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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. – Pfc. Bradley Hinsley, a bulk-fuel specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 and a Bakersfield, Calif., native, secures the fuel hose after refueling an AH-1W Super Cobra aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., Feb. 14. MWSS-373 set up a FARP in support of Scorpion Fire Phase II. Scorpion Fire is a two-week training evolution to provide support for pilots’ pre-deployment training.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Rebecca Eller

Scorpion Fire: MWSS- 373 provides refueling

14 Feb 2012 | Lance Cpl. Rebecca Eller Marine Corps Air Station Miramar-EMS

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. – Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 visited Landing Zone Star, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., for training operations by setting up Forward Arming Refueling Points in support of Scorpion Fire Phase II.

In combat, FARP provides support any time of the day or night to ensure aircraft do not have to return all the way to base to refuel, but can reenter the fight more quickly.

“We're actually not conducting training,” said Sgt. Jason Bacha, a bulk-fuel specialist with MWSS-373 and a Pittsburgh native. “We're in support of training pilots who are going to be deploying sometime soon.”

Even though the training is not specifically for MWSS-373, they still benefit from the exercise.

“It's good training for us, especially me since I'm coming straight out of the school house,” said Pfc. Adam Farley, a bulk-fuel specialist with MWSS-373 and a Burt, N.Y., native.

FARPs are the only time bulk-fuel Marines actually conduct hands-on refuel training. At military occupational specialty school, bulk-fuel specialists mostly do in-classroom work, and the only hands-on training they receive is setting up the equipment, explained Gunnery Sgt. Erick Lee, the FARP officer in charge with MWSS-373 and a Fairfax, Va., native.

“There is no aircraft refueling at the school house,” said Lee. “As far as the young Marines, this is pretty much where they'll learn all the safety precautions, and they'll learn all the procedures for refueling.”

Safety is the most important part during the training evolution. Bulk-fuel Marines must ground the aircraft before beginning fueling operations due to static electricity produced from the rotor blades.

“Anything can go wrong during training, especially with hot refueling points, which means the birds don’t shut down,” said Farley.

Bulk-fuel specialist also conduct cold refueling, during which the aircraft is shut down.

“There’s a lot of dangers when the aircraft is still on,” said Lee. “You have the rotor blades still running, and when dealing with small aircraft like the cobras or hueys, their tail rotors sit really low. If you’re not paying attention, you could run into the tail rotors.”

MWSS-373 not only provides fuel for the aircraft, but they are there to provide safe support for the pilots to return to their mission.

 “The most important thing is these pilots are getting the experience they need to go into a combat zone, and have the confidence they need to fly out and carry on with whatever their mission is,” said Bacha.

Scorpion Fire is a two-week training evolution to provide support for pilots’ pre-deployment training. Though the mission is not necessarily conducted for MWSS-373, they are benefitting from the training by sustaining individual proficiency.


POLICY

The most important starting point for an EMS* is the development of an environmental policy. ISO14001 requires local governments to implement their own environmental policy. The environmental policy acts as a basis for the environmental management system.

PLANNING

ISO14001 requires that an environmental management system is planned properly. It requires the organization to consider the following carefully: Environmental Aspects; Legal and Other Aspects; Objectives and Targets; and an Environmental Management Program.

IMPLEMENTATION

The two requirements for implementation of an EMS is to define, document, and communicate roles, responsibilities and authorities, and to allocate the resources needed to implement and control the EMS.

CHECKING

The key requirement in this EMS step is to regularly monitor and measure key characteristics of activities and operations that could have a significant impact on the environment. Changes to EMS procedures may become necessary in order to deal with nonconformances with the EMS, with mitigating environmental impacts, or corrective and preventive action.

REVIEW

The management review process ensure that information is collected to enable management to carry out proper review. Top management review the need for changes to policy, objectives and targets, and ensure that a commitment to continual improvement is being demonstrated.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar-EMS