When Devil Dogs howl, Wolf Pack flies to rescue

News: When Devil Dogs howl, Wolf Pack flies to rescue

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar / 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

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Story by Lance Cpl. Christopher Johns Subscribe To This Journalist

Lance Cpl. Christopher Johns

Lance Cpl. Alex Thoele, a CH-53E Super Stallion crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 ‘Wolf Pack’ and a Gaylord, Minn., native, secures a litter on the aircraft during casualty evacuation training aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Nov. 7. The Wolf Pack crew provided necessary support to Marines and sailors with Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Pacific, who practiced calling in aerial support for “wounded” comrades.

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – “It’s essential Marines have casualty evacuation support from their brothers at any given moment,” said Capt. Gareth Hughes, a tactical aviation instructor with Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Pacific, and a Grove City, Pa., native. “Performing this kind of training allows these Marines to develop a familiarity with how casualty evacuations with other Marine units operate.”

Marines with the training group called in support, provided by Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 ‘Wolf Pack’ and its CH-53E Super Stallions, as part of casualty evacuation training for both units aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Nov. 7.

The Marines who call these rescue angels from the objective zones can rely on the abilities of the pilots and crews coming to their aid.

“It’s a confidence builder for the Marines going into theatre,” explained Hughes. “They have Marine assets available and reliable with relationships built here, that can carry over into combat and save lives.”

During a battle, this training becomes useful when the enemy surrounds U.S. forces, making it impossible to gather needed medical support by any other means, according Capt. Matt Steege, a CH-53E Super Stallion pilot with the Wolf Pack and a Standish, Maine, native.

“As a pilot, there are some instances you always plan for and a casualty evacuation is one of them,” said Steege. “A lot of the Marines we helped today haven’t had the chance to call in aerial support, so it’s vital they get this training, because it could save someone’s life. The biggest thing is exposing these guys to something that could save lives.”

When, where and how this training occurs is usually left up to the ground units. In a battle zone, however, casualty evacuations can be called in at any moment.

“This would be the third or fourth time we’ve performed this training in the past six weeks,” said Steege. “[In theatre], once you get that call, you don’t always have time to make sure that zone is clear. You have to weigh the risk with the reward. A lot of times, we have [UH-1N Huey Helicopter and AH-1Z Super Cobra] escort us into the objective area to provide cover fire while we pick up [the injured.]”