News>YARS Airmen, Marines and Sailors join forces for Boy Scouts of America, training
Photos
KENSINGTON, Ohio — U.S. Air Force Reserve Col. Reinhard Schmidt, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing based at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, is briefed by U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mike Lockhart, commanding officer of Landing Support Equipment Company, Aug. 15, 2012 about the ground leveling progress at Seven Ranges Scout Camp here. Airmen, Marines and Sailors from YARS participated in a two-week joint training exercise at the camp and worked together to improve roads and drainage systems, erect campsites and excavate land for future projects. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brenda Haines/Released
KENSINGTON, Ohio — A U.S. Marine Corps Reservist operates heavy equipment Aug. 15, 2012 during a land excavating project at Seven Ranges Scout Camp here. Airmen, Marines and Sailors from YARS participated in a two-week joint training exercise at the camp and worked together to improve roads and drainage systems, erect campsites and excavate land for future projects. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brenda Haines/Released
KENSINGTON, Ohio -- U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Lance Cpl. Jessica L. Wolfe and Gunnery Sgt. Jose M. Serrano, both Marines from 4th LSB based at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, practice newly learned moves from the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) Aug. 15, 2012 at Seven Ranges Scout Camp here. Airmen, Marines and Sailors from YARS participated in a two-week joint training exercise at the camp and worked together to improve roads and drainage systems, erect campsites and excavate land for future projects. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Megan Tomkins/Released
KENSINGTON, Ohio — U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Lance Cpl. Joseph R. Shakibanasab from 4th LSB in Charleston, S.C., surveys the surrounding area while Lance Cpl. Charles M. Steelman from 4th LSB based at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, relays the information back to senior leadership Aug. 15, 2012 at Seven Ranges Scout Camp here. Airmen, Marines and Sailors from YARS participated in a two-week joint training exercise at the camp and worked together to improve roads and drainage systems, erect campsites and excavate land for future projects. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Megan Tomkins/Released
KENSINGTON, Ohio — U.S. Naval Reserve Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron Szalay, a construction mechanic with Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 26, Detachment 14, CNSW Cody Thompson, also from NMCB 26, Det 14, and U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Lance Cpl. Michael E. Correa, from 4th Landing Support Battalion all based at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, work together to complete a construction project Aug. 15, 2012 at Seven Ranges Scout Camp here. Airmen, Marines and Sailors from YARS participated in a two-week joint training exercise at the camp and worked together to improve roads and drainage systems, erect campsites and excavate land for future projects. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Megan Tomkins/Released
KENSINGTON, Ohio — U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Staff Sgt. Shirley I. Palotai, camp commandant for Operation Mudslinger and a career retention specialist at 4th Landing Support Battalion based at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, communicates with command staff about the progress of a construction project Aug. 15, 2012 at Seven Ranges Scout Camp here. Airmen, Marines and Sailors from YARS participated in a two-week joint training exercise at the camp and worked together to improve roads and drainage systems, erect campsites and excavate land for future projects. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Megan Tomkins/Released
KENSINGTON, Ohio — U.S. Air Force Reserve Col. Reinhard Schmidt, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing based at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, sits inside of a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve heavy equipment machine Aug. 15, 2012 at Seven Ranges Scout Camp here. Airmen, Marines and Sailors from YARS participated in a two-week joint training exercise at the camp and worked together to improve roads and drainage systems, erect campsites and excavate land for future projects. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Megan Tomkins/Released
by Tech. Sgt. Brenda Haines
910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
9/12/2012 - KENSINGTON, Ohio -- Airmen, Marines and Sailors from Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS) joined forces Aug. 11-25 at Seven Ranges Scout Camp in Kensington, Ohio, to improve roads and drainage systems, erect campsites and excavate land for future projects.
The operation at the camp, known as Mudslinger, served as a training exercise and its goal was to familiarize Marines with planning and facilitating a comprehensive earthmoving project while helping the participating Airmen and Sailors prepare for working in a deployed joint-service environment.
"This is a win-win situation for us and the community," said Col. Reinhard Schmidt, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing at YARS. "We get good training out of this joint exercise and it's beneficial to the Boy Scout camp because they get projects done that they need to help support the kids [boy scouts]."
The Marine Corps Reservists which are a tenant unit at YARS and part of the 4th Landing Support Battalion based at Fort Lewis, Wash., provided engineering support to the Boy Scouts of America for the past four years. Camp sites, training areas and roads at the camp deteriorate significantly due to harsh winters and saturated springs, according to Skip Eidam, head ranger of the Buckeye Council for the Boy Scouts of America.
"The Marines have done an excellent job," said Eidam. "I have found their skill level to be excellent; they're fast learners. I'm sure that makes their officers happy and it makes the Boy Scouts happy because our production rate has gone up because of their skills."
This year marks the first time all three services based at YARS combined forces to contribute to the success of Mudslinger.
"This exercise helps build camaraderie," said Staff Sgt. Gilbert Martin, cyber transport systems specialist with the 910th Communications Squadron. "In the past we have had that stigmata where the Air Force is always going to do this and the Marines are always going to do that. We want to get everybody together so we're all able to operate efficiently when we're deployed somewhere in a [joint environment]. They know how to use our systems and we know how to use their systems now."
Mudslinger helps prepare the Marines for what they may encounter during wartime by providing them with military occupational specialty (MOS) training, said Lt. Col. Jeff Symons, inspector instructor for the 4th LSB.
"The partnership with the Boy Scouts is a great opportunity for us to not only help out the Boy Scouts, but for us to get the critical MOS training we need," said Symons. "Should we have to deploy, these are the same skills they would be using whether it was here or Afghanistan. The Air Force helped us by transporting our heavy equipment out to the camp site. We're very thankful for that."
Comments
8/24/2012 3:16:36 PM ET Sir thank you for your comment however public affairs did interview a subject while out at Seven Ranges Scout Camp. Stay tuned for his interview in an upcoming video package. We can only report what our Reservists share with us via interviews so please contact PA at 330-609-1236 to schedule an interviewVery respectfullyTSgt Haines
TSgt Brenda Haines, 910th AWPublic Affairs
8/21/2012 2:36:39 PM ET So you realy dont like Comm as you managed to not mention the satelite equipment with all it brings to the field for the marines.
