Marines circumnavigated the globe aboard a KC-130J Super Hercules in a flight that began and ended at the squadron’s home base of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352’s travel involved 11 strategic stops across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific regions.
The primary mission of the VMGR-352 “Raiders” was to deliver equipment and Marines to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) squadrons deployed to the Navy’s Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA).
The 10 pilots and crew members that participated enhanced their proficiency and earned critical qualifications through long-distance flights, honing their skills in navigation and logistical operations over extended ranges and varied conditions.
“Our global flight showcased the capability of the KC-130J to extend the operational reach of Third MAW,” said Lt. Col. Mark Bock, commanding officer of VMGR-352. “More importantly, the operation demonstrated the readiness and skill of the Marines who fix and fly our aircraft.”
Headquartered at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, the joint task force is the only enduring U.S. military presence in Africa, tasked to promote regional stability, build partner nation military capacity and protect U.S. and partner interests.
A detachment from VMGR-352 has been deployed to Camp Lemonnier since May providing air-to-air refueling, combat assault transport and air drop capability to the task force and other partners in the region.
“CJTF-HOA is made up of various units throughout the joint force,” said Maj. Nathan Fluker, KC-130J Detachment OIC at Camp Lemonnier. “The capabilities Third MAW brings are unique and play a vital role in crisis response as well as supporting partner nations.”
The mission spotlighted the versatility of the U.S. Marine Corps’ KC-130J Super Hercules. With a range exceeding 3,500 nautical miles and a 57,500-pound fuel offload capacity using wing and external tanks, “hercs” excel in long-distance logistics and refueling of both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, on the ground and in the air.
The KC-130J’s ability to carry up to 92 troops while also serving as a flying gas station and cargo bay made it ideal for delivering Marines and equipment.
“The flight in support of deployed units enabled mission success by delivering required bulky supply parts that would have taken weeks to ship by other means,” Fluker said.
The flight path to Djibouti included stops in the Indo-Pacific region, among them Wake Island, Guam, Singapore and the Diego Garcia naval base in the Indian Ocean. The return to Miramar included stops in Qatar, Greece, England and Maine.
