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AL ASAD, Iraq (April 9, 2006) -- Sweat slowly drips off of the Marines as they carefully raise the 500- and 1000-pound munitions to the weapons carriage on the AV-8B Harrier - the Flying Nightmares are readying for action. Marine Attack Squadron 513, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is the first Harrier squadron to employ the Joint Direct Attack Munitions in a combat zone. "With this new feature on our jets, we will be able to hit targets more accurately, therefore making us a more effective squadron," said Lt. Col. Willis E. Price, commanding officer, VMA-513. The...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Mar. 30, 2006) -- With heightened security surrounding the forward deployed bases, several Third County Nationals and Local Nationals are employed by companies who build, repair and otherwise facilitate things on these bases to make the life of service members somewhat easier while in the combat zone. The Marines with the Badging Office at Al Asad, Iraq, are responsible to badge each of these individuals coming aboard their base, so that they can be escorted, moved around the base and identified while doing their jobs. "Security on the base is the main issue," said Cpl. Travis C....

AL ASAD, Iraq (Dec. 29, 2005) -- Ten Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272’s expeditionary airfield team are adding four expeditionary marshalling pads to Al Asad, Iraq’s flightlines. The project, which began Dec. 15, will require approximately 20 days to complete and creates specific areas, out of the way of flight operations, for aircraft parking and ordnance arming and disarming. “We might be done a little sooner,” said Staff Sgt. Al’Vincent Mitchell, the project manager and a Mobile, Ala., native. “Our guys are doing wonderful. This project gives them a chance to explore another side of their (military occupational...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 18, 2005) -- Discipline can come in many forms for Marines in a combat area. For the Detention Company Marines and Sailors from 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, discipline means putting aside personal feelings to safeguard and house detainees who could have recently killed or injured fellow service members. The Detention Co. serves as a lock and key holder for detainees at a remote detention facility at Al Asad, Iraq. Many of the Marines are reservists, ranging in MOSs from communications specialists and artillerymen to motor transport operators and administration clerks. “It is something new and...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 13, 2005) -- Marines from three Marine Air Control Squadrons recently expanded the scope of sight in Iraq’s skies. The Al Asad Air Traffic Control detachment, primarily based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., is a mix of Marines from Marine Air Control Squadron 1, based at MCAS Yuma, MACS-2, based at MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., and MACS-24, a reserve squadron based at Ft. Worth, Texas. In addition to their regular mission of supporting Al Asad, the detachment began providing information to the U.S. Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) in Qatar. “As an ATC...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 25, 2005) -- The largest Marine aircraft group in the Corps is bound to have outstanding service members in its ranks. Recently, three Marines with the headquarters squadron of Marine Aircraft Group 26 were announced as winners of the 2004 Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award. Sergeant Thomas R. Fuller, the training, anti-terrorism and force protection chief, won in the noncommissioned officer or petty officer category. An Oyster Bay, N.Y., native, Fuller is also serving as an instructor at the Al Asad Regional Police and Border Patrol Academy while maintaining his responsibilities in the group. “It’s...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 25, 2005) -- Before Marine Aircraft Group 26 left North Carolina earlier this year, pre-deployment training helped its Marines and sailors prepare for some of the things they would see here. Sergeant Thomas R. Fuller, the group’s training, anti-terrorism and force protection chief, was responsible for building a pre-deployment training plan and instructing some of the service members who deployed. “All I did was help other Marines get ready to come out here and have the right mindset,” he said. Single handedly, Fuller prepared nearly 1,000 Marines and sailors for deployment to a combat environment. He...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 23, 2005) -- The Greyhawks of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 first deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. This deployment marks the third occasion ‘161 has deployed in support of OIF. The squadron deployed here Aug. 11 and is ramped up to provide casualty evacuation and logistics transport. At the end of their 2004 deployment the squadron had flown more than 750 missions transporting more than 2,900 passengers, 116,000 pounds of cargo and 300 casualties to urgent care facilities throughout Iraq. “This squadron started the CASEVAC mission last year during its second deployment...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 23, 2005) -- As if managing the Marine Aircraft Group 26 commanding officer’s budget wasn’t demanding enough, the Marines in the group’s fiscal office have been helping the local economy get back on its feet. While the group is deployed, the fiscal Marines have taken the role of purchasing agents to help the Marine Corps save money. For the last six months they have been accomplishing this and making a difference in the lives of Iraqi families who have businesses here. After being introduced to the local vendors, the MAG-26 Marines started working with them to...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 19, 2005) -- The Gunrunners of Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 have transferred their mission to the Warriors of HML/A-167. The squadron will soon return to Marine Corps Air Station, New River, N.C., after six months deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “It’s an honor to be part of the history of Iraq,” said Cpl. Chris J. Henderson, HML/A-269 administrative clerk and Baton Rouge, La., native. “We had a mission set out for us before coming out here and we accomplished it in a way that makes our unit proud.” With only half of their...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 18, 2005) -- Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 arrived here recently to continue the combat support mission HML/A-269 has executed for the last six months. Flying AH-1W Super Cobras and UH-1N Hueys, the unit is here to provide offensive air support, utilities support and armed escort to Multi-National Forces–West and the Marines on the ground. “The ‘Warriors’ are ready,” said Lt. Col. Lawrence E. Killmeier, HML/A-167 commanding officer and native of Knoxville, Tenn. “We’re living up to our mantra - have guns, will travel - we’re here and we brought our guns.” Familiar with Al Asad...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 13, 2005) -- The “Patriots” of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 have done it again. For the second time in less than a month one of their Marines has been recognized for outstanding contributions to Marine aviation. Sergeant Paul E. Fletcher, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the squadron’s supply response division, was recently announced as the winner of the 2005 Capital Marines’ Sgt. Maj. Frederick B. Douglas Award. “I was very thankful to be nominated, but I wasn’t expecting to win,” said Fletcher. “I appreciate my seniors for the nomination and now that I’ve won I appreciate the...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 11, 2005) -- The high operational tempo of the second largest air base in Iraq requires many of the service members here to find ways to get from place to place faster than by just walking. Bicycles, a cheap and effective mode of transportation, have become the most popular way to overcome this challenge. Sgt. Dustin W. Lambert, an airframes mechanic with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26, didn’t want to be like everyone else riding a stock bike. Inspired by Jesse James, famous builder of motorcycles and host of the Discovery Channel’s Monster Garage, Lambert built...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 8, 2005) -- Ever since Cpl. Mickey Lovy’s grandfather immigrated to the United States from Hungary, military service has been a family tradition. His grandfather served in the U.S. Army during World War II and his father was a U.S. Army doctor during the Vietnam War. Lovy, the supply noncommissioned officer in the logistics department of Marine Wing Support Group 27, picked a different service, but he’s keeping the tradition alive. A graduate of Holly High School in his native Holly, Mich., Lovy joined the Corps in September 2002. “After high school I worked odd jobs...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 6, 2005) -- The 1st Battalion of the 109th (Mechanized) Infantry, a U.S. Army National Guard unit from Scranton, Pa., arrived here recently to continue the force protection mission Marines from Provisional Security Battalion carried out for the last six months. “Everybody is motivated and prepared to do their mission,” said Sgt. 1st Class George Long, a rifle platoon sergeant from Harlan, Ky. “All the training we completed prepared us for this and everyone’s performing exemplary.” According to Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Urban, battalion sergeant major from Waymart, Pa., the unit comes here after intense...

