II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd)

Courtesy Story

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Just shy of window washing, checking the tire pressure and expecting a tip, the crews at Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 go beyond the task of quick airborne refuels to make the missions of F/A-18 Hornet pilots as easy as possible aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.

Since August 2009, VMGR-252 has pumped more than 2.2 million pounds of fuel for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112. These squadrons co-exist 18,000 feet above the deserts of Iraq and their cohesive alliance with one another is imperative to ensuring the safety and success of the men and women who serve here.

"Launches that we have are [close air support], hit the tanker and then another [close air support] mission, and that's really where VMGR plays a vital role because we're able to provide significantly longer on-station time as a result of the in-flight refueling capabilities they give us," said Maj. Jason Lower, logistics officer with VMFA-112.

VMGR-252 ensures that the fighter pilots have received every benefit their KC-130J Super Hercules crews can provide, giving them the best possible transition to
the pumps until they break away from the fuel lines and return to the fight.

"It's the little things," noted Lower. "Instead of having to go to the [aerial refuel] track, they'll meet you and turn in the direction you're going so you can snuggle right in there. They'll always ask us if we need to go to a particular [location] and drag us there so we have more fuel. It provides us with additional time to support those convoys and Marines on the ground. That's what separates them from others ... their willingness to accommodate our mission."

Pilots at VMFA-112 have years of experience, with most of their pilots boasting 2,000 flight hours or more, according to Lower. Another honorable mention is the fact that the squadron's most junior pilot will soon be promoted to the rank of major.

"It's interesting because we've had many conversations about our individual experiences here, and when you look at our squadron specifically, we've got very senior guys who have literally hit the tanker thousands of times," said Lower. "The general consensus is that these guys have provided the best support that we've ever experienced and that's a big compliment when you consider the experience level of the unit."

Along with their daily refueling duties, VMGR-252 also conducts missions dealing with the responsible drawdown of Multi National Force – West by transporting cargo and personnel across the vast desert sands and even assisting in the closing of Sahl Sinjar, an expeditionary airfield in Iraq's Ninewa province.

"We closed down Sahl Sinjar, which was one of the biggest things the [detachment] has done, and we also took about 200 men from [3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment] out of Camp Al Taqaddum," said Capt. Brandon Vetter, logistics officer with VMGR-252.

As their flights continue, VMFA-112 and many other units will rely on VMGR-252's services to successfully complete various missions during the final stages of Marine involvement in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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