MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Among all the different units aboard the air station here, one stands alone. Being the smallest non-air wing unit here, Combat Logistics Company 36 stays committed each day to providing supply support, engineer ground equipment maintenance and intermediate motor transport to the air wing, ultimately ensuring Marines have the necessary tools to achieve mission accomplishment in garrison or combat.
“We are the smallest non-wing unit at the air station, and we’re focused onground-side support,” said Maj. James S. Whiteker, commanding officer of CLC-36. CLC-36 is a vital support element to Marine Wing Support Squadron 171.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 returned to its home base Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C. March 11 after completing a six-month deployment under the Unit Deployment Program here.
CLC-36, parented by Combat Logistics Regiment 35, falls under the 3rd Marine Logistics Group. CLC-36’s mission is to provide sustained combat logistics through maintenance, supply and operational services to III Marine Expeditionary Force units here and other geographic locations as directed by the commanding general of 3rd Marine Logistics Group.
“Because of us, the base continues to run the way it does,” said 1st Sgt. Michael J. Pritchard, senior enlisted advisor of CLC-36.
Not only does the unit prepare vehicles and equipment in support of Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, but many of the postal, Marine Corps Exchange and Travel Management Office Marines are attached to CLC-36.
“We work very closely with MWSS-171, and we work very well with them,” said Whiteker.
Due to the amount of CLC-36 Marines providing personnel for the Fleet Assistance Program, the unit usually has to operate with about 50 percent of its total personnel.
“We have all the components of a battalion with one-third of the personnel,” said Gunnery Sgt.Kent Sabido, operations chief of CLC-36.
Along with the Marines providing assistance to the station, many of the CLC-36 Marines are frequently deploying to various countries for training and providing support for Operation Enduring Freedom.
Nine of the unit’s Marines are currently in Afghanistan. Since the unit could deploy at any time under any 3rd MLG command, the unit must go through various types of training and excersizes to keep its Marines prepared to perform under any situation.
Gunnery Sgt. Rafael Miranda, maintenance chief of CLC-36, said the maintenance portion of the unit participates in training at Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan, and Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., to keep maintenance Marines updated on new equipment systems and technology.
“We perform any training to prepare us as warriors … and… to prepare the company to be combat ready,” said Sabido.
If the unit isn’t overseas training, both Miranda and Sabido said they try to make sure their Marines are engaged in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, rifle qualification, swim qualification and various on-base programs to keep the Marines in positive, progressive
activities during their tour here.
“Marines enjoy being a part of CLC-36 because they’re always doing things,” said Pritchard. “They’re never just sitting stagnant.”
The busy schedule of a CLC-36 Marine doesn’t preclude any of them from maintaining all Marine Corp standards. CLC-36 Marines still must attend weekly physical training, which
sometimes may be up to five times a week.
“We usually do cross training,” said Sgt. Joseph W. Diedrick, fort chief of CLC-36 here. “We PT sometimes five times and sometimes three times a week depending on the downtime we have.”
The unit has many responsibilities to juggle on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, but even with the occasional absence of personnel the unit strives to perfect its duties.
“We are the group behind the fighting force,” said Miranda.
Overall, CLC-36 has many faces and responsibilities here. Whether a Marine is retrieving mail or patrolling in a Humvee, CLC-36 contributes to the mission accomplishment of other Marine Corp units around the world.
“I think we work well together everywhere we go,” said Pritchard. “We’re giving the support the air station needs to perform its operations.”