ST. GEORGE – Marines and Sailors with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif. will be conducting ground realistic urban training in St. George this evening.
Training will highlight long-range helicopter raids and tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, or TRAP, scenarios. Additionally, a forward arming and refueling point, or FARP, will be established at St. George Municipal Airport to resupply military aircraft with necessary fuel and equipment and perform required maintenance crucial to successful training.
Rotary wing airframes present at the FARP will include MV-22B Ospreys, CH-53E Super Stallions, UH-1Y Hueys and AH-1Z Super Cobras and fixed wing aircraft will feature the AV-8B Harrier and the KC-130J Hercules.
This training exercise is in preparation for the 13th MEU’s upcoming WESTPAC 13-2 deployment. The 13th MEU will be forward-deployed as a rapid response force, capable of responding to contingency operations on land or at sea, providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts, reinforcing embassies, and conducting non-combatant evacuation operations, through the combined capabilities of the Marine Air Ground Task Force.
As this report is published, the first aircraft is expected to land in St. George for the forward arming and refueling point between 5-6 p.m.
Ospreys are expected to land at 8:30 p.m.
The units will deploy at 21:15 hrs (9:15 p.m.) for the the training exercise.
This is a military exercise and not a public demonstration; however, the public is welcome to view the exercises from outside the airport area at a safe distance.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
Marines and aircraft stop by St. George for a 24-hour training exercise at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, May 9, 2013 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Marines and aircraft stop by St. George for a 24-hour training exercise at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, May 9, 2013 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Marines and aircraft stop by St. George for a 24-hour training exercise at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, May 9, 2013 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Marines and aircraft stop by St. George for a 24-hour training exercise at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, May 9, 2013 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Marines and aircraft stop by St. George for a 24-hour training exercise at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, May 9, 2013 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Marines and aircraft stop by St. George for a 24-hour training exercise at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, May 9, 2013 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Marines and aircraft stop by St. George for a 24-hour training exercise at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, May 9, 2013 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Related post
Marine exercise: Good for the Corps, good for St. George; STGnews Videocast, Photo Gallery
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I am not happy they are still using the V22 Ospreys. Whatch out St George they have already killed my whole platoon in Yuma Arizona. Thats something ill never forget!!!!!!
Just don’t set fire to anything.
What is this SGU where the headline says they are landing?
I was wondering what the constant low humming over my house was tonight. Thanks for reporting!
Semper Fi Devils! Train like you fight. Fight like you train.
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Leclair, sorry to hear about your unit. I was never a fan of the Osprey over in Lejeune when they were testing that thing all the time and Generals were having flybys to prove to dignitaries that they were safe. Horrible aircraft, IMO.
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I’m curious as to why the Corps would conduct training here in St. George when they’ve got actual Marine bases all over California and even Nellis AFB in Vegas. I wonder if there’s money being exchanged? I remember back in 2004 the scuttlebutt was that the EPA had so many regulations and authority to fine the military over “ecological disasters” (spilling a can of oil or killing one of those desert tortoises) that they were considering moving CAX into Nevada. Perhaps that’s why they’re not in 2-9 doing this. But still, St. George?
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The opening line of the article reads, “…will be conducting ground realistic urban training in St. George this evening”. Urban training? They’ve got MOUT facilities elsewhere, why come to St. George? Are they actually going to be patrolling within city limits and residential areas? MEU’s have humvees, amtracks, LAV’s, and tanks. Will those be deployed for training? As a former tanker I’d love to see an M1A1 again, however the jet exhaust from the power plant is extremely dangerous and cars travelling behind will need to keep a couple hundred feet back lest they be melted. Are roads being blocked off?
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Or, is this just them taking over the airport for the night, doing some unloading, reloading, flying around in circles for an hour to simulate “long range” and then landing and conducting all their operations solely on airport territory for the TRAP scenarios?
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I’d really be interested in a follow up piece to see what the Civil Affairs and PIO for 1MARDIV have to say about the choice of St. George. I really find that just so very strange.
Story’s coming, Matthew.
The training was conducted on the Shivwits Reservation!
Here you go, Matthew – you will find some answers here perhaps:
http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/05/10/marine-exercise-good-for-the-corps-good-for-st-george-stgnews-videocast-photo-gallery/
I lived by an air force base in Victorville, CA and heard the sound of jets everyday. I’m glad I checked FB tonight. I was becoming a little un-nerved by all the jets all night. It sounds almost like it did in Victorville before the first Gulf War!
Thanks for posting this!
Uncle Scam’s goons practicing to kill Americans on American soil for their master King Obushma.
Starting With You Hopefully
No brain no headache explains Donovan!
Isn’t this against the law? Posse Comitias? Or are they just getting us prepared for martial law?
Good morning, Fred – Our follow-up story may interest you:
http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/05/10/marine-exercise-good-for-the-corps-good-for-st-george-stgnews-videocast-photo-gallery/
Gents, this county boy is training his team to continue the fight overseas in support of all of our freedom and liberty. We are “all in” to preserve our way of life. We are sworn to uphold the Constitution.
Matthew, to answer your question… as you know, we work profiles the stress our team’s abilities and creativity to take on the most challenging enemies of America. The terrorists and leaders of rouge regimes don’t necessarily live on the beach. Nor do they park their WMD and training camps there. The MV-22 and other Marine Aviation systems have matured significantly and are now considered some of the most safe and dependable platforms in service around the globe.
Andy, we lost more than a few common friend. We respect and honor their sacrifice in the defence of our way of life. We’ll never forget.
SF
Chucj