Stories

U.S. Marines and Sailors are awarded with Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and Letters of Appreciation at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 11, 2024. The Marines and Sailors were awarded for their heroic actions in providing aid to a Japanese local after a vehicle accident in Okinawa, Japan. The Marines are with 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Taggart) - U.S. Marines and Sailors are awarded with Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and Letters of Appreciation at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 11, 2024. The Marines and Sailors were awarded for their heroic actions in providing aid to a Japanese local after a vehicle accident in Okinawa, Japan. The Marines are with 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Taggart)

Current and former commanding generals of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing salute the colors during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Feb. 27, 2026. The ceremony marked the transfer of command from Maj. Gen. James B. Wellons to Brig. Gen. Robert B. Brodie. Under the command of Wellons, the Wing operated across five geographic combatant commands and logged nearly half of all active-duty flight hours while maintaining the lowest mishap rate among like formations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Renee Gray) - Current and former commanding generals of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing salute the colors during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Feb. 27, 2026. The ceremony marked the transfer of command from Maj. Gen. James B. Wellons to Brig. Gen. Robert B. Brodie. Under the command of Wellons, the Wing operated across five geographic combatant commands and logged nearly half of all active-duty flight hours while maintaining the lowest mishap rate among like formations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Renee Gray)

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Carey Cash, U.S. Navy Deputy Chief of Chaplains and Chaplain of the U.S. Marine Corps, addresses Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Jan. 7, 2026. The purpose of Cash’s visit was to engage with Marines and Sailors from across Miramar to speak about the role of spiritual fitness in enhancing overall wellness and mission readiness. This focus on spiritual strength is a key component of military life, as it equips service members with the resilience and core values necessary to navigate the unique challenges of their profession. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Renee Gray) - U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Carey Cash, U.S. Navy Deputy Chief of Chaplains and Chaplain of the U.S. Marine Corps, addresses Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Jan. 7, 2026. The purpose of Cash’s visit was to engage with Marines and Sailors from across Miramar to speak about the role of spiritual fitness in enhancing overall wellness and mission readiness. This focus on spiritual strength is a key component of military life, as it equips service members with the resilience and core values necessary to navigate the unique challenges of their profession. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Renee Gray)

A U. S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper helicopter assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, fires an AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile during Exercise Steel Knight 25, over the Pacific Ocean, Dec.11, 2025. - A U. S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper helicopter assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, fires an AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile during Exercise Steel Knight 25, over the Pacific Ocean, Dec.11, 2025. The JAGM, a precision-guided air-to-surface missile, significantly extends the H-1’s combat radius and strengthens its ability to support sea-denial missions across a maritime battlespace. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha Devine)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kelby Dallas, an expeditionary fuels technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, carries a fuel hose to an AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267, Marine Aircraft Group-39, 3rd MAW, at a forward arming and refueling point during exercise Steel Knight 25 at a helicopter outlying landing field, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 12, 2025. FARP operations support 3rd MAW distributed aviation operations by enabling rotary and tiltrotor aircraft to refuel in forward operating environments, such as the helicopter outlying field, extending operational reach and mission duration across the battlespace. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness.​(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Renee Gray) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kelby Dallas, an expeditionary fuels technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, carries a fuel hose to an AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267, Marine Aircraft Group-39, 3rd MAW, at a forward arming and refueling point during exercise Steel Knight 25 at a helicopter outlying landing field, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 12, 2025. FARP operations support 3rd MAW distributed aviation operations by enabling rotary and tiltrotor aircraft to refuel in forward operating environments, such as the helicopter outlying field, extending operational reach and mission duration across the battlespace. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness.​(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Renee Gray)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Gabriel Fuentes, a loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conducts pre-flight checks before an air-delivered ground refueling mission during exercise Steel Knight 25 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Dec. 12, 2025. ADGR enables 3rd MAW to sustain distributed aviation operations by delivering fuel to forward locations without reliance on established infrastructure. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nikolas Mascroft) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Gabriel Fuentes, a loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conducts pre-flight checks before an air-delivered ground refueling mission during exercise Steel Knight 25 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Dec. 12, 2025. ADGR enables 3rd MAW to sustain distributed aviation operations by delivering fuel to forward locations without reliance on established infrastructure. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nikolas Mascroft)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Moses Vukaj, left, a joint terminal attack controller, and Staff Sgt. Zackary Oneal, a JTAC evaluator, both with Fire Support Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, observe close air support during Exercise Steel Knight 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 9, 2025. The integration demonstrates how JTAC operators and H-1 helicopter crews synchronize fires and maneuver, enabling accurate and timely CAS for Marines on the ground. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. Vukaj is a native of Washington. O’Neal is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mia Ocampo) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Moses Vukaj, left, a joint terminal attack controller, and Staff Sgt. Zackary Oneal, a JTAC evaluator, both with Fire Support Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, observe close air support during Exercise Steel Knight 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 9, 2025. The integration demonstrates how JTAC operators and H-1 helicopter crews synchronize fires and maneuver, enabling accurate and timely CAS for Marines on the ground. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. Vukaj is a native of Washington. O’Neal is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mia Ocampo)

U.S. Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepare for take-off from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to Sacramento Mather Airport, California, Dec. 9, 2025. The aircraft departed Miramar to arm and refuel at the Mather node before executing a simulated Maritime Strike, demonstrating 3rd MAW’s ability to generate aviation fires from distributed locations. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Fatima Delgadillo) - U.S. Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepare for take-off from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to Sacramento Mather Airport, California, Dec. 9, 2025. The aircraft departed Miramar to arm and refuel at the Mather node before executing a simulated Maritime Strike, demonstrating 3rd MAW’s ability to generate aviation fires from distributed locations. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Fatima Delgadillo)

A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 367, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, flies following a live-fire Close Air Support training mission in support of exercise Steel Knight 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California Dec. 9, 2025. - A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 367, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, flies following a live-fire Close Air Support training mission in support of exercise Steel Knight 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California Dec. 9, 2025. CAS employment demonstrates 3rd MAW’s ability to deliver timely, precise fires that enable the Marine Air-Ground Task Force to maneuver effectively across distributed and contested environments. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nikolas Mascroft)

A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, refuels an F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311during exercise Steel Knight 25 at Sacramento Mather Airport, California, Dec. 9, 2025. The forward node at Mather enabled aircraft to arm and refuel before launching a simulated Maritime Strike, demonstrating 3rd MAW’s ability to sustain fixed-wing operations from distributed locations. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team’s ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian A. Stippey) - A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, refuels an F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311during exercise Steel Knight 25 at Sacramento Mather Airport, California, Dec. 9, 2025. The forward node at Mather enabled aircraft to arm and refuel before launching a simulated Maritime Strike, demonstrating 3rd MAW’s ability to sustain fixed-wing operations from distributed locations. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team’s ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian A. Stippey)