MALS-13 deploys to Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. Austin Hazard

Approximately 35 Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 deployed to Afghanistan for seven months March 2, 2010.

In Afghanistan, MALS-13 will augment MALS-16, providing aviation logistics and maintenance for Marine Aircraft Group 16 from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.

While deployed, MALS-13 Marines typically support one of Yuma's squadrons. However, they will be working with an AV-8B Harrier squadron from MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., and a helicopter squadron from Miramar.

An advance party of three Marines departed from Yuma Feb. 16, 2010.

MALS-13 usually only deploys in groups of about 20, but the push for 38 comes from the troop surge to Afghanistan.

"It's pretty much like any other deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan, we just beefed up the numbers," said Gunnery Sgt. Malcolm Ammon, MALS-13 operations chief. "It's a reaction to the president's plan to increase the numbers in Afghanistan while pulling out of Iraq."

Twenty-five MALS-13 Marines recently deployed to Japan with Marine Attack Squadron 311 on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in January 2010, and 23 more are scheduled to deploy with VMA-311 on the 15th MEU in May 2010.