AL ASAD, Iraq (August 2, 2005) -- Al Asad is home to hundreds of aircraft mechanics who are heavily relied upon to keep the aircraft here supporting the mission of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). Whether they’re working under the blazing sun or during the not much cooler nights, the mechs do their best to maintain combat-ready aircraft. One such Marine is Lance Cpl. Nick Bredehoft, a CH-46E airframes mechanic and aerial observer assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764. After graduating from Hill Crest High School in his native Dallas, Bredehoft attended Richland College. He was preparing to...

AL ASAD, Iraq (July 25, 2005) -- The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, visited Marines and sailors here July 25 accompanied by Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada, sergeant major of the Marine Corps. “I’m here for two reasons,” said Hagee. “I want to talk to the Marines and sailors and see how they’re doing and I want to ensure they’re maintaining operational situational awareness.” Escorted by Brig. Gen. Robert E. Milstead Jr., 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) commanding general, and Sgt. Maj. Collin A. Cotterell, 2nd MAW (Forward) sergeant major, the Corps’ top leaders interacted with...

CANBERRA, Australia, May 09, 2003 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Elite Australian special forces charged with knocking out Scud missile bases entered deep into Iraq two days before the opening salvo of the war, defense officials said Friday. Releasing details on the role of Australia's 150 Special Air Services troops in Iraq for the first time, defense officials said a large contingent of Australian special forces went into Iraq the night of March 18. The commandos were mainly charged with reconnaissance and "shoot and scoot" missions tracking key military targets and destroying them, either with their own weapons or...

An Australian flag now flies over al-Asad air base. Once home of the Iraqi air force, its capture last week effectively marks the end of what were probably the most intense operations in the history of this SAS regiment. And also, the Australians say, a new beginning for Iraq. The 57 Soviet-made MiGs, helicopters, anti-aircraft batteries, helicopters and 7.9 million kilograms of munitions and ordnance captured will form the basis of the "free Iraq air force" and it is a matter of considerable pride for men who never doubted the value of their mission. According to the regiment's operational commander,...