Operational Support Airlift

46 Pages·2013·11.67 MB·English

USMC
MCWP 3-27
Operational Support Airlift
US Marine Corps
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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Headquarters United States Marine Corps
Washington, D.C. 20380-1775
21 January 2013
FOREWORD
Marine Corps Warfighting Publication (MCWP) 3-27, Operational Support Airlift,
provides a framework for the integration and effective employment of operational
support assets during war and times of crisis, and it covers all aspects of operational sup-
port airlift (OSA), with emphasis on support for Marine air-ground task force operations.
Operational support airlift doctrine is based on a common understanding of Marine Corps
warfighting philosophy as defined in our doctrinal publications and concepts and is
grounded in experience. Marine Corps OSA detachments have been deployed in support
of Marines in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Combined
Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa since 2003. The lessons learned from these operations
have been incorporated into this publication. It applies across a range of military opera-
tions—from humanitarian assistance to major campaigns. MCWP 3-27 is meant for
Marines at all levels of command in the Marine Corps operating forces and the supporting
establishment as a guide to using OSA as an enhancement to their mission. This publica-
tion defines OSA, highlights capabilities and limitations of OSA, recommends structure
for command and control of OSA, and discusses OSA employment and scheduling.
MCWP 3-27 implements North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Standardization
Agreements (STANAG) shown in the references section of this publication.
Supersedes MCWP 3-27, Operational Support Airlift, dated 13 August 2003.
Reviewed and approved this date.
BY DIRECTION OF THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS
RICHARD P. MILLS
Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps
Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration
Publication Control Number: 143 000143 00
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution
is unlimited.
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Imagery Intelligence __________________________________________________________________________________________ A-iii
O S A
PERATIONAL UPPORT IRLIFT
T C
ABLE OF ONTENTS
Chapter 1. Fundamentals
Historical Perspective. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Modern Day Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Commercial, Off-the-Shelf Variant Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Mission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Role Within the Six Functions of Marine Corps Aviation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Chapter 2. Command, Control, and Scheduling
During Major Operations and Contingencies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
CONUS and OCONUS Exercise Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
CONUS Command and Scheduling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Western Pacific Scheduling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
C-20G Scheduling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Chapter 3. Planning and Employment Considerations
General Planning Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Enhancement of MAGTF Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Limitations and Other Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Deployment Planning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Appendices
A Operational Support Airlift Aircraft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
B Operational Support Airlift Organizational Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
C DD Form 2768, Military Air Passenger/Cargo Request. . . . . . . . . . . . C-1
D Points of Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1
Glossary
References and Related Publications
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C 1
HAPTER
F
UNDAMENTALS
Moving high volumes of small payloads to widely critical air logistics by moving Marines and Sol-
dispersed Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) diers between and within operations and cam-
elements in a low threat environment poses signi- paigns in the Pacific theater. As the war
ficant cost challenges for Marine Corps aviation. progressed, intertheater and intratheater air move-
Marine Corps operational support airlift (OSA) ment of personnel, equipment, and cargo became
provides an economical and efficient alternative commonplace. As soon as an airfield was cap-
for the movement of personnel and cargo by tured, Marine R4D aircraft brought critical sup-
reducing the burden that small payloads place on plies to the fight and evacuated casualties. The
large tactical aircraft. Since complex tactical efforts of the South Pacific Combat Air Trans-
assault support aircraft are costly to operate and port and its sister unit, the Central Pacific Combat
