Camp Pendleton Archive

  • CAMP PENDLETON, Va. — Airmen from the Virginia Air National Guard’s Camp Pendleton-based 203rd RED HORSE Squadron focused on mobility training and deployment skills Nov. 1-4, 2012, during a field training exercise at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. Approximately 120 Airmen from the 203rd RHS participated in the FTX where they set up a forward operating base, conducted warfare training and refined required wartime tasking skills. The exercise emphasized basics like general safety practices, setting up and protecting a base, and field hygiene while more specialized training included war-task training like convoy operations and airfield damage assessments and repair. “This is great training as we work with the different equipment because all of our gear is mobility equipment and therefore...

    Virginia Air Guard engineers conduct FTX focused on mobility and deployment skills

    Posted on November 6, 2012 | No Comments
    CAMP PENDLETON, Va. — Airmen from the Virginia Air National Guard’s Camp Pendleton-based 203rd RED HORSE Squadron focused on mobility training and deployment skills Nov. 1-4, 2012, during a field training exercise at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. Approximately 120 Airmen from the 203rd RHS participated in the FTX where they set up a forward operating base, conducted warfare training and refined required wartime tasking skills. The exercise emphasized basics like general safety practices, setting up and protecting a base, and field hygiene while more specialized training included war-task training like convoy operations and airfield damage assessments and repair. “This is great training as we work with the different equipment because all of our gear is mobility equipment and therefore...

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  • CAMP PENDLETON, Va. — Soldiers from 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon of the Bowling Green-based 189th Multi-role Bridge Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 91st Troop Command took first place in the unit’s best squad competition held Sept. 22 at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. Seven squads of approximately 10 Soldiers each tested their skills and stamina in a wide variety of events including vehicle maintenance checks, weapons assembly and disassembly, drill and ceremonies, tire flip and launching a Zodiac assault boat into the surf. “This competition is to determine the best squad, but it is also a team building exercise,” said Capt. Matt Nowak, commander of the 189th. “The Soldiers are going to face some adversity, and they may be tired, but they still have smiles on their faces.” He explained that...

    Engineers compete for bragging rights as “best squad”

    Posted on September 28, 2012 | No Comments
    CAMP PENDLETON, Va. — Soldiers from 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon of the Bowling Green-based 189th Multi-role Bridge Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 91st Troop Command took first place in the unit’s best squad competition held Sept. 22 at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. Seven squads of approximately 10 Soldiers each tested their skills and stamina in a wide variety of events including vehicle maintenance checks, weapons assembly and disassembly, drill and ceremonies, tire flip and launching a Zodiac assault boat into the surf. “This competition is to determine the best squad, but it is also a team building exercise,” said Capt. Matt Nowak, commander of the 189th. “The Soldiers are going to face some adversity, and they may be tired, but they still have smiles on their faces.” He explained that...

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  • VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Senior leaders of the Virginia National Guard recognized more than 120 Airmen from the Virginia Beach-based 203rd RED HORSE Squadron during a Hometown Heroes Salute ceremony Aug. 18 at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. The ceremony honored the unit’s service as they completed approximately 70 projects in seven countries, at 18 different sites, during their deployment from March to October 2011 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Hometown Heroes Salute Campaign publicly acknowledges Air National Guard Airmen and those who supported them during the President’s call to duty for Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and other operations. “I am extremely proud of what we accomplished over there,” said Lt. Col. Pete Garner,...

    203rd RED HORSE Airmen recognized at Hometown Heroes Salute

    Posted on August 20, 2012 | No Comments
    VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Senior leaders of the Virginia National Guard recognized more than 120 Airmen from the Virginia Beach-based 203rd RED HORSE Squadron during a Hometown Heroes Salute ceremony Aug. 18 at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. The ceremony honored the unit’s service as they completed approximately 70 projects in seven countries, at 18 different sites, during their deployment from March to October 2011 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Hometown Heroes Salute Campaign publicly acknowledges Air National Guard Airmen and those who supported them during the President’s call to duty for Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and other operations. “I am extremely proud of what we accomplished over there,” said Lt. Col. Pete Garner,...

