The squadron, nicknamed the “Sand Sharks”, added another dimension to Marine Aircraft Group 40’s air capabilities with the construction of a C-130 landing strip, helicopter landing zones and a landing strip for unmanned aerial vehicles aboard Camp Dwyer.
These projects began with the construction of a nearly 400,000 square-foot helicopter landing zone. This area enables Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 to send a small detachment of Marines and aircraft to the FOB, putting them closer to the fight and decreasing the response time to provide aerial support for troops on the ground.
With air combat assets in place, the next hurdle was the construction of an airfield that can support a KC-130 landing. The first KC-130J landed Aug. 27, on the 4,000 foot landing strip. This new landing zone decreases the need for Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan to send vehicle supply convoys along routes known for improvised explosive devices.
“The C-130 airfield increases logistics capabilities ten-fold,” said Capt. Alexander Lugo-Velazquez, the HML/A-169 “Vipers” detachment officer-in-charge. “Instead of using two CH-53Es (helicopters) bringing in a minimal amount of supplies, we now can have one C-130 bring in even more supplies.”
The Sand Sharks’ momentum continued through August when they upgraded a dirt landing strip to a 1,000-foot landing strip of Aluminum Matting 2 for Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2. This project took two days of dedicated work by the Sand Sharks and VMU-2.
“The (matting) provides us with the solid ground that we need,” said Lt. Col. Brian Wright, the executive officer of VMU-2. “It will increase mission capability rates and make it easier to keep our aircraft in the air.”
With KC-130s flying in supplies, Super Cobras and Hueys ready to go on call and UAVs constantly conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, the Marines from MEB-Afghanistan have proved they are able to accomplish any task presented to them.
“With the landing zones, close-air support is readily available compared to the 30-40 minutes it takes to get from Camp Bastion,” said Lugo-Velazquez. “With the C-130s coming in more frequently, more Marines can travel at a given time and will definitely help Camp Dwyer and other FOBs and COPs (Combat Outposts) to build up. And with the VMU-2 landing strip, it will provide commanders with eyes in the sky at all times and provides so many other tactical options that will benefit this fight.”
As the months turn into weeks and weeks dwindle down into days, the Sand Sharks remain hard at work until their flight home to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.
Despite having sent their advanced party home, the Sand Sharks intend to accelerate toward the finish of their deployment by constructing refueling points and a taxiway for the C-130s here.
“Along with our major projects, we constantly have Marines running around supporting all units with MAG-40,” said Gunnery Sgt. Rex Borsil, the Sand Sharks heavy equipment chief.
“We have taken every expectation of us and blown it out of the water,” said Sgt. Randall Miller, the Sand Sharks heavy equipment section leader.
As the Sand Sharks continue their deployment marathon at a sprinter’s pace, the race is far from over. With the matting placed and the groundwork set for MEB-Afghanistan to expand, the Sand Sharks are scheduled to hand off the baton of support squadron for MAG-40 to the MWSS-372 “Diamondbacks”, out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., this fall.
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