Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 provided ordnance, supply and personnel to assist Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 in the endeavors focused on by Exercise Max Thunder 14-1 aboard Gwangju Air Base, Republic of Korea.    

Max Thunder is a semi-annual training event consisting of composite and coalition flight training between the U.S. military and the Republic of Korea Air Force.

Ordnancemen with MALS-12 provided the inert ordnance fired during the exercise, including MK-76 practice bombs for air-to-ground exercises and laser guided training rounds to train in close air support missions.

“VFMA-122 may not have the organic qualifications to transport ordnance, but that does not impede the quality of work that they do, it just presents MALS-12 the opportunity to assist and train with our squadron’s counter parts.” said Sgt. Matthew Ehler, the quality assurance and safety observation officer with MALS-12 for MT 14-1.

While ordnance Marines provided support on the ground, supply Marines were busy ensuring VMFA-122 received mission essential equipment, such as liquid oxygen, generators and ordnance slated to be used. Each supply Marine participating in MT 14-1 received special training on how to operate the stand alone material management system or SAMMS.

The muscle behind MALS-12 came from ground support equipment Marines. The assets GSE provided in support of MT 14-1 included: self-driven weapons loaders to support ordnance operations of MALS-12; mobile electric power plants which support VMFA-122 avionic operations; and hydraulic generators which support VMFA-122 airframes.

“There is no air support without ground support,” said Gunnery Sgt. John Kinghton, the MALS-12 staff noncommissioned officer in charge for MT 14-1. “The combined support package MALS-12 provides is a tailored element of support that is vital to VMFA-122 while operating in a deployed environment.”