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  • VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 100 children of Virginia National Guard members participated in the seventh annual Virginia National Guard Youth Camp July 30- Aug. 3, 2012 at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. The week-long camp featured a wide variety of outdoor and indoor activities, including presentations from military and civilian organizations. The campers included 63 kids between the ages of 8-12 and 38 teens between the ages of 13-17. In addition to a week of outdoor activities and arts & crafts fun, the campers spent time in the sun at the beach and traveled to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg for a day of fun. This year’s camp marked a lot of firsts for the Virginia Guard Youth Camp,...

    Children of Virginia Guard Soldiers, Airmen enjoy 7th annual Youth Camp

    Posted on August 15, 2012 | No Comments
    VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 100 children of Virginia National Guard members participated in the seventh annual Virginia National Guard Youth Camp July 30- Aug. 3, 2012 at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. The week-long camp featured a wide variety of outdoor and indoor activities, including presentations from military and civilian organizations. The campers included 63 kids between the ages of 8-12 and 38 teens between the ages of 13-17. In addition to a week of outdoor activities and arts & crafts fun, the campers spent time in the sun at the beach and traveled to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg for a day of fun. This year’s camp marked a lot of firsts for the Virginia Guard Youth Camp,...

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  • VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Airmen from the Virginia Air National Guard’s 203rd RED HORSE Squadron hit the beach at the Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach May 6 for individual weapons qualification on their M-4 rifles. It was the first time the Airmen from the 203rd RHS fired using the Air Force’s new Air Force Rifle Qualification Course. The new course features more firing, more positions and more classroom instruction before hitting the actual range.   “We went from 100 rounds to 276 rounds,” explained Master Sgt. Dan Summerell of the 203rd RHS, who served as noncommissioned officer in charge of the range. “There are a total of six phases and 17 different procedures.” There are many differences between the old course and...

    203rd RED HORSE Airmen tackle new Air Force Qualification Course at Camp Pendleton

    Posted on May 10, 2012 | No Comments
    VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Airmen from the Virginia Air National Guard’s 203rd RED HORSE Squadron hit the beach at the Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach May 6 for individual weapons qualification on their M-4 rifles. It was the first time the Airmen from the 203rd RHS fired using the Air Force’s new Air Force Rifle Qualification Course. The new course features more firing, more positions and more classroom instruction before hitting the actual range.   “We went from 100 rounds to 276 rounds,” explained Master Sgt. Dan Summerell of the 203rd RHS, who served as noncommissioned officer in charge of the range. “There are a total of six phases and 17 different procedures.” There are many differences between the old course and...

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  • VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Family members, friends and fellow Airmen from the 203rd RED HORSE Squadron gathered at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach March 3 to honor the 18 unit members and three Florida Army National Guard aviators who were killed in a military transport crash 11 years ago. The Virginia Guard engineers and three Florida aviators from Detachment 1, Company H, 171st Aviation Battalion were killed on March 3, 2001, as the 203rd members were returning home after completing a two-week military construction project at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The C-23 Sherpa they were flying in crashed in a cotton field near Unadilla, Ga. Because of inclement weather, Saturday’s ceremony was held in the 203rd Red Horse Squadron...

    203rd RED HORSE remembers Airmen, Soldiers killed in fatal plane crash 11 years ago

    Posted on March 5, 2012 | No Comments
    VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Family members, friends and fellow Airmen from the 203rd RED HORSE Squadron gathered at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach March 3 to honor the 18 unit members and three Florida Army National Guard aviators who were killed in a military transport crash 11 years ago. The Virginia Guard engineers and three Florida aviators from Detachment 1, Company H, 171st Aviation Battalion were killed on March 3, 2001, as the 203rd members were returning home after completing a two-week military construction project at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The C-23 Sherpa they were flying in crashed in a cotton field near Unadilla, Ga. Because of inclement weather, Saturday’s ceremony was held in the 203rd Red Horse Squadron...

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