MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- In rain, sleet and snow, the Marines of motor transport company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 ensure motor vehicles are operational for use by 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing squadrons.
The maintainers of MWSS 271, service more than 20 variants of tactical vehicles to support squadrons at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina in their daily effort to complete both operational and training requirements.
“Maintenance plays a vital role in the success of the unit’s readiness by ensuring all motor vehicles are operational,” said Staff Sgt. Robert Sturgill, a maintenance chief with MWSS-271. “The Marines are constantly inspecting the vehicles and completing corrective maintenance on all identified discrepancies to ensure vehicles are maintained and ready for use.”
The maintenance platoon supports a variety of different exercises including Integrated Training Exercises and the Weapons and the Tactics Instructor Course in Twentynine Palms, California and Yuma, Arizona. Additionally, the squadron fills various requests in support of the II Marine Expeditionary Force.
“The motor transport company assists with nearly every field exercise due to the high demand for tactical vehicles,” said Sturgill. “To fulfill a specific request and to ensure the command is ready on a moment’s notice, we make sure our preventative maintenance is conducted on time, we ensure all the modifications that are needed are applied, and all tools are accounted for and calibrated for thier specific use.”
“The Marines understand that accomplishing the mission is their first priority,” said Sturgill. “We use communication within our squadron and other Cherry Point and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing squadrons to ensure the mission gets accomplished.”
The Marines of maintenance platoon pride themselves on providing the best product and service possible, said Cpl. Michael Shifflett, a mechanic with MWSS-271.
“All of us are here to work,” said Shifflett. “I love my job and if I can help a junior Marine by making him a better mechanic in the end, I have done my job.”
Mechanics are one of the Marine Corps’ most valuable assets. Servicing vehicles and ensuring they are operational is one of the many tasks mechanics are charged with completing on a day-to-day basis.