MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- When a commercial plane filled with Marines returning from Iraq lands on the flight line here, a small group of Marines and civilians unload their sea bags and provide a place for the anxiously awaiting families to greet their loved ones.
When any visiting aircraft need a place to land, refuel or take off, the Visiting Aircraft Line and Passenger Terminal personnel step up to accomplish the mission.
Should a medical evacuation flight arrive, the same Marines guide the aircraft to a place to deliver the casualties for a rapid transport to Naval Medical Center San Diego.
“We handle aircraft not stationed at Miramar,” said Cpl. Gina Ramelli, a support equipment representative at the terminal. “When they land here, we guide them to a parking zone, fuel them, load and unload their cargo, and send them on their way. If it wasn’t for us, the other squadrons would have to handle what we do.”
The VAL terminal coordinates both civilian and military aircraft, assisting in departures and arrivals. The terminal personnel welcome approximately 100 visiting flights to the station each month.
“When units deploy overseas, or in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, they go through us and we handle their flights and their cargo,” said Sgt. “P-Jay” E. Hall, a day shift manager for the VAL terminal.
The VAL personnel also handle medical evacuations, whenever emergency aircraft need to refuel or drop off the injured.
“We have about one to two medivacs come through here every week,” said Gunnery Sgt. Alexander E. Reimann, a traffic management staff non-commissioned officer, here. “We help them park here, refuel them and guide them for take off so they can help the injured.”
The VAL personnel can also arrange free flights for military members and their dependents.
“One thing not many people know is there are flights with dozens of seats that we can fill with Space ‘A’ travel,” said Ramelli. “Family members can travel as long as they travel with their sponsor. We can look up routes and within a one week window and arrange a flight to wherever the planes are headed.”