ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE BASE DARWIN, Australia -- A detachment of the Sumos deployed here recently to support Southern Frontier 2003.These 21 maintenance and aircrewmen are based out of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, and came to provide a one-stop service shop in the sky during the Marine Aircraft Group 12 exercise.The Sumos came equipped with two KC-130s that will be used to provide tactical aerial refueling support to Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadrons 242 and 224 and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212 as they conduct air-to-ground core competency training.Capt. Bryan S. Clifton, VMGR-152 pilot, said most of the training the Sumos will receive here is "pretty standard, because aerial refueling is our primary mission. But completing our mission extends the capabilities of the squadrons and allows them to complete their own mission."By providing the F/A-18 pilots with fuel while en route, "we give them the opportunity to fly for longer periods of time which enhances their training," he added.Clifton said the combined training between the fixed-wing assets is important to ensure the standardization "between us and those we support. When it comes down to the real deal, we don't want to have to learn our lessons out on the battlefield. We want to identify our problems now."In addition to daily support to the squadrons and normal training such as low altitude tactics, formations and long-range, fixed-wing aerial refueling, Cpl. Mark R. Smith, VMGR-152 loadmaster, said his unit is taking advantage of the opportunity to get in some unique training at the Delamere Range Facility."Specific training that we can do out here that we can't do in a lot of other places is landing and taking off from temporary landing zones," said Clifton, which, he explained, are short, unimproved airstrips usually made from dirt or gravel. Because the Sumos provide aerial refueling support to the entire Pacific Rim, Staff Sgt. Shaune E. Kidd, VMGR-152 navigator, said his enlisted aircrewmen spend an average of 250-270 days a year deployed. "A majority of the time a 1st Marine Aircraft Wing asset goes on a deployment, the Sumos are there to support them," he added.During 2002 alone, "the Sumos flew 1,801 sorties, totaling 5,000 hours," said Clifton. "Throughout the year, over six million pounds of fuel were transferred during aerial and rapid ground refueling operations."From operations in Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and the Philippines to Guadalcanal, Micronesia and Turkey, "VMGR-152 is unique in its ability to rapidly deploy forces throughout the Pacific Theater on a continual basis," said Chief Warrant Officer Scott Burke, Navigation officer-in-charge. "Every time we take off, our destination is a foreign country."The Sumos added to their list of deployments recently when an element of the crew was used to support a movement of aircraft and troops from VMFA(AW)-242, MAG-12 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 to Singapore for Landing Force CARAT. "We provided long-range, fixed-wing aerial refueling during the movement," said Clifton. "This capability provides the Marine Corps the ability to extend its air power."Even through the busy lifestyle associated with being part of the Sumo team, 1st Lt. Joseph G. Parker, VMGR-152 embarkation officer, said his Marines have done an awesome job."Morale is good, and we are completing our missions," added Clifton.