Jet Stream The
Friday, July 10, 2015 Vol. 50, No. 27 Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.
“The noise you hear is the sound of freedom.” 2 3 facebook.com/MCASBeaufort 3 Beaufort.Marines.mil
Marines on target with F-35 live-weapons release – Page 6
twitter.com/MCASBeaufortSC
Five NATO nations kick off Platinum Lion 15-3 Page 6
Sustaining partnerships: US Marines train Senegalese to fight – Page 7
VMFA-312
soars to Western Pacific
See page 5 for story and photos Photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha K. Torres
Marines board a plane July 8 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The Marines deployed to the Western Pacific as part of the Unit Deployment Program. During their deployment , they will participate in bilateral exchanges, exercises, and theater security and cooperation events. The Marines are with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, Marine Aircraft Group 31.
OPSEC in an Movable missions: MALS-31 uncertain world Marines work how they operate Story by Lance Cpl. Samantha K. Torres Staff Writer
The threat is always there. It’s on television, social media, and newspapers, but as military personnel, it is crucial to the mission to know and understand operational security and situational awareness. Marine Corps Order 3070.2A provides detailed information on how to integrate OPSEC into daily activities, and promotes an overall understanding of OPSEC among all personnel. Operational security keeps potential adversaries from discovering critical and tactical information. “It protects our planned operations as well as those in the process, and the ones we have completed,” said Master Sgt. Latecia Gibbons, the Air Station operation chief. “It’s the process of protecting little pieces of data that could be grouped together to give a bigger picture to our adversaries.” Being vigilant about what’s happening in the surrounding area is known as situational awareness, and works hand-in-hand with OPSEC. It is important to be familiar with both because they protect military personnel and their families. Poor OPSEC practices can be costly and can result in the loss of human life and critical infrastructure. The Tri-Command and Beaufort area routinely have see
OPSEC, page 4
Marines operate inside one of the many mobile facilities of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, June 30. The Marines perform their everyday duties inside the units, and when the time comes, pack up and take the units aboard ships or to foreign countries to continue their mission. The Marines are with MALS-31, Marine Aircraft Group 31. Story and Photos by Lance Cpl. Samantha K. Torres Staff Writer
Courtesy Photo
Taking their work with them is exactly what Marines of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 do. When deployed, the mobile facilities the Marines operate out of are packed up and transported to wherever their mission takes them. The mission of MALS-31 is to provide aviation logistics support, guidance, planning and direction to Marine Aircraft Group 31 squadrons on behalf of the commanding officer, as well as logistics support for Navy funded equipment in the supporting Marine Wing Support
Squadron, Marine Air Control Group, and Marine Aircraft Wing/Mobile Calibration Complex. “Anytime a repairable piece comes off the jets, the squadrons will send it here to MALS-31 supply,” said staff Sgt. Melissa Grudowski, the mobile facility technician assistant noncommissioned officer in charge. “Each shop works on a different piece, and we even have some that pack parachutes.” The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing MALS units work off the SS Wright on the east coast and SS Curtiss on the west coast. Each ship can deploy with over 300 operational mobile maintenance facilities, and is sustainable indefinitely. see
Movable Missions, page 4