AL ASAD, Iraq -- Third Marine Aircraft Wing Marines and Sailors, who have been in the Al Anbar Province for approximately one month, are assisting the I Marine Expeditionary Force and 1st Marine Division in completing their Transfer of Authority from the Army's 82nd
Airborne Division.
According to Maj. David J. Vail, 3rd MAW future operations planner, the sequence of events to finalize the TOA took less than three months to complete and is being executed nearly one week early.
"This is the first phase of the Marine Corps assuming responsibility for this region of the Al Anbar Province," said Vail, a 40-year-old Billerica, Mass., native. "Eventually, the Corps will take complete control of the province."
Vail praised the hard work of all 3rd MAW elements in supporting the MEF and Division with the completion of the turnover.
"Our subordinate commands - Marine Air Control Group 38, Marine Wing Support Group 37 and Marine Aircraft Group 16 - have done next to impossible things to affect the time of the turnover," Vail said. "We are on time and on target."
Because of the hard work and diligence of the junior enlisted Marines, this turnover is going as planned, continued Vail.
"The hardest things we do are the logistics and command and control functions," he said.
"It's the young corporals and sergeants who are pushing this thing through."
Although the threats in this region are real, 3rd MAW is prepared to fight the battle, added Vail.
"We are prepared to support the MEF and the Division in all applicable Marine aviation functions," he said. "So far, the transfer of battle spaces has gone very well."
Support Group 37 and Marine Aircraft Group 16 - have done next to impossible things to affect the time of the turnover," Vail said. "We are on time and on target."