Marine unit trains in Ospreys at Kirtland AFB

  • Published
  • By Lance Cpl. Jorden M. Wells
  • Rotovue Staff
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  When it comes to training like you fight, there is no better place to train for the dry, dusty environment then in the mountainous and desert terrain of Albuquerque, N.M., just outside of Kirtland Air Force Base.

More than 150 Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 departed for Kirtland March 3 in eight MV-22B Ospreys to complete required training for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit they are slated to deploy with later this year.

Some of the training they will undergo during their three weeks at Kirtland will be mountain area landings and mountain area training.

"We will also be training for reduced visibility landings," said Lt. Col. Christian Harshberger, VMM-365 commanding officer. "The area here is much better suited than the East Coast for the training that we need to undergo."

Other mission objectives while the squadron trains in New Mexico include partnering with several units from the local area as a means to complete other training, such as aerial refueling and area-delivered ground refueling.

"Essentially for the ADGR training we will fill the auxiliary fuel tanks of the Ospreys, and after landing at our destination, we will run the hoses from those tanks, and refuel other aircraft," said Harshberger.

VMM-364 Marines will remain training at Kirtland AFB area until March 25.

"Training in this type of environment is great," said Sgt. John Leist, collateral duty quality assurance representative. "Training here give all of us the opportunity to conduct our missions in a completely different environment, and allows us to be better equipped to operate in different terrains."