A joint affair Published May 3, 2014 By Senior Airman Miles Wilson 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Members of the Marine Tiltrotor Squadron, 264th Marine Corps Air Station, New River, North Carolina., traveled here to participate in a series of deployment training exercises April 24 to May 2. With more than 200 U.S. Marines and six Osprey MV-22B aircraft participating, the exercises provided an opportunity for the squadron to accomplish its annual deployment certification. Dobbins was chosen as the host base because it is centrally located between exercise sites. "Dobbins provides the perfect broad-spectrum joint operations environment," said Senior Master Sgt. Clarence Hester, 94th Logistics Readiness Squadron Logistics Plans superintendent. "We have partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies that also enhance the overall capability to provide preeminent reception, deployment, and humanitarian support." The mission of Dobbins ARB is to provide unrivaled warfighting capability to support any assigned mission across the spectrum of military operations, and to create an environment where the 94th Airlift Wing and its mission partners thrive. "Our world-class combat ready deployment processing center allows simultaneous processing of personnel and equipment," said Hester. "Dobbins provides robust mission support services from fuels, real estate, transportation, and lodging to requesting agencies." While at Dobbins, the Marines went through several exercises, preparing themselves for a number of scenarios that can occur during a real deployment. "We engaged in missions involving aspects that all revolve around operating in a large zone," said Testa. "One exercise we conducted was a mission we call TRAP (Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel). During this exercise, we performed aerial refueling using our C-130s." Marines from the VMM-264 also recovered personnel from a downed aircraft in enemy territory during the TRAP mission, one of several exercises performed throughout the week. "We're completing these exercises in order for the unit to become deployment certified," said Capt. Patrick Testa, VMM-264 aircraft commander. "Our objective was to be able to complete missions that covered a large zone, while working out of another base other than our own." Unfortunately, the exercise had been canceled due to low visibility from the cloud coverage. The Marines also flew throughout the local region conducting area familiarization missions, an objective imperative to acquaint a unit with any new region. "Being able to achieve our objectives from a foreign location such as Dobbins was imperative to our training," said Testa. A week-long flying mission requires many logistics. In addition to training facilities, the Marines required work centers, internet access, lodging and dining facilities. "While you are at Dobbins, we treat you like you're one of us," explained Col. Marshall Irvin, 94th Mission Support Group commander. "That is the standard here." The operational mission was not the only benefit to the training the Marines received at Dobbins. While off duty, the Marines stayed at the Dobbins Inn and ate at the consolidated club. "The amenities provided were spectacular," said Selmer. "The lodging, the food, the chaplain services, everything was above par."
