MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, Okinawa --
The 2011 Commandant’s Aviation Trophy, part of the 2011 Marine Corps Aviation Awards, was awarded to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, for outstanding performance of a Marine aviation squadron.
“This award for sustained performance is a testament to the hard work and commitment by all the Marines in VMGR-152 who quietly work nights, weekends and long hours to keep these airplanes flying and the squadron functioning 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Lt. Col. John M. Peck, VMGR-152’s commanding officer.
The squadron, known as the “Sumos,” provided support to combat operations in Afghanistan while surpassing 270,000 mishap-free flight hours. The squadron also flew missions in the Republic of Korea, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Singapore, Kingdom of Thailand and Kingdom of Cambodia throughout the year.
Currently, VMGR-152 is actively supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in mainland Japan as part of Operation Tomodachi.
“VMGR-152 is unique in that we don’t support individual detachments or exercises one at a time,” said Peck. “We support every (III) MEF exercise concurrently, maintaining a two-plane detachment in support of (Operation Enduring Freedom) and routinely execute short notice support requests from units requiring logistics or training support. That’s about ten aircraft deployed around the globe at any given time.”
The Commandant’s Aviation Award was established in 1969, and VMGR-152 has received the award twice before – in 1992 and again in 1993. The award was established to recognize the best overall performance and accomplishment of all assigned tasks by an active or reserve Marine squadron.
“What is especially satisfying is the fact that not only have our Marines excelled in their mission to support III MEF but have also won an unprecedented amount of meritorious promotion boards, Wing- and Group-level Marine of the Quarter and Year awards and the USO Okinawa Service Member of the Year Award,” said Peck.
Award recipients will be recognized during the 40th annual MCAA Symposium and Awards Dinner scheduled for May 19-21 in San Diego.