Bowers, commanding officer for Squadron 273.

This is the second combat cooperation exercise run this year, he said. The last one was in July, and another is planned for March. A long-term goal is to run a simulation at least once every quarter, he said.

"The tactics are always being refined," he said. "The enemy's tactics, techniques and procedures have to be incorporated into the exercise. The enemy won't usually do just an IED (improvised explosive device). They'll cover it with snipers or an ambush."

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Steve Baker said a new technique is embedding a forward air traffic controller in each convoy to coordinate more precise strikes.

"The opportunities we have right now for these kids on the ground is great," he said.

"To actually hear that guy in your convoy talking to the planes in the air is awesome."

Bowers said he was happy with the exercise overall, though one of the lead Humvees got too far ahead of the convoy due to a faulty map.

"You've got big log trucks blowing by you and traffic lights that can split up the convey. That's a lot of responsibility, and it can short-circuit you," he said. "Plus, when you've got aircraft going overhead at 500 mph, that's even more to consider."

After navigating two convoys safely through Georaqi, the F/A-18 and Apache helicopter pilots took turns dropping dummy bombs on a make-shift town on the bombing range. Their goal was to hit a 6-foot target from 13,000 feet with a 25-pound inert bomb.

Air National Guard traffic controller Maj. Stuart Strickland said emphasis in the exercise again was on effective communication and cooperation. Strickland and his crew are a part of the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center.

A radar panel in front of Strickland displayed a maze of streaks and blips surrounding the bombing range, each representing an aircraft in flight or in a holding pattern. Keeping the streaks far from the blips required constant chatter and adjustments.

"Basically, we provide safety of flight for all operations in the restricted area," he said.

"We coordinate the air space, then hand them off to command and control. It allows us a god's-eye view."