MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (June 2) -- Every Marine is supposed to be ready for deployment at all times. A group of officers is putting their readiness to the test. A group of second lieutenants conducted training aboard Cherry Point May 12 to learn how to control airstrikes. These lieutenants had been pulled out of the waiting pool for flight school to conduct this training.
2nd Lt. Brian C. Neri studies proper procedures prior to finalizing an airstrike against enemy troops in the open, two grid squares in front of his position. Neri and a group of fellow 2nd lieutenants were practicing calling in airstrikes behind the headquarters building aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point May 12 prior to being deployed to combat units in Afghanistan as individual augments.
Fellow Marine officers learn the process of calling in airstrike support as 2nd Lt. Brian C. Neri directs his instructor, Capt. John W. Pelzer, to bring his toy aircraft against enemy troops in the open, simulated by the plastic soldiers two grid squares in front of Neri’s position. These Marines built this scale terrain model of a Camp Lejeune bombing range behind the headquarters building May 12 to practice procedures before going to Camp Lejeune to conduct live fire exercises. The officers were awaiting classes at the flight school in Pensacola, Fla., but were pulled from the waiting pool to train for becoming individual augments to combat units in Afghanistan where they would help control airstrikes.
2nd Lts. Timothy A. Keriazes, left, and John C. Lee prepare for their next airstrike against enemy targets on a terrain model of a Camp Lejeune bombing range behind the headquarters building aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point May 12. This training, and further training at the Camp Lejeune bombing range is meant to prepare junior officers for becoming individual augments to combat units in Afghanistan where they can help direct airstrikes against insurgent targets.