Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369
HMLA-369 Official Unit Logo
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Oceanside, California

01

Marines, Civilians Evaluate Wave Glider System

Engineers from the Naval Information Center and U.S. Marines analyze the Wave Glider at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, March 9,...

02

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362 Relief and Appointment Ceremony

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Mohammad Arzola, left, outgoing sergeant major of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 362, Marine Aircraft Group 16,...

03

Winter Fury 22 - HMLA-469 trains on San Clemente Island

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. William Ton, a crew chief assigned to Marine Attack Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine...

04

Winter Fury 22 - Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Brian Holloway, an MV-22B Osprey pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine...

05

Winter Fury 22: Marines Arrive in Moses Lake

U.S. Marines from 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, arrive in MV-22B Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, Marine...

06

Birds view of the F35

PACIFIC OCEAN (Jan. 21, 2022) Marines of Marine Wing Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 and sailors of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 link up...

HMLA-369 Leaders

Lieutenant Colonel Aaron K. Polanco
Commanding Officer, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369

LtCol Aaron K. Polanco grew up in Wimberley, Texas.  He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May 2005, earning his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.  After completion of The Basic School and Naval Flight Training, he reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron (HMLA/T) 303, Marine

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Sergeant Major Beau D. Brenneis
Sergeant Major, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369

Sergeant Major Brenneis is a native of Fort Myers, Florida. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 8 Aug 2000. Sergeant Major Brenneis completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., in November of 2000. He attended Marine Combat Training and was assigned to military occupational specialty 3451, Financial

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HMLA-369
PO BOX 555811
Camp Pendleton,
CA 92055-5811

HMLA-369 Squadron Duty Officer
DSN: 361-2888 Commercial: (760) 763-2888

HMLA-369 Unit Readiness Coordinator
Cell: (760) 763-1104
(760) 763-2906

The mission of Marine Aircraft Group 39 is to provide utility helicopter support, close-in fire support, fire support coordination, aerial reconnaissance, observation and forward air control in aerial and ground escort operations during ship-to-shore movement and subsequent operations ashore.

Marine Attack Helicopter (HMA) Squadron 369 was activated on 1 April 1972, at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma, Okinawa, assigned to Marine Air Group 36 (MAG-36), 1st Marine Air Wing (MAW). In April 1977, HMA-369 was relocated from Okinawa to Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field (MCALF), Camp Pendleton, California as a member of Detachment MAG-16, 3rd MAW. In the fall of 1987 the UH-1N helicopter was made a permanent part of the unit table of organization and equipment – thus designating the squadron as Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 (HMLA-369). Through the 1990s and early 2000s the Squadron flew both the UH-1N and AH-1W. During the winter of 2009, HMLA-369 converted to the UH-1Y, and in 2015, the Squadron transitioned to the AH-1Z becoming a full upgrades H-1 Squadron.

Throughout its history HMLA-369 has participated in both combat and non-combat operations supporting ground units under fire in conflicts from Vietnam to the Global War on Terrorism.

- Vietnam – OPERATION MARHUK (Marine Hunter Killer) 1972, OPERATION EAGLE PULL 1975, OPERATION FREQUENT WIND 1975
- Kuwait – OPERATION DESERT SHIELD, 1990
- Somalia – OPERATION RESTORE HOPE, 1992
- Iraq – OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, 2003, 2005-2006, 2007, 2008-2009
- Afghanistan – OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, 2010, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, OPERATION SWIFT FREEDOM 2001-2002, OPERATION ANACONDA 2001-2002

Unit Awards:
- Presidential Unit Citation Streamer, Iraq 2003
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award Streamer, Somalia 1992-1993
- Navy Commendation Streamer with one Silver Star and three Bronze Stars, Vietnam 1972-1973, 1975; Southwest Asia 1990-1991, 1993, 2002; Iraq 2006-2007, 2009; Afghanistan 2010
- Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with two Bronze Stars 1986-1988, 1997-1998, 2000-2002
- National Defense Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars
- Vietnam Service Streamer with one Bronze Star
- Southwest Asia Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars
- Afghanistan Campaign Streamer with two Bronze Stars
- Iraq Campaign Streamer with four Bronze Stars
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Streamer
- Global War of Terrorism Service Streamer

Aviation Awards:
- MCAA Squadron of the Year – 1972, 1986, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2015
- Commandants Efficiency Trophy – 1981
- Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award – 1987, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001-2010, 2014
- FMFPac Safety Award – 1985, 1987
- MCAA Aviation Safety Award – 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010