MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C., -- Marines assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing return to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, August 3, 2017.
The Marines were deployed in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations in both the United States European and Africa commands with aerial responsibilities that included two national tasking missions; five coalition exercises; and roughly 12 bilateral flight training events. In total, the squadron flew approximately 1100 hours; moved 2,500 passengers; provided 600,000 pounds of fuel during aerial refueling operations and moved roughly 700,000 pounds of cargo around that area.
“The mission that these Marines deployed to support is Special Purpose MAGTF,” said Lt. Col. Brendan Burks, the commanding officer of VMGR-252. “For VMGR-252, this was our 11th continuous detachment to go out and support this mission since 2013. We just sent our 12th one out this last week, and now we are recovering our 11th. [The Marines] are sent out there to help support the 23 high risk embassies at North, East and West Africa.”
Burks had a very specific message to the returning Marines.
“Welcome back and thank you for a job well done,” said Burks. “Now get your sea bags, go home and spend some time with your family and your friends. We’re very excited to have them back.”