3RD MARINE AIRCRAFT WING

A U.S. Marine with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225 salutes Lt. Col. Alexander Goodno, commanding officer of VMFA 225, before takeoff at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., September 25, 2021. VMFA-225 participated in their first flight as an F-35B squadron. This marked the end of the first phase in the transition from a legacy F/A-18D Hornet squadron to an F-35B squadron. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Romonoyske-Bean)

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VMFA-211 loads GBU-49 on F-35B

VMFA-211 prepares to launch an F-35B from HMS Queen Elizabeth

A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), perform offensive aerial maneuvers during the Advanced Naval Basing evolution of Summer Fury 21 off the coast of San Clemente Island, California, July 22, 2021. 3rd MAW trained to increase its lethality by deploying buoyant targets simulating enemy small vessels to be tracked and eliminated. Summer Fury is an exercise conducted by 3rd MAW in order to maintain and build capability, strength, and trust within its units to generate the readiness and lethality needed to deter and defeat adversaries during combat operations as the U.S. Marine Corps refines tactics and equipment in accordance with Force Design 2030. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Levi Voss)

Summer Fury 21: Offensive Aerial Maneuvering

AH-1Z Viper’s with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) launch flares in order to mark a target during defensive counter air operations in support of Summer Fury 21 in Fleta Hot airspace off the coast of California, July 13, 2021. HMLA-469 deployed two AH-1Z Viper’s loaded with Air Intercept Missile (AIM) 9 Sidewinders to neutralize an unmanned aerial system in order to maintain a competitive edge over our adversaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Levi Voss)

Summer Fury 21: Defensive Counter Air Operations

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. James Clifford Ford III, commanding officer, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron (VMM) 166, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), and Sgt. Maj. Mohammad A. Arzola, sergeant major, VMM-166, MAG-16, 3rd MAW, case the colors for VMM-166 at a deactivation ceremony on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Oct. 1, 2021. VMM-166 was deactivated in accordance with Force Design 2030, as the latest effort to continue to have an advantage over adversaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Kealy)

VMM-166 Deactivation Ceremony

U.S. Marine Corps aircraft from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), stop to refuel multiple aircraft at a forward arming and refueling point on San Clemente Island, California, July 20, 2021. 3rd MAW focuses on rapidly establishing forward operating bases across a broad area from which they can conduct various missions and then disestablishing them just as quickly, relocating, and repeating the process elsewhere; to include anti-submarine warfare. Summer Fury is an exercise conducted by 3rd MAW in order to maintain and build capability, strength and trust within its units to generate the readiness and lethality needed to deter and defeat adversaries during combat operations as the U.S. Marine Corps refines tactics and equipment in accordance with Force Design 2030. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Rachaelanne Woodward)

Summer Fury 21: Sonobouy Operations

3rd MAW News

VMM-166 cases the flag with Force Design 2030

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – (October 1, 2021) Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 166, Marine Aircraft Wing 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, gathers one last time at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, as the colors were cased during a deactivation ceremony, October 1, 2021.

Vikings fly in as the Marine Corps' latest F-35 squadron

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – (September 30, 2021) Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) conducted its first flight with the F-35B Lightning II in Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona on September 25, 2021. The first flight was conducted in support of Marine Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-22 and comes shortly after the squadron transitioned from the F/A-18D Hornet to the F-35B. The event, formally labeled Fighter Integration 1, was to execute defensive counter air in order to protect a friendly location from attack from enemy fighters and bombers by leveraging fighter integration tactics between Marine legacy F/A-18’s and fifth generation F-35B’s. After receiving their first F-35B in May, the primary task for the VMFA-225 “Vikings” to successfully transition to an F-35B squadron was getting their Marines in place and establishing the battle rhythm for the maintainers. The squadron doubled in size from May to September of this year and while each Marine went through advanced training, VMFA-225 simultaneously built the new maintenance department. “We were accepting new aircraft, tools and support equipment while building the processes to execute effective maintenance on our jets,” said Major Randy Brazile, executive officer of VMFA-225. “Prior to our first flight, we were inspected multiple times and certified safe to execute flight operations by 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.” According to Maj. Brazile, this flight is not the end of the transition for the Vikings. The squadron will now focus on expanding their capacity in maintenance and pilot qualifications as they work toward their Initial Operations Capable (IOC) certification. This requires the Marines of VMFA-225 to continue to build their experience as the squadron grows from eight F-35Bs to ten. Also, this requires the pilots to train toward the mission essential tasks until each pilot is capable of executing all core mission sets of a Marine Fighter Attack Squadron. The decision to transition to the F-35B comes in accordance with the Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030, brought forward by, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. David Berger. Force Design was introduced to provide a more potent deterrent to conflict and a more lethal warfighting capability, while maintaining our reputation as the world’s premier naval force-in-readiness. As highlighted in most of the Commandant’s literature regarding Force Design, the F-35B will play a key role in his vision for Marine Corps’ role in the future fight. Aligned with unmanned aerial vehicles, F-35s will comprise the entirety of Marine Corps’ Tactical Aviation by 2030. As the fifth operational F-35B squadron, VMFA-225 will have a significant role in developing the tactics, techniques and procedures employed by Marine Aviation once complete with the redesign. For instance, by 2022 when VMFA-225 is fully operational capable, the squadron will be in a unique position, as a member of the Marine Corps’ only MAG comprised of solely F-35Bs and MQ-9 Reapers to coordinate with adjacent MAG assets. The squadron will also be at the forefront of the Marine Corps’ development of the future Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). “We expect that the squadron will be one of the first, if not the first, F-35B squadrons to deploy on a MEU in its entirety as a ten plane squadron vice the traditional six plane detachment that is currently being used and has stood in place for decades under the previous AV-8B MEU support construct,” said Lt. Col. Alexander Goodno, commanding officer of VMFA-225. This change in physical construct will bring an entirely new capability to the MEU and change how it is employed in future contingencies. Transitioning to the F-35B Lightning II provides the Vikings with the ability to once again project power in areas where the U.S. might face a peer adversary. The F-35B also enables the Vikings to return to their maritime roots. While the squadron always possessed the capability with the A-6A Intruder and F/A-18D Hornet, not since the squadron maintained A-4C Skyhawks in the 1960’s has it been called upon to deploy forward from the sea on U.S. Navy ships. With the transition to the F-35B, the Vikings will find themselves regularly deployed on U.S. Navy amphibious ships. Building from a squadron that, in January consisted of ten Marines and zero aircraft, to now well over 200 Marines and eight aircraft, they have met and exceeded expectations, according to Lt. Col. Goodno. “By laying a solid foundation focused first on the Marine and Sailor and then on establishing a culture ingrained with standard adherences, we soared through all safe for flight inspections without misstep,” said Goodno. “Further, we did so ahead of schedule and in position so that once certified we were able to support flight operations at a pace that surpasses what previous squadron stand ups for an F-35B operational squadron have been able to accomplish.” 3rd MAW continue to “Fix, Fly, and Fight” as the Marine Corps’ largest aircraft wing, and remains combat-ready, deployable on short notice, and lethal when called into action. For questions regarding this release, please contact the 3rd MAW Communication Strategy and Operations Office at 3rdmawmedia@usmc.mil. For additional content, please visit us at https://www.dvidshub.net/news/406465/vikings-flies-marine-corps-latest-f-35-squadron.