Stories

Third Marine Aircraft Wing sergeants major and master gunnery sergeants gather for a group photo during a Committed and Engaged Leadership professional military education course aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 21-23. The course was held to put the commanding general’s intent into action aboard the air station. (U. S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Eryn Rudolph) - Third Marine Aircraft Wing sergeants major and master gunnery sergeants gather for a group photo during a Committed and Engaged Leadership professional military education course aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 21-23. The course was held to put the commanding general’s intent into action aboard the air station. (U. S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Eryn Rudolph)

Two hundred seventy-one corporals from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., participating in the Corporals’ Committed and Engaged Leadership Indoctrination course, pose for a photo by the newly constructed obstacle course aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 9. The committed and engaged leadership of two noncommissioned officers with Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38, Sgt. Mark Sanchez, a tactical data systems administrator and Sgt. Mark Willoughby, an air intercept controller, helped to influence the decision to build the obstacle course. (Photo courtesy: Lance Cpl Allison Herman, 3rd MAW Combat Camera) - Two hundred seventy-one corporals from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., participating in the Corporals’ Committed and Engaged Leadership Indoctrination course, pose for a photo by the newly constructed obstacle course aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 9. The committed and engaged leadership of two noncommissioned officers with Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38, Sgt. Mark Sanchez, a tactical data systems administrator and Sgt. Mark Willoughby, an air intercept controller, helped to influence the decision to build the obstacle course. (Photo courtesy: Lance Cpl Allison Herman, 3rd MAW Combat Camera)

Sgt. Aaron Gardner, a training clerk with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), bench presses 225 pounds during one of his daily training sessions aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Dec. 6. Gardner trains up to three times a day in preparation for the OC (Orange County) Throwdown, Jan. 11 to 12, and has pursued the opportunity to perform in this competition since 2011, when he first heard about it on deployment. - Sgt. Aaron Gardner, a training clerk with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), bench presses 225 pounds during one of his daily training sessions aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Dec. 6. Gardner trains up to three times a day in preparation for the OC (Orange County) Throwdown, Jan. 11 to 12, and has pursued the opportunity to perform in this competition since 2011, when he first heard about it on deployment.

The Patriots Jet Team flies in a formation during the 2012 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show, Oct. 14. The Patriots feature former Blue Angel, Thunderbird and Snowbird pilots. (Photo by Sgt. Sarah Fiocco) - The Patriots Jet Team flies in a formation during the 2012 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show, Oct. 14. The Patriots feature former Blue Angel, Thunderbird and Snowbird pilots. (Photo by Sgt. Sarah Fiocco)

Trevor Hoffman, former San Diego Padres pitcher and soon-to-be Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, signs a baseball after a morning colors ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., April 18. The station thanked the Padres for their years of military support. - Trevor Hoffman, former San Diego Padres pitcher and soon-to-be Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, signs a baseball after a morning colors ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., April 18. The station thanked the Padres for their years of military support.

Maj. Gen. Steven Busby, left, commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, shakes hands with Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Anderson, right, the special security communications team chief with 4th Special Security Communications Team, Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 and a Puyallup, Wash., native, during an award ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., April 11. Anderson received the Bronze Star for actions while deployed to Afghanistan with Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command providing village stability operations from Nov. 2010 to June 2011. - Maj. Gen. Steven Busby, left, commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, shakes hands with Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Anderson, right, the special security communications team chief with 4th Special Security Communications Team, Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 and a Puyallup, Wash., native, during an award ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., April 11. Anderson received the Bronze Star for actions while deployed to Afghanistan with Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command providing village stability operations from Nov. 2010 to June 2011.

Marine with Marine Wing Communication Squadron run the last mile and half during a Birthday Run aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Nov. 10. During the last mile and half, the commanding officer carried the baton to the finish line. - Marine with Marine Wing Communication Squadron run the last mile and half during a Birthday Run aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Nov. 10. During the last mile and half, the commanding officer carried the baton to the finish line.

The oldest Marine present, retired Sgt. Maj. Bill Paxton, takes the first bite of cake during a cake-cutting ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Nov. 9. During the yearly ceremony, the oldest Marine takes a bite of cake then passes the cake to the youngest Marine present to symbolize the passing of wisdom from one generation of Marines to the next. - The oldest Marine present, retired Sgt. Maj. Bill Paxton, takes the first bite of cake during a cake-cutting ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Nov. 9. During the yearly ceremony, the oldest Marine takes a bite of cake then passes the cake to the youngest Marine present to symbolize the passing of wisdom from one generation of Marines to the next.

Lt. Col. Robert B. Fanning, left, the commanding officer of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, and Sgt. Maj. Rudy Tobais, right, the sergeant major of HMH-462 and San Antonio, Texas, native, lead HMH-462 Marines on a 5-mile hike to Gold Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., during HMH-462 Warriors’ Night, Sept. 27. The commanding officer and sergeant major competed in some events during the Warriors’ Night with their fellow HMH-462 Marines. - Lt. Col. Robert B. Fanning, left, the commanding officer of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, and Sgt. Maj. Rudy Tobais, right, the sergeant major of HMH-462 and San Antonio, Texas, native, lead HMH-462 Marines on a 5-mile hike to Gold Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., during HMH-462 Warriors’ Night, Sept. 27. The commanding officer and sergeant major competed in some events during the Warriors’ Night with their fellow HMH-462 Marines.

Lt. Col. Robert B. Fanning, left, the commanding officer of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, and Sgt. Maj. Rudy Tobais, right, the sergeant major of HMH-462 and San Antonio, Texas, native, lead HMH-462 Marines on a 5-mile hike to Gold Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., during HMH-462 Warriors’ Night, Sept. 27. The commanding officer and sergeant major competed in some events during the Warriors’ Night with their fellow HMH-462 Marines. - Lt. Col. Robert B. Fanning, left, the commanding officer of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, and Sgt. Maj. Rudy Tobais, right, the sergeant major of HMH-462 and San Antonio, Texas, native, lead HMH-462 Marines on a 5-mile hike to Gold Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., during HMH-462 Warriors’ Night, Sept. 27. The commanding officer and sergeant major competed in some events during the Warriors’ Night with their fellow HMH-462 Marines.