MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- The Hawaii Combined Arms Exercise attracts units from throughout the Navy and Marine Corps with its promise for real-time training, a multitude of ranges, and an all-out barrage of the senses.
Along with the infantry and support units that annually join this exercise, two F-18 squadrons and two KC-130 transport squadrons made the long flight here, last week to participate in the action.
The Marine All Weather Fighter Squadron 533 and seven F-18s, out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., completed a more than seven-hour flight from Guam to the Marine Corps Air Facility, Sept. 16 to participate in the ongoing HCAX exercises on the Big Island.
According to Capt. Patrick Fitzgerald, the weapons and sensors officer for VMFA(AW)-533, the entire squadron, including Marine Aircraft and Logistics Squadron 12, will consist of more than 100 Marines and 11 aircraft. The personnel and four more F-18s are expected to arrive later in the week.
During HCAX, VMFA(AW)-533 will provide close air support, and forward air control airborne for a total of three weeks. They will also be conducting basic squadron training during the exercises.
"We usually only fly specifically with each other in these jets," said Fitzgerald. "But, because this is a combined arms exercise we will have a chance to fly with other pilots and squadrons. But to what degree is still not for sure, we shall see."
The Marines of VMFA(AW) are currently on a six-month unit deployment program. Once they complete the training here at HCAX, they will continue on to Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan, for additional training and then return to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.
The Gators from VMFA-142, a reserve F-18 squadron out of Atlanta, Ga., will also be joining Marine Aircraft Group 24 for aerial training during HCAX until Oct. 15.
"They will primarily be doing a combined arms package, and providing close air support in support of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment," said Maj. Pete Peterson, the assistant operations officer for MAG-24. "It is an excellent opportunity for the different communities of the Navy and Marine Corps who usually don't train together to work as a team in this exercise."
The two KC-130 squadrons have also joined the group to help with aerial refueling and to provide aerial transport for personnel, equipment and supplies. During the exercise, the units will also complete training of their own.
The Rangers of Marine Aerial Refueling Squadron 234 from Naval Air Station Fort Worth JRB, Texas, and the VMGR-452 "Yankees," a reserve squadron from Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York, both fly the KC-130 and will be working hand-in-hand with F/A-18 Hornets to complete the exercise.
"Although HCAX has been scaled down this year, less ranges and so forth, we still have some good prospects for training and all we can hope is that everything goes safely and smoothly," concluded Peterson.