European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 2, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday november 2,1994 the stars and stripes Page 3of nowhere but its Job is big by Marc Mcfann "u.k. Bureau. I Raf Machrihanish Scotland its Safe to say that everybody knows everybody on Raf Machrihanish. The Small base on a the westernmost portion of Scotland Midway along the Kintyre Peninsula has All of 40 people assigned to it. When you consider that almost 1,000 sailors Are stationed in Scotland Raf Machrihanish is not even a Ripple in a Small Pond. Despite its size Machrihanish serves As a prime training site for rotating Navy 16-Man special forces teams known As seals who Are skilled in sea air and land combat techniques. A this place is unique in that it was built for seals based on input by seals Quot said cmdr. Kim Erskine commander of the seals Erskine training unit at Machrihanish. A it s probably one of the Best training areas left in the world for what we do. One of the things i Tell everyone when they come Here is that if you can train Here survive in this climate operate and do a Mission you can do it a i am Happy to be out Here in the Middle of nowhere said Navy it. Alex Krongard operations officer for naval special warfare unit 2 at Machrihanish. A a it a far away from the flagpole so people Are not looking Over you re shoulder every second of the Day. You just do what you have to the base is scheduled to close officials said. However when and where unit 2 will move have not been announced. Once a maritime patrol Craft runway Machrihanish supported plenty of planes and people when its Mission entered on anti submarine warfare. However with the reduction of the former soviet Fleet the anti submarine Mission subsided. A there is great Utility in this base for the business we do Quot Erskine said. A where other opportunities Are declining in theater for the ability to support special operations there is great potential Here that exists nowhere else. What i would like to see is to put All the military a special operations forces in a single still Erskine said the base should be maintained because its Active runway would be Ideal a out of a contingency response a that runway out there which serves British air is the Lifeblood of Kintyre a he a. Is amps Cito Bongioanni a member of the seals a name withheld for Security reasons a unloads gear at Raf Machrihanish Scotland. Added. A Kintyre is virtually an Island and that is the Only Airstrip in All of Kintyre. It serves As the runway for the air ambulance and provides the air link to the facilities at Machrihanish apparently Mirror the. Bases size and remoteness. They have a Small one room Exchange commissary and a four Lane Bowling Alley. Personnel at the base run their own pass and id office housing office morale welfare and recreation activities club rations Post office and whatever else is needed to support the base. A the biggest thing i miss is fast food Quot said it. Matt Banks the training officer. A initially it was a big adjustment for my wife but after she got involved she really enjoys it. We have a great mar. She went on a 17-mile kayak trip this weekend and she does Wall climbing. A there is just a lot of stuff for her to do. She is happier Here than she was in san Diego. You have a Beautiful Countryside Friendly people and a Small command where you get to meet Krongard refers to life on the base As being a like a throwback to the Way the military was 30 or 40 years ago Quot he said. He also enjoys the intimacy of knowing the people assigned to the base and their this is the first time i could Tell you the names of the kids of every person i work a a two seals a members of the Navy a special forces a practice their target shooting skills at the base in Scotland. A amps Carlos Bongioanni you get out you adjust a and soon you love it by Marc Mcfann . Bureau Raf Edzell Scotland there maybe 2,000 americans in Raf Edzell but a this is not Little America Quot says Kim Sargent a Navy civilian who works on the Remote base. A you Are in the Middle of Scotland Quot she noted. A a Mcdonald a is not Down the Street but who needs it there is some culture Shock when you first get Here you have to get used to the heating systems in the houses the individual faucets and cooking on a Small stove. But its not a big Deal. You Raf Edzell rests at the base of the Grampian mountains Between the northeastern scottish towns of Aberdeen and Dundee. It is the largest single concentration of Navy personnel stationed in the United kingdom. A we have had a fabulous tour Here Quot said Sargent a publicity specialist at the information tickets and Tours office at Edzell. A we enjoy travelling Quot she said. �?oout1 first year Here we drove through France Germany and Belgium. We have been to London a dozen times to see shows and musicals. People that done to like it Here Are the people who done to get out and done top there Are about 2,000 . Military and family members on the base that has existed since 1960. The neighbouring Village of Edzell has a population of about 700. The Basic Mission of the base is to operate a High frequency direction finding facility and provide communications support to Navy and other defense department and nato elements. Small contingents of army air Force and Marine corps units Are also present at Edzell. A veil of secrecy a along with vigilant Security guards a surrounds Edzell because details of the Mission Are classified. Despite the cloak and Dagger sailors seem to enjoy the assignment. A i done to think you could get any better duty Quot said master chief a a Petty officer Bob Owens who credits the command for an effective program of upgrading the Community. A in my 28 i years of service i have not seen As Many Quality of life improvements in such a Short period of time As i have seen the base trumpets its Community relations with the surrounding Community especially after recently winning the Navy league award that recognizes such work. A we probably have the Best Community relations in be Ever seen in the Navy a said Owens the top no at the base. A i love the country and i love the
