YECHON AIR FORCE BASE, Republic of Korea -- Spin, slide and splatter - so passes another day for Motor Transport Marines at the Yechon Republic of Korea Air Force Base. Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 Motor T has been deployed since February 27 in preparation for this year's Exercise Foal Eagle. The company plays a crucial role in the squadron's mission to provide aviation ground support to Marine Aircraft Group 12 and Marine Air Control Squadron 18 units in order to facilitate combined fixed wing operations from a forward operating base.
"Our main mission is to transport - whether we're on the runway or on a convoy, or just standing by," said Staff Sgt. Michael Banting, motor transport maintenance chief. "So far we've been on convoys to pick up supplies from all over."
The Marines have dealt with adverse condition, since they arrived. With temperatures sometimes dipping into negative numbers and heavy snowfall icing roads and engines, the obstacles have been formidable.
"It's been challenging," said Cpl. Bruce L. Quintin, wrecker driver. "One night, going down to Pusan to pick up supplies, the ice was six inches thick. Everyone was sliding - you had to think for the other drivers."
Like the powerful, all-terrain vehicles they drive, the operators must be ready for any condition.
"You have to have full awareness at all times," Quintin said. "Emergency situations can appear out of nowhere."
In addition to the transportation of supplies, the mechanics repaired and maintained all the vehicles operated during the exercise.
"Whatever needs to get fixed, we fix," said Banting. "We're looking forward to getting some work done on these vehicles."
As temperatures have warmed, conditions have transformed from ice to mud.
"It makes it harder to see where the problem is on the vehicles we're working on," said Banting. "You might have a problem seeing if something's leaking or if it's just mud."
Conditions may slow them down, but these grease dogs don't stop until the mission is accomplished.
"The work out here is nonstop," said Banting. "If something needs to be fixed, we work on it until it's done. We don't have any other obligations out here."
"What we're doing here plays an essential role in training Marines to support a squadron during a time of war," Quintin added. "Every day that goes by there is a new learning experience."
The work is hard and dirty, but these leathernecks wouldn't have it any other way.
"It's fun being out here with these four-wheel drives," said Banting. "They get a chance to get out and have some fun - especially when they're sliding around."