Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 ( MWSS - 273 ) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps . They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort , South Carolina . The squadron falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing . Mission . Provide all essential aviation ground support to a designated fixed - wing component of a Marine Aviation Combat Element ( ACE ) , and all supporting or attached elements of the Marine Air Control Group ( MACG ) . This support includes : internal airfield communications , weather services , expeditionary airfield services , aircraft rescue and firefighting , aircraft and ground refueling , essential engineering services , motor transport , messing , chemical defense , security and law enforcement , airbase commandant functions , and explosive ordnance disposal . Additionally , in garrison MWSS - 273 is tasked to supplement air station facilities and services provided by Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort , SC . History . On 13 June 1986 , MWSS - 273 was formed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort , South Carolina , from elements of Marine Air Base Squadron 31 , and Detachment Bravo , Marine Wing Support Group 27 . In 1989 , MWSS - 273 provided extensive disaster relief support to the city of Charleston , South Carolina , during the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo . During The Persian Gulf War in 1991 , Marines were reassigned from MWSS - 272 and MWSS - 274 to augment the squadron which was deployed in December 1990 and played a direct role in providing aviation ground support for UN forces conducting combat operations against Iraq . The Marines of MWSS - 273 assisted in the construction of the largest expeditionary airfield in Marine Corps history at Al Khanjar , Saudi Arabia , in addition to several other major construction and transportation projects located at Ras Al Jubail , Ras Al Mishab , and on the Kuwait / Saudi Arabian border located at " LoneSome Dove " . While conducting unit activities at Ras Al Mishab , the squadron received numerous FROG missile attacks from Iraqi enemy units located north of Ras Al Khafji during the first days of the " Air War Campaign " . Throughout the 1990s , the squadron provided extensive operational support for Aviano Air Base , Italy , NATO contingency operations Deny Flight and Provide Promise , Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti , Operation Joint Forge in the Balkans , Operation Allied Force and Joint Task Force Noble Anvil in Taszar , Hungary , and numerous Marine Expeditionary Unit s . MWSS - 273 has also provided support personnel for the ongoing Operation Enduring Freedom taking place in Afghanistan . MWSS - 273 deployed twice in squadron strength to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . The “ Sweathogs ” have established an impressive record as a forward deployed unit as they conducted 24 hour Aviation Ground Support operations at Al Asad Airbase , the Forward Operating Base at Al Qa ' im and the Forward Arming and Refueling Point Mudayasis . During their most recent deployment , MWSS - 273 was responsible for the tactical recovery of an unprecedented seven Coalition Aircraft . In only seven months , MWSS - 273 provided over 28 million gallons of fuel to Coalition aircraft , conducted over of motor transport operations , rendered safe 126 enemy explosive devices , destroyed ten enemy weapons caches , conducted over 11 , 000 hours of heavy equipment operations , two water main repairs , and four outside - the - wire construction missions to improve living conditions at local Combat Outposts . From March to September 2012 , MWSS 273 deployed to Helmand Province , Afghanistan , in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM . The Squadron : provided over 9 million gallons of fuel to over 25 , 000 aircraft and 2500 ground vehicles ; built the largest High Power Run - Up in Marine Corps history ; executed two aircraft recoveries including the first - ever combat recovery of an MV - 22B Osprey ; executed numerous Combat Logistics Patrols ; constructed an air - site at Combat Outpost ( COP ) Shukvani ; and prepared 1 . 78 million square feet of Aluminum Matting 2nd Generation for redeployment - all while providing first - class Aviation Ground Support to seven different air sites . As a result of their efforts , the Sweathogs earned three unit awards : Marine Corps Aviation Association ’ s 2012 James E . Hatch Marine Wing Support Squadron of the Year ; Marine Corps Engineer Association Engineer Company of the Year ; and the American Petroleum Institute Tactical Unit of the Year . Awards . Unit Awards include the Navy Commendation Streamer , the National Defense Service Streamer , and the Southwest Asia Streamer with three bronze stars . MWSS - 273 earned the James E . Hatch Marine Wing Support Squadron of the Year five times : 2000 , 2005 , 2007 and 2009 , and 2012 .