Marines and sailors met with their colleagues in the Army and Air Force stationed in Alaska to hold exercise Northern Edge 2021, beginning on May 2, to train in the northern climates.Northern Edge is a regular exercise to promote enhanced readiness and interforce cooperation, according to a military news release.The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, alongside the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, were some of the units taking part in the exercise, spread across the Gulf of Alaska and the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. Forces stationed from Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson and from other parts of the Lower 48 also took part in the exercise.“As a forward deployed naval expeditionary force,

F-35B Lightning fast jets will be the cutting edge of the Carrier Strike Group’s (CSG21) formidable power in the air.These are next generation multi-role combat aircraft equipped with advanced sensors, mission systems and stealth technology, enabling them to carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks.This will be the first time UK fighter aircraft are embarked on an operational aircraft carrier deployment since 2010, and will be the largest number of F-35Bs ever to sail the seas.The renowned 617 Squadron RAF (‘The Dambusters’) will operate the jets to provide tangible and impactful support to counter-Daesh operations in Iraq and Syria.Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey MP said: "The F-35B Lightning jets will

 MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – Ten F-35B aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, 3d MAW, known as the “Wake Island Avengers,” based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., arrived in the United Kingdom to conduct final training for a first of its kind carrier deployment aboard Her Majesty’s Ship Queen Elizabeth as part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 21. During CSG-21, VMFA-211 will integrate with the UK’s 617 Squadron, “The Dambusters”, to form the largest 5th-generation carrier air wing in the world. “Moving the Marines, aircraft and equipment to the United Kingdom required coordinated planning, complex logistical effort, diligent maintenance and seamless execution,” said Lt. Col. Andrew D’Ambrogi, the

(April 13, 2021) United States Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, in partnership with the Catalina Island Conservancy, will work on several engineer projects on Catalina Island through the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program.This unique opportunity allows the Marines to restore sections of roadway around the island while simultaneously training for real-world operations.“This is an incredible chance for our Marines and Sailors to train hard on a challenging project while simultaneously leaving a positive and meaningful impact on this great community.”The time spent on the island will challenge the Marines to deploy to an austere maritime environment, logistically

(April 12, 2021) Third Marine Aircraft Wing’s Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122) conducted its first ever F-35B flights to support expeditionary advanced base operations (EABO) on narrow, shortened runways at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, California, April 6, 2021. This training provides the pilots of VMFA-122 the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to project fifth generation combat power into some of the most austere and degraded operating environments around the world.Tactics that utilize short field landing and takeoffs ensure that the Marine Corps is able to operate in any location, even those that have been damaged from combat or regions that simply do not possess the infrastructure to build and maintain