MARINE RESERVISTS BOUND FOR IRAQ.Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. - The Marine Corps Reserve helicopter unit at Edwards Air Force Base will be sent overseas in the next few weeks, with one squadron going to Iraq and the other to Afghanistan. The reservists have been told to expect at least 12 months of active duty, but it could be longer, a spokesman said. Six or seven months of that time could be oversees. The Marines have known for several weeks that the activation activation /ac·ti·va·tion/ (ak?ti-va´shun) 1. the act or process of rendering active. 2. the transformation of a proenzyme into an active enzyme by the action of a kinase or another enzyme. 3. was coming, said Lt. Col. Drew Crane, spokesman for the detachment detachment /de·tach·ment/ (de-tach´ment) the condition of being separated or disconnected. detachment of retina , retinal detachment . ``We've had time to get adjusted to the idea and to get ready to say goodbye to families,'' Crane said. Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764 has been activated to support Operation Iraqi Freedom while the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 769 has been tabbed to assist operations in Afghanistan. Combined, the two squadrons form Detachment B of the Marine Aircraft Group 46, headquartered at Miramar Naval Air Station A Naval Air Station is an airbase of the United States Navy. Such bases are used to house Naval Aviation squadrons and support commands. List of Functioning US Naval Air Stations
Exactly when the detachment will head overseas is uncertain. Crane said it could be from one to two months before the detachment leaves Edwards. The two squadrons will leave at different times, but within the same general time frame. Of the units' approximately 330 personnel, all but a handful will be deployed. The squadrons are a mix, split roughly in half, of active-duty Marines and reservists. ``The reservists come from as far north as Alameda Alameda (ăləmē`də, –mā`də), city (1990 pop. 76,459), Alameda co., W central Calif., on an island just off the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay; settled 1850, inc. as a city 1884. County and as far south as San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. County,'' Crane said. The 769 Squadron operates CH-53E helicopters, which are used to transport heavy equipment and supplies. The CH-53 carries a crew of three and can fly more than 600 miles without refueling. The 764 Squadron operates CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters, which are used to transport combat troops. The helicopter carries a crew of five and can transport 14 others. There were 2,200 Marine Corps reservists activated for this phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom this month. An additional 5,000 will be activated in June, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Marine Corps. Jim Skeen, (661) 267-5743 james.skeen(at)dailynews.com |
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