MWSG-37 bids farewell

Photo By Cpl. Christopher Johns | Col. Drew T. Doolin, the commanding officer for Marine Wing Support Group 37 and a Peotone, Ill., native, prepares to give his final order to his command, to fall out for the final time as MWSG-37, June 15. After the deactivation of the unit, the Marines under its command will be absorbed by various Marine Aircraft Groups throughout 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, UNITED STATES

06.15.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Christopher Johns 

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – After years of service and support, Marine Wing Support Group 37 held a deactivation ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., June 15 as the organization’s Marines relocate to different units where their support is still needed.

Current and former commanding officers of MWSG-37 spoke in memory of the actions and impact the squadron has had on the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the Marine Corps, supporting its aircraft element.

“As an adaptive and living organization, the Marine Corps must respond to current fiscal and organizational realities and position itself for a bright future as America’s expeditionary force in readiness,” said Col. Drew T. Doolin, the commanding officer for MWSG-37 and a Peotone, Ill., native. “The Commandant’s planning guidance of 2010 set the path for our future when he stated that ‘we will rebalance our Corps, posture it for the future and aggressively experiment with and implement new capabilities and organizations.’ In doing so, change is inevitable.”

Reorganization in the Marine Corps, according to Doolin, is nothing new.

The Group was activated July 1, 1953, in Miami as Marine Wing Service Group 37, and then relocated to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in September 1955. On April 1, 1967, Marine Wing Service Group 37 was reorganized and became Marine Wing Support Group 37.

Ten years later, in 1977, a new program was instituted called Combined Service Support Program. This program transferred all engineering and motor transport Marines and their equipment from 3rd MAW to MWSG-37.

However, constant change is not what the Marines with MWSG-37 see throughout daily life.

“Working here has given me a lot of experience, working with higher ranking Marines and at a faster tempo than normal to support four other squadrons is demanding,” said Lance Cpl. Guffen Hearst, an administrative clerk with the group and an Atlanta native. “The group is the best thing that could have happened to me career wise. I feel confident that I could go to any other unit and perform well just because of what we do here.”

MWSG-37 is responsible for overseeing the performance of Marine Wing Support Squadrons 371, 372, 373 and 374 who provide necessary support to all flying squadrons under 3rd MAW command.

“What is unique about MWSG-37 is that we only have one squadron at MCAS Miramar,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Palmer, the executive officer for the group and an Atlanta native. “The rest are at Camp Pendleton, Yuma and Twentynine Palms, spreading our resources.”

Now that the group is deactivating, the support squadrons will be absorbed where they are needed into the Marine Aircraft Groups throughout 3rd MAW.

Though the Marines with MWSG-37 and its subsidiary squadrons are being moved to different MAGs they will continue to provide the same service.

As the ceremony came to a close the current, and final commanding officer of MWSG-37 had one final point to add.

“As we pause to reflect on the outstanding Marines and sailors who have served so admirably during these many years we look out at these fine Marines before you who represent, the over 2,500, Marines and sailors of MWSG 37, I say ‘thank you’ for your service,” said Doolin. “I am proud to serve with each and every one of you. It has been a pleasure to command alongside the commanders of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.”

• Date Taken: 06.15.2012
• Date Posted: 06.15.2012 20:13
• Story ID: 90093
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, US