MALS-12 Marauders: Overcome challenges, committed to support MAG's mission
US Marine Corps News
4/9/2010
By Lance Cpl. Claudio A. Martinez, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
Whether through their first in-brief or conversations with officers or noncommissioned officers, every service member aboard the station has at one time heard that supporting flight operations is the most important mission sailors and Marines have here.
Boasting more than 600 Marines and more than 30 sailors, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 is one of the larger squadrons here, whose service members work together to overcome challenges and are committed to support the operational mission.
The MALS-12 Marauders assert that commitment every day as they work to fulfill their stated mission, which is to provide aviation logistics expertise, planning and material to Marine Aircraft Group 12 and its subordinate tactical aircraft squadrons in order to support operational contingencies, theater security cooperation plans, and training exercises in the Pacific Command area of responsibility.
One of the many challenges MALS-12 faces in accomplishing its mission is making the augmented service members they receive from MALS-11, -13, -14 and -31 feel like they are part of the squadron.
“Unity of effort and unity of thought is vital to the success of the unit,” said Lt. Col. Jonathan O. Gackle, MALS-12 commanding officer. “When Marines and sailors come in here, particularly these (unit deployed program) groups, the message that we want to convey is that they are now Marauders and we want them to take pride in being Marauders.”
The MALS-12 command offers various opportunities for the service members to enjoy their time in Iwakuni through community relations projects in town, squadron functions and family readiness events, which promote unit cohesion and unite the Marauders’ efforts.
If the Marines and sailors enjoy themselves through the opportunities the squadron offers, their attitude will improve and their attitude will directly affect the squadron’s mission readiness, flight line readiness and aviation logistics effectiveness, Gackle said.
The MALS-12 command really tries to drive the message home, that attitude is more important than aptitude, and the attitude in which a service member approaches being here and being a Marauder is going to dictate not only their success or failure, but that of the mission too, Gackle added.
MALS-12, like other squadrons, is made up of various sections and departments that work together to provide the services they are required to give the station’s aviation units.
Sgt. Maj. Drew Benson, MALS-12 sergeant major, said all the squadron’s service members work together, day to day, exchanging ideas and communicating with each other to accomplish the mission.
“Basically, it’s teamwork. I would say in one word, teamwork,” said Benson. “We demand a lot, and knowing our Marines and sailors, we get the job done. We set the bar very high, and they’ve responded.”
Aside from meeting their command’s standards, one of the challenges which the Marauders face, with their squadron being the only permanently forward-deployed MALS in the Marine Corps, is their squadron’s remote location.
“(Being remotely located) presents a whole host of challenges that I don‘t think any other MALS or people external to the unit can fully appreciate,” said Gackle. “That’s what really makes us different. Given all the challenges, we perform our aviation logistic support responsibility. I think we’re second to none in terms of providing services. It is what we do best at MALS-12.”
With 33 Marines and sailors on their roster providing mission essential airframe expertise, the MALS-12 airframes department is just one of the many MALS-12 sections that knows the difficulties that come with being remotely located and what it takes to accomplish their mission.
MALS-12 airframe mechanics are responsible for the operation of the aircraft here by maintaining and replacing parts when necessary.
Sgt. Richard Cover, a MALS-12 airframes non-destructive inspection technician, said sometimes the aviation mechanics have to wait awhile before the necessary avionics parts arrive on station.
“As soon as the parts come in, it doesn’t matter if it’s one o’clock or two o’clock in the morning, we’ll come in at one o’clock or two o’clock in the morning,” said Cover. “We’re always on call. They need that part back to keep that airplane flying. We‘ll work shifts until that piece is done.”
With MALS-12 being one of the larger squadrons aboard the station and subordinate to MAG-12 and its aviation units, it becomes apparent what they believe being a Marauder means by watching them work around the clock.
“What it means to be a Marauder is basically to work at accomplishing the mission to get the planes in the air,” said Cover. “We keep the planes in the air so they can put the bombs on the ground.”
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