Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. -- More than 80 Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Jan. 27, marking the end of a six-month deployment to Moron Air Base, Spain.
While deployed, the Marines supported Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response, flying missions as part of Operation United Assistance, the United States led effort to stop the spread of Ebola in Africa.
Pilots and crewmembers with the detachment also traveled across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, assisting with missions of the Black Sea Rotational Force.
“The Marines did an excellent job throughout the entire deployment,” said Maj. Rodney C. Rodriguez, the officer in charge of the detachment with the squadron. “This was the best detachment of Marines I’ve seen in awhile.”
According to Rodney, a native of Reno, Nev., the Marines sustained a high level of readiness throughout the deployment and responded to more than 650 alert service requests.
“Throughout the deployment, the Marines conducted more than 5,000 maintenance man-hours and had amazing success supporting and watching over the many embassies around Europe and the Middle East,” said Rodriguez.