Marine Corps nearing initial operational capability for CH-53K heavy lift helicopter

MARINE CORPS READ OF THE DAY

Marine Corps nearing initial operational capability for CH-53K heavy lift helicopter
By Megan Eckstein
Wednesday, Apr 6
U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion aircraft assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) participates in external lift operations during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-22 near Yuma, Arizona, March 29, 2022. (Lance Cpl. Emily Weiss/U.S. Marine Corps)

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The U.S. Marine Corps is on its way to declaring initial operational capability for its CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter this year and moving into full-rate production in 2023, the program manager told reporters April 5.

Col. Jack Perrin said the first CH-53K operational squadron, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461, received its first two helicopters in January and will grow to four aircraft later this month.

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Lt Col Charlie Brown SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SGT Charlie Lee PO2 Marco Monsalve SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth ] SSG William Jones Sgt (Join to see) 1SG Dan Capri CDR Andrew McMenamin, PhD SrA John Monette SPC Nancy Greene SGT Mark Anderson SFC Bernard Walko GySgt Jack Wallace SPC Michael Terrell SGT Steve McFarland