Marine Wing Support Squadron 172
Encyclopedia
Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 (MWSS 172) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps
. Known as the "Firebirds", they are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
, Okinawa, Japan. The squadron is part of Marine Wing Support Group 17
and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
.
In 2001 MWSS-172 relocated to Camp Foster
and continues to support MCAS Futenma and Marine Aircraft Group 36 (MAG-36). MWSS-172 has assisted and supported many real world operations to include: Operation Desert Storm, Operation Sea Angel, Operation Restore Hope, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. Known as the "Firebirds", they are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma or MCAS Futenma is a United States Marine Corps base located in Ginowan, northeast of Naha, on the island of Okinawa. It is home to approximately 4,000 Marines of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and has been a U.S. military airbase since the island was occupied...
, Okinawa, Japan. The squadron is part of Marine Wing Support Group 17
Marine Wing Support Group 17
Marine Wing Support Group 17 is a United States Marine Corps aviation ground support unit based at Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan...
and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps that serves as the Aviation Combat Element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is headquartered at Camp Foster on the island of Okinawa, Japan...
.
Mission
Provide all essential Aviation Ground Support requirements to a designated rotary-wing component of a Marine Aviation Combat Element. Additionally, an implied mission is to supplement airbase facilities and services at a collocated Marine Corps Air Station, which is performed aboard MCAS Futenma.History
Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 was activated at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on 16 June 1986. After MWSS-174 was disbanded, MWSS-172 became the sole support squadron on Okinawa. The Squadron continually grew adding enhanced motor transport and engineer capabilities. Originally located on Ie Shima, the Squadron made numerous improvement while stationed there. To include: construction of a control tower, a state-of-the-art Close-in Approach Indicator guidance system, and a Vertical Short Take-off and Landing (VSTOL) facility. This VSTOL facility is the only one of its kind in the Western Pacific. Since the facility’s beginnings on Ie Shima, MWSS-172 has been responsible for maintenance and serviceability of the VSTOL strip, to include the complete replacement of 432648 square feet (40,194.3 m²) of AM-2 matting, as well as the coral resurfacing of the entire runway on Ie Shima. MWSS-172 deployed to Camp Al Asad from March 2008 to October 2008 in support of OIF.In 2001 MWSS-172 relocated to Camp Foster
Camp Foster
Camp Foster, formerly known as Camp Zukeran, is a United States Marine Corps camp located in Ginowan City on the Japanese prefecture island of Okinawa. It is part of the Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler complex, and named after the Medal of Honor recipient PFC William A...
and continues to support MCAS Futenma and Marine Aircraft Group 36 (MAG-36). MWSS-172 has assisted and supported many real world operations to include: Operation Desert Storm, Operation Sea Angel, Operation Restore Hope, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
See also
- United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
- Organization of the United States Marine CorpsOrganization of the United States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is organized within the Department of the Navy, which is led by the Secretary of the Navy . The most senior Marine officer is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, and equipping the Marine Corps so that it is ready for...
- List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units