require extensive maintenance, OSA aircraft make Air Transport Service (later called Transport Air
significant contributions in airlift support while Group), served to define Marine fixed-wing
avoiding the high cost of using tactical assault transport squadrons (VMRs) as critical logistic
support assets.
enablers and were the forerunners of modern day
Marine Corps OSA.
Historical Perspective
Modern Day Applications
Marines are renowned for adapting tools to sup-
port operations and using them to overcome
Marine Corps UC-12B aircraft provided OSA
obstacles. For example, one of the earliest uses of
support to Marines in Operations Desert Shield
civilian variant aircraft to support Marine Corps
and Desert Storm and operated from Bahrain
logistics was in 1927 when Atlantic Fokker Tri-
International Airport while assigned to 3d Marine
motor aircraft were used to transport troops and
Aircraft Wing (MAW), I Marine Expeditionary
supplies by air in support of ground forces dur-
Force. From August 1990 to May 1991, these
ing the Nicaraguan campaign. The tri-motor air-
Marines flew 1,297 flight hours, carrying 1,816
craft could make the trip from Managua to Ocotal
passengers and 59,690 pounds of cargo. The air-
in 1 hour 40 minutes, yet the same trip by ox cart
craft also made nightly intelligence runs, which
or mule train took 10 days to 3 weeks, depending
provided aviation combat element (ACE) plan-
on the condition of the trails.
ners with critical bomb damage assessment intel-
During World War II, the South Pacific Combat ligence for operational planning.
Air Transport Command was created around
Immediately after the 9-11 attacks on American
Marine Aircraft Group 25. With the battle for
soil, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Guadalcanal underway and control of surface
halted all air travel for a short period of time.
resupply and medical evacuation frequently inter-
Military aircraft were the only aircraft authorized
dicted by the Japanese fleet, resupply by air was
to fly in the continental United States (CONUS)
essential to retain the tiny foothold in the South
in support of contingency operations. In support
Pacific. With three squadrons of Marine R4D air-
of North American Aerospace Defense Command
craft, and a squadron of C-47 aircraft operated by
the US Army Air Corps, the command provided Operation Noble Eagle, Marine Corps OSA
1-2 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ MCWP 3-27
aircraft were dispatched to transport fighter pilots 300 fixed-wing aircraft to perform the OSA
to their duty assignments. Senior leaders, mission. The Marine Corps uses commercial, off-
MAGTF commanders, and their accompanying the-shelf variant aircraft to provide relevant and
staffs and planners would not have moved via air sustainable OSA for forward-deployed MAGTFs.
in CONUS without OSA. These commercial aircraft are cost effective and
efficiently support distributed operations in
Marine Corps UC-12B aircraft were deployed theaters of war and forward-deployed MAGTFs.
again from March to November 2003 in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). However, the Based on proven civilian transport aircraft de-
signs, the Marine Corps operates aircraft that
aircraft were ultimately withdrawn because they
range in size from 8-passenger, twin-engine
lacked an encrypted communications capability
turbopropellers (turboprops) to 90-passenger jets.
and Mode IV-capable transponders. In 2004, a
As such, Marine Corps OSA assets comprise 7.5
VMR detachment consisting of one UC-35 air-
percent of the DOD OSA fleet. These OSA
craft was deployed to the Arabian Gulf in sup-
aircraft provide scalable options for light
port of Commander, United States Marine Corps
intratheater lift and medium- to long-range lift
Forces, Central Command’s (MARFORCENT’s)
options for intertheater lift. Per Department of
OSA requirements. This newer generation of
Defense Directive (DODD) 4500.56, DOD Policy
OSA aircraft—equipped with encrypted commu-
on the Use of Government Aircraft and Air
nications and a Mode IV transponder capabil-
Travel, Marine Corps OSA wartime requirements
ity—provided the MAGTF commander with
are reviewed annually to ensure the fleet meets
assets that could seamlessly integrate into the
emergency and wartime Service requirements.
existing air command and control (C2) network.
See appendix A for a listing of aircraft in the
In addition, centrally locating OSA assets enabled
OSA fleet.
the crews to support Marines in OIF, Operation
Enduring Freedom (OEF), and OEF-Horn of The OSA aircraft used by the Marine Corps pos-
Africa simultaneously. In 2007, an emerging sess attributes unique to commercial designs, all
enemy surface-to-air, man-portable, infrared mis- of which benefit Marine Corps operations:
sile threat drove the requirement to install air-
craft survivability equipment (ASE) on UC-35D  Low operating costs.
aircraft. Following the deployment of Marine  Exceptionally high mission reliability rates.
Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan in 2009, the Low maintenance required per flight hour.

OSA requirement in MARFORCENT was Efficient, commercially-based aircrew transi-

expanded to include two UC-35D aircraft. tion training.
Small deployed logistic footprint.

The VMR detachment’s performance since 2004
Inconspicuous profile at foreign airports.

demonstrates the important role of OSA in
enabling Marines to plan for and sustain the fight.
These attributes combine to offer a significant set
Furthermore, the availability of OSA assets to the
of advantages, which include the following:
MAGTF commander frees tactical aircraft to con-
duct the combat missions they are designed to do. Preserves the service life of tactical airframes.

Frees tactical airframes to be employed in their

primary missions.
Commercial, Off-the-Shelf Variant Aircraft
Provides access to smaller airfields, enabling

direct movement to an objective.
Within the Department of Defense (DOD), the Provides quick response to emerging mission

US Armed Services operate an inventory of over requirements.
Operational Support Airlift_____________________________________________________________________________________ 1-3
Bridges gaps between commercial cargo carri-
 Role Within the Six
ers and MAGTFs.
Functions of Marine Corps Aviation
Facilitates productive time for commanders

and staffs while en route.
Mitigates force protection risks created by lay- The Marine Corps’ OSA role in the six functions

overs in foreign airports. of Marine Corps aviation falls under assault
support—specifically, air logistic support and air
evacuation. Marine Corps OSA contributes to the
Marine Corps OSA aircraft are most effective in
fixed-wing assault support of MAGTF forces on
low threat environments where the MAGTF has
the ground through air logistic support opera-
air superiority, enemy air defenses have been
tions. Marine Corps OSA aircraft deliver
defeated, and ground combat operations have
Marines, equipment, and supplies to areas beyond
succeeded in driving enemy combat units out of
helicopter range and lift capability or when sur-
known weapons ranges of airfields. Marine Corps
face transportation is too slow, unavailable, or the
UC-12W and UC-35D aircraft are equipped with
threat is too high. Marine Corps OSA relieves
encrypted military radios, Mode IV and Mode V
ACE tactical assault support aircraft for combat
capable transponders, and ASE to support
missions, freeing the aircraft and crews to fight
deployed operations in low threat environments.
and train. Marine Corps OSA provides time-
critical and flexible air logistic support to sustain
all MAGTF operations.
Mission
The mission of Marine Corps OSA is to provide Organization
Marine Corps forces and MAGTFs with time-sen-
sitive air transport of high priority passengers and
Operational support airlift units are located at
cargo and other critical air logistic support
Marine Corps bases throughout CONUS and the
between and within a theater of war, and to other-
Western Pacific (WESTPAC). In CONUS,
wise support Marines as required. Marine Corps
Marine Corps OSA units reside in headquarters
OSA units perform the same airlift missions
and headquarters squadrons (H&HSs) of the
whether deployed or at their home stations,
Marine Corps air stations within Marine Corps
because the mission of providing time-sensitive air
Installations (MCI) East and West, and as stand-
transport remains constant regardless of location.
alone VMR squadrons in 4th MAW and MCI
Unpredictable, short notice movements of high East (VMR-1). In WESTPAC, OSA units reside
priority people and cargo will require an im- in H&HSs of Marine Corps Bases Japan (MCBJ)
mediate response that is not usually compatible and at Marine Corps Air Facility (MCAF)
with the United States Transportation Com- Kaneohe Bay, HI. Figure 1-1, on page 1-4,
mand’s (USTRANSCOM’s) and United States depicts current Marine Corps OSA locations.
Air Force’s airlift missions or commercial route
For OSA units assigned to H&HSs, table of orga-
structures. Marine Corps OSA provides the
nization structure belongs to the Deputy Com-
flexibility to assume this tasking with no impact
mandant for Installations and Logistics. Marine
to existing tactical assault support aircraft
Corps aviators are assigned to manage airfield
priorities. This flexibility is vital to MAGTF
operations under the MCIs and to fly the station
logistics, communications, and security in all
OSA aircraft as a secondary duty. The 4th MAW
phases of deployment.
OSA units are located aboard Naval Air Station,
1-4 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ MCWP 3-27
Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, LA and Joint States Marine Forces Reserve. Marine Corps
Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, Washington, OSA aircraft requirements, plans, policy, and
DC. These squadrons report directly to 4th MAW budget matters are controlled by the Deputy
Headquarters. Reserve table of organization Commandant for Aviation. Appendix B depicts
structure belongs to the Commander, United the organizational structure of all OSA units.
ACTIVE SITE 27 total aircraft (7 stationed in WESTPAC):
ANDREWS
1 C-20G (Gulfstream IV)
S4tIhTMEAW RESERVE 2 C-9B (DC-9) 3xUC-35D
12 UC-35 C/D (Cessna Citation/Encore)
12 UC-12 F/M/W (King Air) CHERRY
POINT
2xC-9B
2xUC-35D
NEW RIVER
IWAKUNI
2xUC-12F
2xUC-12W
BEAUFORT
2xUC-12M
FUTENMA MIRAMAR
BELLE
3xUC-35D 2xUC-35D CHASSE
1xUC-12W 1xUC-12W 2xUC-35C
2xUC-12W
YUMA
KANEOHE BAY 2xUC-12F
1xC-20G
Figure 1-1. Marine Corps OSA Locations.