Marines excel on international stage Published Jan. 24, 2014 By Jenny Gordon Robins Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE , Ga. -- The Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 at Robins not only participates in local exercises with troops from as near as Fort Benning, Ga., but also as far away as the West African coast. A group of 16 Marines stationed here participated in one recent international exercise known as Africa Partnership Station. Under U.S. Africa Command, the initiative has grown during the last several years to include a series of activities designed to build maritime safety and security in Africa. This exercise was notable in many ways for HMLA 773. It was the first time the helicopters were involved in the APS exercise, according to Capt. Bradley Keller, HMLA 773 assistant operations officer, and the first time this type of helicopter was embarked aboard a foreign ship. "The exercise by all accounts went extremely well and was very successful." Keller said. "It was also the last deployment for the UH-1N." For three months in 2013, the Red Dogs squadron, which also includes units in Louisiana and New Jersey, supported the mission with two UH-1N Huey helicopters, which are maintained and fly out of Robins. The exercise took place aboard a Dutch ship, combining military engagements among partnership nations such as Holland, Spain and the United Kingdom. "The Hueys helped with training, providing support to whatever was needed," said Keller. "We provided a contingency plan for casualty evacuation in case something happened during training and we needed to quickly get personnel back to the ship." Each year the squadron also participates in an integrated training exercise with Reserve air and ground units at Twentynine Palms, Calif., as well as supporting training exercise Raven at Fort Irwin, Calif., an aviation exercise which provides close-air support to Marine Corps Special Operations Command. In Georgia, they also fly and provide support with units at Forts Stewart and Benning, and Moody Air Force Base. While Marines stationed with HMLA 773 participate in major exercises throughout the year, 2014 will usher in a new era for one of its historic aircraft. The Marine Corps' UH-1N fleet of light-lift utility helicopters, one of many variants of the 'Huey' designed in the 1950s, is scheduled to be replaced with the new UH-1Y models. HMLA 773 is scheduled to receive its first aircraft in June, according to Lt. Col. David Steele, Marine Aircraft Group 49 Detachment A commanding officer. Maintainers and air crews from Robins have been regularly attending training events at Camp Pendleton, Calif. "I'm extremely excited about it," said Staff Sgt. Scott Schamber, avionics division staff NCOIC, who took a first deployment of the new UH-1Y in 2009. "It's long-awaited." The UH-1Y, a four-bladed utility helicopter, will feature upgraded glass cockpit avionics and increased performance in range and speed. "With the new aircraft, it has much bigger engines and transmission, so it has a lot more power. It offers a bigger payload where we can carry more," he said. "Overall, it's a lot bigger and faster." HMLA 773 is the Marine Corp Reserves' only attack helicopter squadron. The Red Dogs squadron includes AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters as well as the UH-1N Hueys, which perform close support functions overseas and stateside.