VMMT-204
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| Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 | |
|---|---|
 VMMT-204 insignia |
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| Active | May 1, 1972 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Fleet Replacement Squadron |
| Role | Assault support training |
| Part of | Marine Aircraft Group 26 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Air Station New River |
| Nickname | Raptors |
| Tail Code | GS |
| Engagements | None |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Col. Gary Denning |
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 (VMMT-204) is the MV-22 Osprey training squadron of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Raptors", the squadron was originally designated Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron 204 (HMT-204) to train new CH-46E pilots and was officially redesignated as VMMT-204 on June 10, 1999. They fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 26 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
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[edit] Mission
Provide training to both Marine and Air Force Osprey pilots and units in the use and maintenance of the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft currently replacing the Marine Corps fleet of CH-46 and CH-53D helicopters.
[edit] History
The unit was formed at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, on May 1, 1972. Following the Vietnam War, Marine Aircraft Training Group 40 (MATG-40) was deactivated and Marine Medium helicopter Training Squadron-401 and Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron-402 were combined to form HMT-204.
HMT-204 was originally a composite training squadron, tasked with training both CH-46 and CH-53 pilots. In January 1986, the commanding officer of HMT-204 accepted the first fleet model of the CH-46E Survivability, Reliability and Maintainability (SR&M).
In June 1988, HMT-302 assumed responsibility for training all CH-53 pilots and the last CH-53 departed HMT-204. On November 9, 1988, HMT-204 was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for meritorious service in support of Fleet Marine Force units during 1987. In October 1993, HMT-301 was deactivated and HMT-204 became the single site Fleet Readiness Squadron for the entire Marine Corps CH-46E community. As a result of this transition, HMT-204 earned the distinction of being the largest CH-46E squadron in the Marine Corps. Additionally, October 1993 saw the establishment of the Fleet Replacement Enlisted Skills Training (FREST) Program. HMT-204 FREST provides comprehensive technical training for officers and enlisted in the operation, maintenance and repair of the CH-46E aircraft and associated equipment.
In fulfilling its then primary mission of training all CH-46E pilots and crew chiefs, HMT-204 has trained over 1,800 CH-46E replacement aircrew (basic, refresher, modified refresher and conversion pilots), over 275 instructor pilots and over 450 crew chiefs.
Additionally, over 100 AV-8B pilots have completed the vertical flight familiarization syllabus, in the CH-46. In December 1995, HMT-204 broke new ground for training pilots and crew chiefs in night formation, night vision goggle operations, terrain flight, navigation and formalized aircrew coordination training.
Since being commissioned, HMT-204 amassed over 95,000 CH-46 class "A" mishap-free flight hours. In recognition of this significant achievement, the squadron has been the recipient of the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award in fiscal years 1977, 1994, and 1997.
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VMMT-204 received in April 1999, from Raytheon Systems Company, a new motion-based operational flight trainer (OFT) to train Marine Corps and Air Force instructors to fly the Osprey. The OFT will provide the pilot with computer-generated horizontal and vertical visual scenes within a 24-foot dome. Both out-of-window visual scenes and forward-looking infrared imagery are made possible by the OFT's six-channel visual-display system. Its full range of motion also allows pilots to get "a real feel" of both acceleration and deceleration and gives them the opportunity to train in a broad spectrum of simulated environments.
In 1999, the squadron became Fleet Replacement Squadron for MV-22 "Osprey" tilt-rotor pilots and aircrew. The change of aircraft meant a change in designation, so HMT-204 was redesignated VMMT-204. As of the end of 2007, VMMT-204 has trained over 150 MV-22 pilots for the first three Marine Corps MV-22 squadrons, and the first USAF CV-22 squadron.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Notes
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
- Bibliography
- Web
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