Marines from L Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, and Marines from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), joined with Royal Air Force crews of 1419 Flight Squadron, Joint Aviation Group, 3MAW (FWD), during Operation Arrow Hunter Jan. 13 along Route 1 in Helmand province Afghanistan. HMLA-169 Marines provided overwatch for the 3/25 Marines and the EH101 Merlin crew of 1419 Flight Squadron with a UH-1Y Huey and an AH-1W Cobra. The 3/25 Marines set up snap vehicle checkpoints along Route 1 in three separate areas at three times to show that, with the use of helicopters, they can set up a snap VCP anywhere, anytime.

Marine Corps video produced by Marine Sgt. Deanne Hurla


Click to view image: 'Merlin'
Marines from Lima Company, 3d Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, board a EH101 Merlin with 1419 Flight Squadron, Joint Aviation Group, 3d MAW (Fwd), along Route 1 in Western Kandahar province during Joint Operation Aero Hunter Jan. 13, 2011.