Photo By Cpl. Brandon Dulaney | Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 commanding officer Lt. Col. Jeffery Johnson and Sgt....... read more read more
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AL ASAD, Iraq — It was a typical Friday morning aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. The chow halls were jammed packed and the sidewalks filled with people on their way to work or going home after a long night on the job. However, for the 'Sweathogs' of Marine Wing Support Squadron 273, this was no ordinary Friday morning.
They seemed to walk around with a little more pep in their step and a joyous feel surrounded the MWSS headquarters and it was all for good reason; the Sweathogs were going home. Packed up and ready to board airplanes for the long flight home, they managed to squeeze one final mission in, officially handing over the reins of aviation support to the 'Workhorses' of MWSS-271 during a Transfer of Authority ceremony, April 17.
During their tenure here in the sands of Iraq, the Sweathogs were responsible for providing aviation support that included airfield communications, weather services and aircraft and ground refueling to food service, security and law enforcement to motor transport missions, and just about everything in between.
Deemed one of the primary support squadrons here in Iraq, the Sweathogs have travelled throughout the Multi-National Forces - West areas of operation — journeys that have taken them to the Jordanian border and Syrian borders, as south as Mudaysis, north to Sahl Sinjar and east to Fallujah and Baharia.
"As I look back, I couldn't be more proud of these Marines and this squadron," said Lt. Col. William Bowers, the MWSS-273 commanding officer. "They have all made a real difference here in Iraq and have done a great job in supporting the Marine Aircraft Group and the Marine Expeditionary Force here."
"And for the 'Workhorses,' they have a great unit and great Marines," he added. "As they take over, they are very much set up for success."
While the Sweathogs of MWSS-273 gear up for the return trip home, MWSS-271 has taken the lead and looks forward to meeting the challenges to be set before them.
"We have some pretty big shoes to fill," said Lt. Col. Jeffery Johnson, MWSS-271 commanding officer. "We have great Marines here and we look forward to continuing the success of the 'Sweathogs'. We will follow their paths out here and I could only hope that we will be as successful."
"We are excited to be here and we are definitely ready to go," he added.
| Date Taken: | 04.24.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.24.2009 03:31 |
| Story ID: | 32799 |
| Location: | AL ASAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 390 |
| Downloads: | 358 |
This work, 'Workhorses' assume primary aviation support role, by Cpl Brandon Dulaney, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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