Marine Wing Support Squadron 371

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Marine Wing Support Squadron 371

MWSS-371's insignia
Active June 2, 1986 - present
Country United States
Branch USMC
Type Aviation ground support battalion
Part of Marine Wing Support Group 37
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Nickname "Sand Sharks"
Engagements Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq '[Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08.1]'
Commanders
Current
commander
LtCol Daniel Longwell, USMC

Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 (MWSS 371) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. The squadron is part of Marine Wing Support Group 37 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Contents

[edit] Mission

Provide all essential Aviation Ground Support requirements to a designated fixed-wing component of an Aviation Combat Element (ACE) and all supporting or attached elements of the Marine Air Control Group.

[edit] History

[edit] The 1980s and 1990s

Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 was activated on June 2, 1986 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. They relocated during April 1985 to MCAS Yuma, Arizona. The squadrons first combat deployment was in support of Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia from August 1990 to April 1991. Elements of MWSS-371 have also participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia from January to May 1993 and Operation Southern Watch over Iraq from March to June 2001.

[edit] Global War on Terror

Following the September 11 attacks elements from the Squadron were deployed to Afghanistan and participated in Operation Enduring Freedom during September to October 2002. Their next deployment would be to Kuwait in February 2003 after which they would participate in the 2003 invasion of Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron deployed once again, this time to Al Taqaddum, Iraq and Camp Korean Village, Iraq from February to September 2005, and once again to the same locations from March to October 2007.

[edit] See also

[edit] References