Stories

An MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), here, lifts off from the flightline. The Osprey continues to prove a valuable asset for "shrinking the battle space" in 3rd MAW (FWD)'s operations area, flying faster and farther than any assault support aircraft in the region. - An MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), here, lifts off from the flightline. The Osprey continues to prove a valuable asset for "shrinking the battle space" in 3rd MAW (FWD)'s operations area, flying faster and farther than any assault support aircraft in the region.

Ospreys Flying High, Fast Supporting War in Afghanistan

"You guys ready to go fast?"Those are the last words from the pilot before the MV-22 Osprey catapults in midair and in one fluid movement switches from a vertical-lift aircraft into a horizontally-propelled airplane within seconds. You're strapped in with shoulder harnesses and a lap belt, but you can't help but hold on to your seat as the aircraft

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Capt. Eileen C. Donovan, a CH-46E "Sea Knight" pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, wraps up her flight in a helicopter that her father flew in 41 years ago, while visiting the air station, April 21. Donovan has been waiting for a moment like this for more than two years. ::r::::n::(Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher O'Quin/Released) - Capt. Eileen C. Donovan, a CH-46E "Sea Knight" pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, wraps up her flight in a helicopter that her father flew in 41 years ago, while visiting the air station, April 21. Donovan has been waiting for a moment like this for more than two years. ::r::::n::(Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher O'Quin/Released)

HMM-166 pilot flies father's 'Sea Knight' 41 years later

A young CH-46E “Sea Knight” pilot by the name of 1st Lt. Joseph P. Donovan, serving with the HMM-364 “Purple Foxes” in the Quang Nam Province of Vietnam, risked his life to medically evacuate seriously wounded Marines from an open rice paddy while taking heavy machine gun fire.After taking the first batch of casualties to a hospital in Da Nang with

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Sam Pilafian, a music teacher at Arizona State University, explains a technique to the members of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band here April 14. Pilafian helped instruct the band during a workshop on different breathing, rhythm and hearing techniques April 13 through 15. - Sam Pilafian, a music teacher at Arizona State University, explains a technique to the members of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band here April 14. Pilafian helped instruct the band during a workshop on different breathing, rhythm and hearing techniques April 13 through 15.

Marine musicians take next step for better performance

From climbing hills to running five miles, breathing techniques are part of many activities in life, and they’re the most important part of every musician’s job – playing their instrument. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band members had the chance to work on their breathing techniques and other drills during a workshop here April 13 through 15.

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Lance Cpl. Victor Powell, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. native serving as a heavy equipment mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, watches as Lance Cpl. Jason Savankinus lifts a cement barrier from Camp Leatherneck's old VIP landing pad. Savankinus, a Cape Coral, Fla. native serving as a heavy equipment operator with MWSS-274, relied on Powell as a ground guide while moving and loading the barriers. - Lance Cpl. Victor Powell, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. native serving as a heavy equipment mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, watches as Lance Cpl. Jason Savankinus lifts a cement barrier from Camp Leatherneck's old VIP landing pad. Savankinus, a Cape Coral, Fla. native serving as a heavy equipment operator with MWSS-274, relied on Powell as a ground guide while moving and loading the barriers.

MWSS-274 Tests Its Skills, Makes Leatherneck Safer for Fellow Marines

Twenty one Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 finished a four-day, 24-hour operation to move an entire helicopter landing pad to a more remote location, April 15.Marines originally built Camp Leatherneck's VIP landing pad on what used to be the edge of the base, but the installation rapidly expanded to accommodate an influx of

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Marines from Military Police Platoon, Marine Wing Support Squadron 473, Marine Wing Support Group 47, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing restrain a Marine posing as a enemy combatant during tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, April 10. The Marines had to search numerous buildings to find 1st Lt. Rodney D. Solorzano to complete the objective. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher O'Quin/Released) - Marines from Military Police Platoon, Marine Wing Support Squadron 473, Marine Wing Support Group 47, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing restrain a Marine posing as a enemy combatant during tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, April 10. The Marines had to search numerous buildings to find 1st Lt. Rodney D. Solorzano to complete the objective. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher O'Quin/Released)

