Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 (MALS-36) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps

United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...

. Nicknamed Bladerunner, they are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma

Marine Corps Air Station Futenma

Marine Corps Air Station Futenma or MCAS Futenma is a United States Marine Corps base located in Ginowan, northeast of Naha, on the island of Okinawa. It is home to approximately 4,000 Marines of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and has been a U.S. military airbase since the island was occupied...

, Okinawa, Japan and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 36

Marine Aircraft Group 36

Marine Aircraft Group 36 is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , itself an integral part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, and based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in...

 (MAG-36) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing

1st Marine Aircraft Wing

The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps that serves as the Aviation Combat Element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is headquartered at Camp Foster on the island of Okinawa, Japan...

 (1st MAW).

Mission

Provide aviation logistics support guidance, and direction to Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) squadrons on behalf of the Commanding Officer; as well as logistics support for Navy-funded equipment in the supporting Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS), Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS), and Marine Aircraft Wing/Mobile Calibration Complex (MAW/MCC).

4 means of accomplishing this mission are:

• Provide intermediate level maintenance for aircraft and aeronautical equipment of all supported units and, when authorized, perform first-degree repair on specific engines.
• Provide aviation supply support for aircraft and Navy-funded equipment to all supported units.
• Provide Class V(a) ammunition logistics support to the MAG's squadrons. This support encompasses the requisitioning, storage, handling, assembly, transportation, and inventory reporting of Class V(a) ammunition. Be capable of planning for, and operating, an airfield ammunition issue point at expeditionary airfields.
• Interpret, implement, audit, inspect, and provide oversight for the MAG, CO, of all policies and procedures relating to the administration and management of operations and maintenance, Navy (less TAD) funds, aviation supply, and aircraft.

Early history

Squadron was established in June 1952 at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin

Marine Corps Air Station Tustin

Tustin Legacy is a planned community in Tustin, California being developed on the former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin. The project, under construction, will include parks, a commercial retail center and various densities of housing, for a total of 4,600 units.The City’s vision for Tustin Legacy...

, California, as Headquarters Squadron 36, and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36

Marine Aircraft Group 36

Marine Aircraft Group 36 is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , itself an integral part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, and based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in...

, Air Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. Redesignated 15 February 1954 as Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 36.

Vietnam War

Deployed during August 1965 to Chu Lai

Chu Lai

Chu Lai is a sea port, urban and industrial area in Dung Quat Bay, Núi Thành district, Quang Nam province of Vietnam. The city is served by Chu Lai Airport.-Vietnam War:...

, Republic of Vietnam, and reassigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing

1st Marine Aircraft Wing

The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps that serves as the Aviation Combat Element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is headquartered at Camp Foster on the island of Okinawa, Japan...

. Participated in the Vietnam War

Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...

 from September 1965 through November 1969, operating from Ky Ha and Phu Bai. They redeployed during November 1969 to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa.

Post Vietnam and the 90's

The squadron was redesignated 1 October 1988 as Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36. Since then they have participated in Operation Fiery Vigil

Operation Fiery Vigil

Operation Fiery Vigil was the emergency evacuation of all non-essential military and United States Department of Defense civilian personnel and their dependents from Clark Air Base and U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay during the June 1991 volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines...

, Philippines, June 1991; Operation Restore Hope, Somalia, December 1992 – May 1993 and Operation Stabilize, East Timor, September – November 1999 and January 2000.

Global War on Terror

In January 2007, a detachment of Marines from MALS-36 attached to HMM-262

HMM-262

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of CH-46E Sea Knight transport helicopters...

 and deployed to Iraq

Iraq

Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Community involvement

The Marines and Sailors of MALS-36 participate in numerous community involvement activities every year. The activities range from cleaning nursing homes in the Okinawan community to picking up trash on the beautiful beaches of Okinawa. The majority of the participants are young Marines and Sailors, unselfishly dedicating their own free time to bettering the community and building a stronger relationship within the Japanese community.

See also

• United States Marine Corps Aviation
  United States Marine Corps Aviation
  United States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
  
  
• Organization of the United States Marine Corps
  Organization of the United States Marine Corps
  The United States Marine Corps is organized within the Department of the Navy, which is led by the Secretary of the Navy . The most senior Marine officer is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, and equipping the Marine Corps so that it is ready for...
  
  
• List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units