Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225

Sharpshooters have a blast on 'live-fire day'

Earning their stripes: HMLAT-303 corporals honored in ceremony

VMM-163 performs heavy lifting with CLB-11

Sharpshooters have a blast on 'live-fire day'

VMM-166 Homecoming

A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 "Warhorses" dries in the sun after being washed aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Aug. 20. The Warhorses deployed five aircraft to Colorado Springs during a deployment for training in order to break the squadron's Marines and pilots out of their comfort zones and normal flight patterns.

Three F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, fly in formation during fixed-wing aerial refueling training over eastern California, Aug. 27. VMFA-121 is the first F-35B squadron in the Marine Corps.

Staff Sgt. Natividad Herrera, a helicopter mechanic with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 "Purple Foxes," holds his daughters for the first time in eight months during a homecoming ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 13. While deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, his squadron provided round-the-clock aerial support to multiple missions all over the world.

A power line mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 preforms a maintenance check on an F/A-18C Hornet on the flight line aboard Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, July 26. Power line mechanics and other maintainers make sure every F/A-18C Hornet is ready and safe for flight.

An Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165 runs as pilots perform pre-flight preparations before Maj. Gen. Gregg Sturdevant, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing assistant wing commander, takes his final flight with the wing aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., May 14. Sturdevant wanted to take one last flight with 3rd MAW and felt it fitting he fly with his former squadron.

Lance Cpl. Cory Helton, top, a power lines mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 and Whitley County, Ky., native, grapples with another Marine during the Kings and Queens of the Ring event at the first Marine Aircraft Group 11 field meet aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Aug. 22. Marines throughout MAG-11 competed in different events to win the MAG-11 trophy for their squadron.

Col. Patrick Gramuglia, left, former commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 16, and Col. Anthony Bianca, right, incoming commanding officer of MAG-16, salute during a change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Aug. 8. Gramuglia relinquished his duties to Bianca, who came from the previous command of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261.

Three F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, fly in formation during fixed-wing aerial refueling training over eastern California, Aug. 27. VMFA-121 is the first F-35B squadron in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Thorn)

Sgt. Ryan Shouse, a maintenance control non-commissioned officer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 and a Scottsburg, Ind., native, watches as F/A-18C Hornets launch from the flight line aboard Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, July 24. Marines with maintenance control ensure all maintenance is completed and there are no issues with the aircraft.

Marines with the Silent Drill Platoon perform during a Battle Colors Ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 14. With a reputation of perfection throughout the world, the silent drill platoon reminds onlookers of the proud esprit de corps found in Marines serving all around the globe.

Casey Rogers, a quarterback with the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Falcons, runs down the field during a game against the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion Gators at the Paige Field House aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 13. The Falcons' next game is against the 5th Marine Grizzlies on Aug. 27.

An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 sits aboard the JS Shimokita after landing on it during exercise Dawn Blitz, June 14. Dawn Blitz demonstrates the unique capabilities of the Marine Corps and Navy to rapidly respond to contingencies in coordination with our coalition partners.

Third Marine Aircraft Wing's first F-35B taxis in Fri., Nov. 16, 2012 at approximately 1 p.m. on the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma flightline. Piloted by F-35 pilot instructor Maj. A. C. Liberman, today's arrival highlights next week's official re-designation of Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121, an F/A-18 Hornet Squadron, as the world's first operational F-35 squadron at MCAS Yuma. The F-35B accomplishes the multi-role, fifth-generation capabilities needed across the full spectrum of military operations to deter potential adversaries and protect our nation and its interests. Known as the F-35 Lightning II, the F-35B will eventually replace the Corps' aging legacy tactical fleet of AV-8B Harriers, F/A-18 Hornets and EA-6B Prowlers.

A MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 sits aboard the JS Hyuga during exercise Dawn Blitz, June 14. Exercises like Dawn Blitz 2013 provide realistic relevant training necessary for effective global crisis response expected of the Navy and Marine Corps.

Commandant of the Marine Corps General James Amos introduces the Medal of Honor aircraft at MCAS Miramar.

An MV-22B Osprey hovers in the sky as part of the Level III Demonstration during the 2012 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show, Oct. 13. This demonstration allowed spectators to observes the Osprey transition from helicopter to airplane mode.

F-35B pilot instructor Maj. A. C. Liberman greets Yuma-based Marines upon his arrival to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma after flying in Third Marine Aircraft Wing's first F-35B to the station flightline, Nov. 16. The arrival of the aircraft marks the beginning of a new chapter in Marine Corps aviation history, bringing the latest and greatest aircraft in the world to the tip of America's expeditionary spear. The arrival of the F-35B to MCAS Yuma highlights next week's official re-designation of Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121, an F/A-18 Hornet Squadron, as the world's first operational F-35 squadron at MCAS Yuma. MCAS Yuma is scheduled to receive four operational squadrons consisting of up to 16 aircraft plus one Operational Testing and Evaluation (OT&E) squadron with up to 8 aircraft.

Flames explode behind the Navy Blue Angels' F/A-18 Hornets during the night portion of the 2012 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show, Oct. 13. The wall of fire is the last event of the night air show.