MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing completed a 250-mile relay run at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Nov. 14, 2025, in honor of the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday. The multi-day event brought together Marines and Sailors from across the wings' subordinate commands to celebrate the Corps’ legacy, strengthen camaraderie, and highlight 250 years of service to the nation.
The relay started at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 12, with Maj. Gen. James Wellons, the commanding general of 3rd MAW, and Sgt. Maj. James Horr, the senior enlisted advisor of 3rd MAW, running the opening mile alongside Marines from the headquarters staff. Their participation set the tone for the 46-hour event as units across the wing carried the Marine Corps flag mile by mile, symbolizing endurance, teamwork, and the shared history that defines Marine aviation.
“Coordinating a 46-hour, 250-mile relay across the entire wing took a lot of planning, and the Marines never let up, even when the rain started coming down,” said Master Sgt. Jeremiah Isham, 3rd MAW G-3 Operations Chief and lead planner for the event. “From safety teams to night runners to units stepping up at all hours, this run showed what 3rd MAW does best: coming together to accomplish the mission regardless of conditions."
Marines continued the relay through day and night, with runners from the wings' subordinate units contributing to the 250 miles. As the event approached its conclusion early Nov. 14, Marines from across 3rd MAW assembled for an all-hands formation run.
Wellons and Horr led the final two miles, joined by more than 1,000 runners representing the full spectrum of 3rd MAW’s aviation and support units.
“We collectively finished 248 miles exactly one minute before morning colors and we stepped off together to compete 250 miles to honor 250 years of service and sacrifice,” said Horr.
As the formation crossed the 250-mile mark, Marines assembled for a brief ceremony recognizing the significance of the milestone birthday year. The event mirrored past Marine Corps unit birthday runs, continuing a tradition of honoring Marines who served before them while reinforcing the unity and resilience of today’s force.
The relay was planned and coordinated by Marines from 3rd MAW’s headquarters staff, who synchronized unit participation, route management, safety support, and nighttime continuity over the 46-hour period.
“For me, this run was more than physical training,” Isham said. “Every time a Marine took over running with the squadron colors or the Marine Corps flag, they were literally carrying the legacy of those who came before us. Watching Marines from every corner of the wing take part reminded me why our Corps is still strong after 250 years.”
Across generations, Marines have marked the Corps’ birthday with ceremonies, runs, competitions, and moments of reflection. This year’s 250-mile relay served as both a tribute to the past and a reminder of the standards modern Marines uphold every day —fitness, readiness, teamwork, and an unbroken commitment to mission accomplishment.
“Happy birthday, Marines,” Wellons said. “We are a part of the biggest, baddest, most powerful, combat ready wing on the planet. How does it feel?”
Every Marine in the formation responded with a motivating “Oorah!”
3rd MAW remains the Marine Corps’ largest aircraft wing, and a combat-ready aviation force prepared to support the Fleet Marine Force and joint force whenever called. Founded on Nov. 10, 1942, the same date the Marine Corps itself was established in 1775, 3rd MAW shares the Corps’ birthday.
For more than eight decades, the wing has grown alongside the Marine Corps, evolving through every major conflict, advancing aviation warfighting capabilities, and serving as a critical power-projection force for the nation. Today, 3rd MAW continues that legacy as a forward-ready aviation wing trained, equipped, and prepared to defend the United States and its interests around the globe.