Stories

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 return to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., after their deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Thursday, May 12, 2017. The 11th MEU embarked mid-October 2016 aboard the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, trained alongside armed forces from foreign nations, and supported operations throughout the Western Pacific, Middle East and Horn of Africa. - U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 return to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., after their deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Thursday, May 12, 2017. The 11th MEU embarked mid-October 2016 aboard the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, trained alongside armed forces from foreign nations, and supported operations throughout the Western Pacific, Middle East and Horn of Africa.

Cpl. Tyler Eddy, an airframes mechanic with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169, stands in front of a UH-1Y Huey at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 24. In July 2017, Eddy is expected to complete his active-duty enlistment with the Marine Corps and pursue a doctorate in physics at Princeton University in Princeton, N.J. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jake M.T. McClung/Released) - Cpl. Tyler Eddy, an airframes mechanic with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169, stands in front of a UH-1Y Huey at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 24. In July 2017, Eddy is expected to complete his active-duty enlistment with the Marine Corps and pursue a doctorate in physics at Princeton University in Princeton, N.J. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jake M.T. McClung/Released)

A crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 369 “Gunfighters” communicates with pilots during a live-fire demonstration on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 1. The unit conducted the demonstration as a part of HMLA-369’s 45th Anniversary celebration and family day. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jake M.T. McClung/Released) - A crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 369 “Gunfighters” communicates with pilots during a live-fire demonstration on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 1. The unit conducted the demonstration as a part of HMLA-369’s 45th Anniversary celebration and family day. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jake M.T. McClung/Released)

Flight Lt. Daniel Lee, right, a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic controller and a battlefield air space controller, along with aviation Marines control air space during Weapons and Tactics Instructor’s Course at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., March 2016. Lee is participating in a personnel exchange program with Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron (MTACS) 38 and has been stationed at MCAS Miramar, Calif., since June 2015. (Courtesy photo/Released) - Flight Lt. Daniel Lee, right, a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic controller and a battlefield air space controller, along with aviation Marines control air space during Weapons and Tactics Instructor’s Course at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., March 2016. Lee is participating in a personnel exchange program with Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron (MTACS) 38 and has been stationed at MCAS Miramar, Calif., since June 2015. (Courtesy photo/Released)

Capt. Christopher Lavergne, a KC-130J Super Hercules pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, proudly displays the 2017 Marine Corps Aviation Association Henry Wildfang award in front of a KC-130J at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 27. VMGR-352 received the Henry Wildfang award for successful mission accomplishments and the most mishap free hours. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jake M.T. McClung/Released) - Capt. Christopher Lavergne, a KC-130J Super Hercules pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, proudly displays the 2017 Marine Corps Aviation Association Henry Wildfang award in front of a KC-130J at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 27. VMGR-352 received the Henry Wildfang award for successful mission accomplishments and the most mishap free hours. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jake M.T. McClung/Released)

“Fighter Attack Starts Here” hangs on the side of Hanger 3, home of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 101 “, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. VMFAT-101 is the largest F/A-18 squadron in the Marine Corps and has over 60 fighter jets attached to the squadron. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Liah Kitchen/Released) - “Fighter Attack Starts Here” hangs on the side of Hanger 3, home of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 101 “, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. VMFAT-101 is the largest F/A-18 squadron in the Marine Corps and has over 60 fighter jets attached to the squadron. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Liah Kitchen/Released)

F-5N Tiger II fighter jets with Marine Fighter Training Squadron (VMFT) 401 trained at MCAS Miramar with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 and the 310th Fighter Squadron March 16. This training allowed both services to experience different flight tactics and train with different aircraft. - F-5N Tiger II fighter jets with Marine Fighter Training Squadron (VMFT) 401 trained at MCAS Miramar with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 and the 310th Fighter Squadron March 16. This training allowed both services to experience different flight tactics and train with different aircraft.

Air command and control Marines with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing play a vital role in getting aircraft, like the AV-8B Harrier, to the places it needs to go. Marine Air Control Group (MACG) 38 conducted a Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) integrated training exercise, named Lightning Sword, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.; MCAS Camp Pendleton, Calif.; and MCAS Yuma, Ariz., March 6 to 17. Lightning Sword provided MACG-38 an opportunity to exercise a fully capable MACCS in a constructed marine expeditionary force (MEF) level scenario. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Asia J. Sorenson/Released) - Air command and control Marines with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing play a vital role in getting aircraft, like the AV-8B Harrier, to the places it needs to go. Marine Air Control Group (MACG) 38 conducted a Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) integrated training exercise, named Lightning Sword, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.; MCAS Camp Pendleton, Calif.; and MCAS Yuma, Ariz., March 6 to 17. Lightning Sword provided MACG-38 an opportunity to exercise a fully capable MACCS in a constructed marine expeditionary force (MEF) level scenario. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Asia J. Sorenson/Released)

Col. James B. Wellons, commanding officer of Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron (MAWTS) One, welcomes students attending the first Advanced Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course (AAMOC) at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., March 13, 2017. AAMOC will empower Aircraft Maintenance Officers with leadership tools, greater technical knowledge and standardized practices through rigorous academics and hands on training in order to decrease ground related mishaps and increase sortie generation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo taken by Cpl. AaronJames B. Vinculado/Released) - Col. James B. Wellons, commanding officer of Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron (MAWTS) One, welcomes students attending the first Advanced Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course (AAMOC) at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., March 13, 2017. AAMOC will empower Aircraft Maintenance Officers with leadership tools, greater technical knowledge and standardized practices through rigorous academics and hands on training in order to decrease ground related mishaps and increase sortie generation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo taken by Cpl. AaronJames B. Vinculado/Released)

Maj. Ryan Franzen embraces his daughter, Keianna, before he boards an F/A-18C Hornet and prepares for takeoff on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 11. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232 “Red Devils,” the oldest Marine fighter attack squadron, will spend six months training in the Asia-Pacific region and northern America. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Bickel/Released) - Maj. Ryan Franzen embraces his daughter, Keianna, before he boards an F/A-18C Hornet and prepares for takeoff on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 11. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232 “Red Devils,” the oldest Marine fighter attack squadron, will spend six months training in the Asia-Pacific region and northern America. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Bickel/Released)