Marine Wing Support Detachment 31, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, conducted an aircraft recovery convoy exercise earlier this month as part of a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation.
The purpose of the exercise is to evaluate if the Marines are adequately trained to recover personnel and equipment during an aircraft mishap.
Beaufort allows Marines to hold recovery convoy exercises on base. Otherwise, service members must go to another Marine Corps base in the fleet.
Training was conducted using a retired aircraft and simulations.
MWSD-31 planned a route to and from the downed aircraft and swept the area with combat mine detectors for explosive threats.
“I’m just one piece of the puzzle when we’re doing these kinds of events,” Lance Cpl. Brandon Moody, MWSD-31combat engineer, said. “Once we get to a site, everyone has a job to do. We could be sweeping up and looking for ordnance while AARF Marines are defueling a gas tank. This exercise really painted a picture on how important teamwork is to mission accomplishment.”
Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marines from headquarters and headquarters squadron salvaged the aircraft while defueling the fuselage to prevent fuel leaks and fires.
Integrated Training Exercise prepares service members for the Marine Air Ground Task Force.