Stories

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)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Andres Osborn, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, takes a measurement during reconnaissance and engineering assessments to identify terrain suitability for future Forward Arming and Refueling Point and logistics sites during Steel Knight 25 on San Clemente Island, California, Dec. 4, 2025. These assessments enable 3d MAW to establish expeditionary aviation support sites 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. Osborn is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha Devine) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Andres Osborn, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, takes a measurement during reconnaissance and engineering assessments to identify terrain suitability for future Forward Arming and Refueling Point and logistics sites during Steel Knight 25 on San Clemente Island, California, Dec. 4, 2025. These assessments enable 3d MAW to establish expeditionary aviation support sites 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. Osborn is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha Devine)

U.S. Marines and Sailors offload supplies from a CMV-22B Osprey assigned to Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 40 at Red Beach Combat Town, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 27, 2025. The Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center is the cornerstone of Naval Aviation’s combat readiness, where service members refine their skills to improve lethality, effectiveness, and mission success in high-threat environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Renee Gray) - U.S. Marines and Sailors offload supplies from a CMV-22B Osprey assigned to Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 40 at Red Beach Combat Town, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 27, 2025. The Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center is the cornerstone of Naval Aviation’s combat readiness, where service members refine their skills to improve lethality, effectiveness, and mission success in high-threat environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Renee Gray)

U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing participate in a 250-mile relay run at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Nov. 14, 2025. Marines with 3rd MAW ran 250 miles over the course of three days and completed the final two miles together as a wing to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday. The multi-day event brought together Marines and Sailors from every major subordinate command to celebrate the Corps’ legacy, strengthen camaraderie, and highlight 250 years of service to the nation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexis Ibarra) - U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing participate in a 250-mile relay run at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Nov. 14, 2025. Marines with 3rd MAW ran 250 miles over the course of three days and completed the final two miles together as a wing to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday. The multi-day event brought together Marines and Sailors from every major subordinate command to celebrate the Corps’ legacy, strengthen camaraderie, and highlight 250 years of service to the nation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexis Ibarra)