Stories

The Marine Attack Squadron 211 "Avengers" trace their history to defending Wake Island with only five planes against the Japanese in a battle immediately following Pearl Harbor. In September 2012, the Avengers came under attack on their flightline aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. With the aid of other squadrons on the flightline, the Avengers held their ground and helped repel the attack. - The Marine Attack Squadron 211 "Avengers" trace their history to defending Wake Island with only five planes against the Japanese in a battle immediately following Pearl Harbor. In September 2012, the Avengers came under attack on their flightline aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. With the aid of other squadrons on the flightline, the Avengers held their ground and helped repel the attack.

Sgt. Maj. Anthony A. Spadarosergeant major, Third Marine Aircraft Wing 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, speaks with Cpl. Nathaniel Navarro, mortarman, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and Lance Cpl. Joshua Phelps, machine gunner, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, for their heroic efforts in potentially saving the life of Cpl. Rebecca Fletcher, Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1, June 18, 2013. - Sgt. Maj. Anthony A. Spadarosergeant major, Third Marine Aircraft Wing 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, speaks with Cpl. Nathaniel Navarro, mortarman, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and Lance Cpl. Joshua Phelps, machine gunner, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, for their heroic efforts in potentially saving the life of Cpl. Rebecca Fletcher, Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1, June 18, 2013.

Lt. Col. Michael Tyson, right, the out-going commanding officer for Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 and a Lancaster, Pa., native, waits for the guidon to post with Lt. Col. Shawn Budd, left, the on-coming commanding officer and a Seattle native, during a change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., June 21. Tyson relinquished command to Budd, before he goes to the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I. - Lt. Col. Michael Tyson, right, the out-going commanding officer for Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 and a Lancaster, Pa., native, waits for the guidon to post with Lt. Col. Shawn Budd, left, the on-coming commanding officer and a Seattle native, during a change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., June 21. Tyson relinquished command to Budd, before he goes to the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

Japanese Lt. Gen. Koichi Isobe, left, the vice chief of the joint staff with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and Lt. Col. Bradley Harms, right, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 commanding officer, laugh as more guests join the group aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., June 18. Harms shared his knowledge with Isobe and his aides in order to foster a better understanding of the MV-22B Osprey. - Japanese Lt. Gen. Koichi Isobe, left, the vice chief of the joint staff with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and Lt. Col. Bradley Harms, right, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 commanding officer, laugh as more guests join the group aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., June 18. Harms shared his knowledge with Isobe and his aides in order to foster a better understanding of the MV-22B Osprey.

Sgt. Dustin Conrady, a crew supervisor for communications and navigation with Marine Aircraft Logistics Squadron 11 and an Enid, Okla., native, gives a class to his crew aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 8. As some of the most experienced members of the crew, sergeants are seen as subject matter experts in their field and pass their knowledge and experience on to new generations of Marines as often as possible. - Sgt. Dustin Conrady, a crew supervisor for communications and navigation with Marine Aircraft Logistics Squadron 11 and an Enid, Okla., native, gives a class to his crew aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 8. As some of the most experienced members of the crew, sergeants are seen as subject matter experts in their field and pass their knowledge and experience on to new generations of Marines as often as possible.

Sgt. Christopher Prior, a 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing noncommissioned officer and Cedar Rapids, Iowa native, speaks to Marines, sailors, spouses and families during an evening colors ceremony honoring military spouses aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., May 21. During the ceremony Prior spoke about what it means to be a spouse in the military before introducing the guest of honor, who has spent 41 years as a military spouse. - Sgt. Christopher Prior, a 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing noncommissioned officer and Cedar Rapids, Iowa native, speaks to Marines, sailors, spouses and families during an evening colors ceremony honoring military spouses aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., May 21. During the ceremony Prior spoke about what it means to be a spouse in the military before introducing the guest of honor, who has spent 41 years as a military spouse.

Gunnery Sgt. Randall "Jay" Johnson, an ordnance staff noncommissioned officer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 "Black Knights" and a Hereford, Texas, native, competes in an event at the CrossFit Games Asia Regional in Seoul, South Korea, May 31. During the three-day competition, Johnson competed in seven events and placed 25th out of 48 competitors. - Gunnery Sgt. Randall "Jay" Johnson, an ordnance staff noncommissioned officer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 "Black Knights" and a Hereford, Texas, native, competes in an event at the CrossFit Games Asia Regional in Seoul, South Korea, May 31. During the three-day competition, Johnson competed in seven events and placed 25th out of 48 competitors.

Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Ferguson, director of Corporal's Course aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., and a Dayton, Ohio, native, speaks to Marines about the schedule of the course they are attending at the air station, June 7. As the director for the course, Ferguson lays out the syllabus and expectations for the Marines to better understand. - Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Ferguson, director of Corporal's Course aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., and a Dayton, Ohio, native, speaks to Marines about the schedule of the course they are attending at the air station, June 7. As the director for the course, Ferguson lays out the syllabus and expectations for the Marines to better understand.

Mario Sierra, left, deputy director of Environmental Services, San Diego speaks with Lt. Col. Eric Wolf, center, director of installations and logistics for Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., and James Charles, right, director of operations with Fortistar, ® during a celebration of the anniversary of the first use of the Miramar Landfill's methane-powered generators during a ceremony at the Miramar Landfill, San Diego, June 7. During the celebration officials spoke of what has happened in the past year with the landfill, and how the air station is generating in renewable energy from it. - Mario Sierra, left, deputy director of Environmental Services, San Diego speaks with Lt. Col. Eric Wolf, center, director of installations and logistics for Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., and James Charles, right, director of operations with Fortistar, ® during a celebration of the anniversary of the first use of the Miramar Landfill's methane-powered generators during a ceremony at the Miramar Landfill, San Diego, June 7. During the celebration officials spoke of what has happened in the past year with the landfill, and how the air station is generating in renewable energy from it.

Sgt. Carlton Wagster, a jump master with the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion and a Cincinnati native, watches as his Marines drop to the landing zone during parachute training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 22. Both units use this training exercise to perfect skills allowing the Marine Corps to add this type of stealth insertion to its repertoire. - Sgt. Carlton Wagster, a jump master with the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion and a Cincinnati native, watches as his Marines drop to the landing zone during parachute training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 22. Both units use this training exercise to perfect skills allowing the Marine Corps to add this type of stealth insertion to its repertoire.