MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is the only squadron of its kind supporting the entire 1st Marine Expeditionary Force with mid-air refueling, air delivery and personnel movement.

Recently, the squadron flew another successful mid-air refueling mission in support of Naval Fighter Weapons School, more commonly known as Top Gun.

"It's pretty rare to support Top Gun," said Capt. Scott M. Griffin, pilot, VMGR-352. "We mostly support (Combined Arms Exercises) in Twentynine Palms and Expeditionary Warfare Training Group exercises."

Griffin added that they are able to successfully support these exercises safely because of the Marines involved and the types of training they perform.

"We have different crews that fly each time, but all of the training is standardized," Griffin, a 34-year-old Ashboro, N.C., native said. "Everyone knows what they need to do when we fly."

According to Capt. Chris G. Hakola, pilot with VMGR-352, mid-air refueling is the basic mission of the squadron, but can be the most nerve-racking.

"We have to constantly talk to the other pilots, because it can get pretty busy when there are multiple C-130s in the area," Hakola said. "It can also get tiring because you are concentrating for so long. We don't use autopilot because it is so erratic. Doing everything manually makes it safer."

Hakola also said that coordination between all the aircraft involved in operations makes the total job safe.

"We coordinate with the pilots before the evolution starts," the 33-year-old Seattle native said. "Mission planning, communication between the pilots and standardization of training makes everything safe. We also communicate with the crew of our aircraft because during a mid-air refueling or an air delivery we can't see what's behind us."

The executive officer of the squadron, Lt. Col. Duncan C. Porter, said he believes the entire group of Marines makes the squadron safe.

"No single Marine can be credited with the greatest impact on the squadron's program. Safety is each and every Marines' responsibility - from the commanding officer to the most junior Marine," said Porter. "Each and every Marine plays a key role on a daily basis and is vital to continued mission success."

Because of their continued diligence and steadfast devotion to safety, Maj. Gen. Samuel T. Helland, commanding general, 3rd MAW, awarded the squadron with the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award Aug. 17 for flying thousands of hours between the United States and the Middle East and supporting both the Global War on Terror and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"At a time when operational tempo is at a peak an effective safety program can only be accomplished by teamwork, attention to detail and leadership by example at the staff noncommissioned officer and noncommissioned officer level," Porter, a 38-year-old Mobile, Ala., native added. "The NCOs should be credited the most for VMGR-352's safety awareness.

They are the backbone of our squadron. How they perform directly reflects how we are perceived and directly impacts how the squadron, as a unit, performs."