Marines depart after successful mission

[thedrifter]

Marines depart after successful mission
Submitted by: Headquarters Marine Corps
Story Identification Number: 20031229124647
Story by Tech. Sgt. William J. Seabrook Jr.



MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyz Republic (Dec. 13, 2003) -- Marine Air Control Squadron 2 departed here Dec. 13 after a 19-month mission providing air traffic control services to the international coalition effort in Operation Enduring Freedom.

With the departure of the Marine detachment, their former mission is now completely in the hands of Air Force civilian contractors to provide all ATC services to the base.

The detachment originally arrived here in April 2002 with 80 members, according to Chief Warrant Officer Edward Cutshall, the detachment commander.

"We were responsible for all Air Traffic Control services on this base," he said. "We had controllers, technicians and maintainers - we operated as a self contained unit."

However, in October 2002 they began downsizing as part of their mission was turned over to contractors.

"Our numbers have been declining for a little over a year now, and we removed all of our controllers from the air traffic control tower just over a month ago," said Cutshall. "Since then, we have been providing Tactical Air Navigation services to the base - in effect, operating and maintaining a vital navigational beacon for incoming aircraft."

The Marines are proud of their service here and what they've been able to accomplish, according to Gunnery Sgt. Brian Schneider, the detachment NCOIC.

"During the past 19 months, the base has been without TACAN services for just 23 hours," he said. "That's a 98 percent mission effectiveness rate and says a lot about the talent, ability and drive of our young Marines deployed here.

"I'm extremely proud of the job that they have done here."

The sergeant went on to say that his people have been proud to serve here alongside the coalition forces in the war against terrorism.

"This base is a vital hub for resupply in the Afghanistan area of responsibility and with the numbers and type of aircraft that land here we know our services have been vital," said Schneider. "We're proud to have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with our Coalition partners in this effort."

The Marine leaders also had nothing but positive things to say about their Air Force hosts - the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing.

"The Air Force has been supportive of us our entire time here," said Cutshall. "They made sure we had everything we needed to operate and bent over backwards to make sure our personal needs were taken care of. They made us feel like part of the team."

Even though their portion of the mission is ending the Marines of this detachment know there is much work to left be done.

"This base is vital to the war on terrorism and I expect the mission will continue for some time to come," said Cutshall. "I would like to personally thank the men and women of Manas for including us as an integral part of this Coalition team and all of us look forward to serving with you again."

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2...17?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger