BLT 3/2 trains to recover pilots, equipment 

It has happened in real life with the rescue of Air Force Capt. Scott O'Grady. It has been dramatized in movies like "Behind Enemy Lines." Marines fly in from the sea and make a dramatic rescue.

Now, Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are training to rescue downed pilots and recover lost equipment.

Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd MEU, conducted multiple helicopter-based training missions involving a variety of scenarios, aircraft types and terrain during the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel course aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 1 - 5, 2008.

Although a mortar platoon's primary mission is to launch 81mm mortars down range in support of ground combat operations, when they are attached to the 22nd MEU, they perform the additional TRAP mission.

The five-day course consisted of classroom lecture and practical application designed to train personnel in the pertinent areas of TRAP in preparation for the 22nd MEU's coming spring deployment.

The BLT Marines worked with aircraft from the 22nd MEU's Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), to get to their objectives.

After the Marines disembarked from CH-53E Super Stallions or MV-22B Ospreys, aircraft remained overhead to provide reconnaissance and security while the platoon conducted ground operations.

"Our mission for TRAP is to provide security and rescue downed pilots or recover aircraft," said Lance Cpl. Keith M. Wagenhouser, a mortarman with the BLT, and native of Middle Island, N.Y. "Our search elements link up with the headquarters element to find what it is we're looking for."

The Marines spent three days in the field jumping on and off aircraft, stepping through Camp Lejeune's rough terrain and kicking down doors in simulated hostile environments to complete the TRAP mission. 

"One of our biggest challenges is when we have a night mission," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeremy L. Bradley, a hospital corpsman with the BLT and native of Jackson, Ala. "You then have to worry about isolation, losing your team and being able to communicate with your team."

Some of the scenarios included situations where the pilot or even some of the Marines were injured. The unit's two corpsmen played a key role during those missions. It was their jobs to ensure the pilot received medical attention and was transported to the aircraft safely.

"As a corpsman with a small unit of Marines, we depend on ourselves and the other Marines to help out if medical attention is needed," said Bradley. "There are times during a mission where the corpsmen are not together, and we might need help of a Marine to help save the pilot's life."

Whether in the field or in garrison, Bradley uses the Marines' spare time to teach them combat medicine to better assist them during combat. He said the TRAP course gave him an idea of what the Marines and corpsmen need to work on when dealing with medical.

"Overall, I learned a lot during the course," said Bradley. "We now have a good idea of what to expect in the future."

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is a scalable, multipurpose force of more than 2,200 Marines and sailors. Commanded by Col. Gareth F. Brandl, it consists of its Ground Combat Element, BLT 3/2; Aviation Combat Element, VMM-263(Rein); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and its Command Element.

The 22nd MEU is currently conducting pre-deployment training and is scheduled to deploy this spring. For more information about the 22nd MEU, visit the unit's website at www.22meu.usmc.mil.
-30-