VMA-311 battles Navy, Air Force birds

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VMA-311 battles Navy, Air Force birds

Marine Attack Squadron 311 Marines traveled to Naval Air Station Key West, Fla., Monday to catch up on squadron training that has been delayed by repeated deployments.

Approximately 170 Marines and 10 AV-8B Harriers are participating in air-to-air combat training with the Navy's aggressor squadron, Composite Fighter Squadron 111.

VMA-311 will also train with the Air Force's 93rd Fighter Squadron from Air Reserve Base Homestead, Fla., and the 176th Fighter Squadron from the Wisconsin Air National Guard.

VMA-311's 20 pilots will fly against Navy and Air Force F-5Ns and F-16Cs in simulated dogfights.

"Because of the Operation Iraqi Freedom deployments that have been going on for the past five years, the squadron has kind of fallen behind in air-to-air training," said Maj. Andrew Diviney, VMA-311 operations officer.

For that reason, VMA-311 organized the majority of its Marines, including its commanding officer and executive officer, into a training detachment, leaving behind as many as needed to manage the squadron's hangar and support the current Weapons and Tactics Instructor course.

While in Florida, the squadron will refresh aerial combat skills for its experienced pilots and certify its newer ones, ensuring everyone has the same training.

This training is the first time in at least three years that VMA-311 has committed to large-scale air-to-air combat training, said Diviney. Since the Corps' current operations don't call for air-to-air combat, the training gets set aside for more relevant combat scenarios.

"It's a good opportunity to get everyone to focus on something we don't typically do, especially with our operational tempo," said Capt. Scott Farrar, VMA-311 flight officer. "It's a good chance for the new guys, like me, to get a look at the capabilities of our aircraft."

Since the F-16 is flown by many countries across the world and the F-5 is flown by several countries designated as potential threats, this training teaches the pilots the capabilities of enemy aircraft, said Farrar.

Since Key West has its own aggressor squadron, it's a good place to train, said Diviney.

"Key West is a naval base that is surrounded by water, and because it's surrounded by water, it's surrounded by great air-to-air ranges," said Diviney.

VMA-311 is scheduled to return April 25.

Source
http://yuma.usmc.mil/?PgId=desertwarrior,2009,04,09,feature2VMA-311 battles Navy, Air Force birds