MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271’s Engineer Company participated in a cantonment and capabilities field exercise at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, N.C. Dec. 9, 2015, to practice and improve their knowledge of their jobs while in a deployed environment.

 

During the week-long exercise, the Marines rehearsed airfield damage repair, water purification, medium and heavy lifting missions and the construction of an expedient road and vertical take-off and landing aircraft pad.

The Marines learned how to effectively and proficiently set up a camp and survive on what was provided to them; they purified their own water, and set up their showers and living quarters, explained Staff Sgt. Mark R. Brinson, an engineer assistant with MWSS-271.

“This exercise is designed to test the capabilities of Engineer Company before we deploy the entire squadron [next year],” said 1st Lt. Samuel R. Houghtling, MWSS-271 operations training officer. “In addition to their roles [state side], the Marines will gain a better sense of what will be required of them when deployed in support of the aviation combat element.”

MWSS-271 provides all essential aviation ground support requirements to a designated fixed-wing component of an ACE and all supporting or attached elements of the Marine air control group.