WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii -- A team of Marines with Marine Wing Support Detachment 24 competed against four Army teams at Wheeler Army Airfield during the 209th Aviation Support Battalion Forward Area Refueling Point rodeo, Nov. 18 through 20, 2013.
Each of the five teams competing learned how to use the equipment during the first two days of the rodeo.
“We learned a total of four new systems during the rodeo,” said Sgt. Robert Sarvak, the team leader for the MWSD-24 Marine Corps team that competed and a 24-year-old native of Milford, Ohio. “Some of the equipment here is similar to what we normally use, but for the majority it was the first time any of us got hands on experience with any of this gear.”
The major goal of the joint FARP rodeo was to facilitate better support to enhance the U.S. Pacific Command. This was the first joint FARP rodeo where both Marines and soldiers participated. Marines learned how to use the Army’s refueling systems and equipment to prepare for a joint environment in a deployed situation.
Soldiers showed MWSD-24 Marines how to properly and quickly deploy each of the four refueling systems. Instead of just learning how to deploy the systems, instructors explained how a competition would test them on everything they learned in the past two days.
Marines learned and displayed knowledge on the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck Tanker Aviation Refueling System, a Forward Area Refueling Equipment system and an Extended Range Fuel System during the event.
The HTARS is used with the HEMTT M978 for a fuel source. It’s a four-point helicopter system with dry break couplings, lightweight hoses and nozzles and is designed for simultaneous refueling of multiple helicopters.
The FARE system establishes a two-point refueling system for wheeled and tracked vehicles to use in a forward operating area. It consists of a 100-gallon per minute Diesel Engine Driven pump, 100-gallon-per-minute filter separator, nozzles and two 500-gallon collapsible fuel cells.
The system needs two external stores support systems, an equipped UH-60, armament and refuel equipment to support the mission.
The ERFS is an interconnected system of up to three 800-gallon tanks, three electrically operated fuel pumps and a vent system. It can provide up to 2,320 gallons of fuel to other aircraft.
Marines had to master each of the four systems because they were going to be tested against four other Army teams on their proficiency with the systems.
“I enjoyed every part of the rodeo,” Sarvak said. “It was awesome that we got to challenge ourselves on something we have never used before.”
The morning of Nov. 20, or competition day, everyone completed an Army Physical Fitness Test. The team with the best average APFT score would have one minute deducted from their final time.
The Marines and soldiers were then timed on how long it took them to put each system together properly. A 20-second penalty was enforced for every mistake made during the competition. The team with the best-combined time won the rodeo.
All the times and scores were added up and presented at an award ceremony. The MWSD-24 team of Marines placed fourth out of the five teams.
“The Marines here today performed extremely well and conducted themselves in a professional manner,” said Col. Paul A. Fortunato, Marine Aircraft Group 24 commanding officer. “I witnessed great teamwork and competency for whatever was thrown at them. It was a great training experience for the Marines and made us more mission capable for the Marine Aircraft Group 24.”