21st Century Guardians: Gargoyles train to defend abroad

When the air wing deploys, a team of military policemen provide around the clock security for forward air bases and help ensure constant operations. Military policemen from Marine Wing Support Squadron 473, Marine Wing Support Group 47, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, a reserve unit stationed aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, trained aboard

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Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 work together to unload and spread 1,500 90-pound bags of concrete mix. The Marines were completely caked in concrete powder by the end of the day. The Marines are using the conrete to stablizine the soile before reconstructing the expeditionary airfield used as a refueling point at Camp Dwyer. - Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 work together to unload and spread 1,500 90-pound bags of concrete mix. The Marines were completely caked in concrete powder by the end of the day. The Marines are using the conrete to stablizine the soile before reconstructing the expeditionary airfield used as a refueling point at Camp Dwyer.

MWSS-274 Keeps Critical Base Operational

There are no gun shots, no explosions, no confusion or chaos – only a thick, enveloping dust that mixes with sweat on exposed skin leaving a thin film of mud, and settles in the lungs making it difficult to breathe. This is Camp Dwyer, where a vast expanse of nothingness stretches to the horizon. The only activities across this deserted landscape

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Cpl. Jeremy Arbogast a motor transportation mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, helps Lance Cpl. Brandon Layell a motor transportation mechanic with the platoon, remove the radiator cover from a P19 fire truck here, April 1. The trucks are used to fight fires on base and in the event of an aircraft emergency. - Cpl. Jeremy Arbogast a motor transportation mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, helps Lance Cpl. Brandon Layell a motor transportation mechanic with the platoon, remove the radiator cover from a P19 fire truck here, April 1. The trucks are used to fight fires on base and in the event of an aircraft emergency.

Not your average automotive shop: Maintenance Platoon keeps mission-essential vehicles running

It takes many different types of vehicles to accomplish the Marine Corps mission here. From bulldozers that build berms to humvees that bring troops to combat, keeping them all going in this austere environment is quite a chore. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274's Maintenance Platoon, from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, go to

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Lance Cpl. Jarred Campbell, a machine gunner with the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, fires the MK-19 automatic grenade launcher, April 2. This was the Colfax, Wash., native's first time firing the MK-19. - Lance Cpl. Jarred Campbell, a machine gunner with the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, fires the MK-19 automatic grenade launcher, April 2. This was the Colfax, Wash., native's first time firing the MK-19.

Marines Train to Be First Line of Defense for Camp Leatherneck

While laying down a hail of gunfire, 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion trained a new batch of Marines from various units April 2 to assist in maintaining the first line of defense for Camp Leatherneck. The new group of Marines trained in two guard towers here firing the M-240G medium machine gun, the .50 caliber heavy machine gun and the MK-19

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Injured sailor rescued by joint-service effort

A KC-130J “Hercules” from Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron 352 assisted 129th Rescue Wing Air National Guard in a rescue operation that took place 600 miles off the coast of California April 4. The Hercules provided air support and fuel for two HH-60 Pave Hawk Medium Range Recovery helicopters and an MC-130P Combat Shadow as they rescued a

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Brig. Gen. Andrew W. O'Donnell Jr., the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) commanding general, speaks to Marines from the 3rd MAW (Fwd) and Marine Aircraft Group 40 during a transfer of authority ceremony here, April 4. O'Donnell assumed command of the air combat element from Col. Kevin S. Vest, MAG-40's commanding officer. - Brig. Gen. Andrew W. O'Donnell Jr., the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) commanding general, speaks to Marines from the 3rd MAW (Fwd) and Marine Aircraft Group 40 during a transfer of authority ceremony here, April 4. O'Donnell assumed command of the air combat element from Col. Kevin S. Vest, MAG-40's commanding officer.

3rd MAW (Fwd.) Assumes Responsibilities From MAG-40

Marine Aircraft Group 40 transferred responsibilities as the aviation combat element of Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) during a transfer of authority ceremony, April 4. Brig. Gen. Andrew W. O'Donnell Jr., the 3rd MAW (Fwd) commanding general, assumed command from Col. Kevin S. Vest, MAG-40's

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