Marine birds, or more appropriately aircraft, follow a similar concept and use formations to coordinate with each other as they perform in training operations and combat.

Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 practice this concept by conducting section formations and procedures with two KC-130J Hercules cargo aircraft.

Practicing flight formations helps enhance the proficiency of the pilots and crew, allowing them to perform well in a tactical environment. It also builds unit cohesion, according to one pilot with the squadron.

“We don’t get to do this kind of training a lot, but when we do, we get as much as we can out of it,” said Capt. Brian Simmons, flight duty officer and KC-130J co-pilot, VMGR-152, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

The Marines load up and wait in anticipation of the designated time to start the engines and take off.

“There is a specific time where we are supposed to take off and start the training,” said Lance Cpl. Jacob Sheffer, loadmaster with VMGR-152. ”When we take off on schedule, it lets the people at our destination know our estimated time of arrival and whether we will be on time or not.”

Pilots perform formation patterns allowing them to maneuver through the air as a unit. These formations include the standard parade, a formation where the aircraft are slightly below and behind the lead aircraft but at an angle; trail, a formation in which all aircraft are in single file, each directly behind and slightly below the other; and radar trail, similar to trail except that the aircraft are further apart for safety when traveling through inclement weather.

“The pilots practice these formations to become more proficient and get a feel for how the formations are to be performed,” said Cpl. Joseph Ransom, crew chief for VMGR-152.

According to Sheffer, two aircraft often fly from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to MCAS Iwakuni executing about four to five formation changes throughout the duration of the two-hour flight.

“It is better to have a formation when transporting cargo and units because you look like one target instead of two on a radar,” said Capt. Carrie Compton-Martelo, a pilot and flight duty officer with the squadron.

Flight formations are not the only training VMGR-152 participates in, according to Simmons. It also executes fixed-wing air-to-air refueling, aerial deliveries and supports the 1st MAW and III MEF with logistic runs throughout the Asia-Pacific region, he said.

“Any training is good training and helps us be operationally ready,” said Simmons.