Movable missions: MALS-31 Marines work how they operate

 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. “From operating, packing up, and mov­ing to country X, we can make it happen within a 30 day window,” said GySgt. Mi­chael Ward, the Mobile Facility Technician SNCOIC and mobile facility coordinator.

The facilities can be hooked onto genera­tors on the ships to power them up, allow­ing Marines to continue working.

Marines with MALS-31 depend on the mobile facilities to accomplish their mis­sion, when deployed or in garrison.