3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq -- The commandant and sergeant major of the Marine Corps flew with Marines of the composite Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron from Al Asad, Iraq, comprised of reserve and active-duty Marines from VMGR-234 and VMGR-352, April 6.

General Michael W. Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, and Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps John L. Estrada, were in Iraq to visit with Marines involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

"We are here to visit the Marines," said Hagee. "We have 25,000 Marines in Iraq. I'm here to visit with them to see how they're doing, and if there is anything I can do for them."

Hagee and Estrada are on a tour to meet Marines deployed in support of the global war on terrorism and operating in various theatres worldwide. So far on the tour, which has included stops in Afghanistan and Iraq, the commandant has had a chance to speak with reserve and active-duty Marines, and he has had a hard time telling them apart.

"All of the Marines have performed magnificently - both active and reserve," said Hagee. "I can't tell the difference between an active-duty and a Reserve unit out here which speaks highly of the Reserve units we have operating in our different areas of responsibility."

During the hour-long flight from Kuwait International Airport to Al Taqaddum, Iraq, Estrada took the opportunity to speak to the aircrew aboard the KC-130. He talked about the Reserve forces' role in Operation Iraqi Freedom II and what their role will be in upcoming operations.

"The reserve Marines have performed as outstandingly through OIF II as they did through OIF I. We, the Marine Corps, could not do what we do without them," said Estrada. "We are going to continue to use the Reserve forces to augment the active-duty Marines in the future. Since they have proven themselves to be well-suited for the challenge, we are going to continue using our Reserve forces as we need them."

The reserve Marines of VMGR-234, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, and VMGR-352, headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., have flown under a single squadron banner throughout OIF I and II. With missions focusing on resupply, troop transport and aerial refueling, it was a welcomed change of pace to fly the Corps' top brass into a combat zone.

"It was really nice to see that the two most important men in the Marine Corps care enough about Marines to fly into harm's way just to visit them," said Cpl. Nathan E. Dietsch, flight mechanic, VMGR-352. "To be part of the aircrew that got them where they needed to go to visit Marines was a good experience."