Here's the link to it: http://www.wcti12.com/news/30980270/detail.html
Drone Unit Deploys To Afghanistan For Last Time
UPDATED: 6:49 pm EDT April 30, 2012
CRAVEN COUNTY -- More than 50 Cherry Point Marines left for Afghanistan Monday, deployed to fly surveillance drones over the country for the last time.
The VMU-2 Marines operate unmanned drones over the skies of Afghanistan, and were notified this will be their final deployment as the war winds down.
"Marines who go in and kick in doors, they've personally thanked me for saving their lives," Cpl. Joshua Garcia said. "It's a great feeling to be their eyes in the sky."
VMU-2 flies the RQ-7B Shadow drone, a plane that can spot targets from an altitude of 18,000 feet. The Cherry Point unit is now needed to fight a new spring offensive announced three weeks ago by the Taliban and the insurgent Haqqani network.
Flying the unarmed surveillance drones takes teamwork - at least one person to pilot, and at least one person to watch the streaming video feed.
"You have to look if they're carrying any objects, things that are really heavy," LCpl. David Chick said. "Two or three people carrying something wrapped up in a blanket or a tarp or anything."
After months of training to spot insurgents from above, LCpl. Chelsea Melber said the pressure is intense.
"If you make the wrong call, then you could just potentially ruin everything," LCpl. Melber said. "It comes down to the very last second before you can call anything."
Their deployment will last for seven months, on a mission to help a long war draw to a close.
The VMU-2 Marines operate unmanned drones over the skies of Afghanistan, and were notified this will be their final deployment as the war winds down.
"Marines who go in and kick in doors, they've personally thanked me for saving their lives," Cpl. Joshua Garcia said. "It's a great feeling to be their eyes in the sky."
VMU-2 flies the RQ-7B Shadow drone, a plane that can spot targets from an altitude of 18,000 feet. The Cherry Point unit is now needed to fight a new spring offensive announced three weeks ago by the Taliban and the insurgent Haqqani network.
Flying the unarmed surveillance drones takes teamwork - at least one person to pilot, and at least one person to watch the streaming video feed.
"You have to look if they're carrying any objects, things that are really heavy," LCpl. David Chick said. "Two or three people carrying something wrapped up in a blanket or a tarp or anything."
After months of training to spot insurgents from above, LCpl. Chelsea Melber said the pressure is intense.
"If you make the wrong call, then you could just potentially ruin everything," LCpl. Melber said. "It comes down to the very last second before you can call anything."
Their deployment will last for seven months, on a mission to help a long war draw to a close.
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