The Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Glenn Walters addresses the audience as the guest speaker of the Marine Corps Aviation Association’s 46th Annual Symposium and Awards Banquet at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in La Jolla, Calif., May 19. The MCAA awards program was founded in 1962 and since then has recognized excellence in Marine aviation through education, activities, media, events and its awards program. 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing received six individual awards and three squadron awards. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Harley Robinson/Released) - The Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Glenn Walters addresses the audience as the guest speaker of the Marine Corps Aviation Association’s 46th Annual Symposium and Awards Banquet at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in La Jolla, Calif., May 19. The MCAA awards program was founded in 1962 and since then has recognized excellence in Marine aviation through education, activities, media, events and its awards program. 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing received six individual awards and three squadron awards. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Harley Robinson/Released)

MV-22 Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 166 (Reinforced) carrying the returning service members taxi down the flight line aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Sept. 10. VMM-166 (Rein) and other units from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing returned from a seven-month deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit after conducting operations from the Western Pacific to the Arabian Gulf to include strikes against ISIL targets in Iraq. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jake McClung/Released) - MV-22 Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 166 (Reinforced) carrying the returning service members taxi down the flight line aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Sept. 10. VMM-166 (Rein) and other units from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing returned from a seven-month deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit after conducting operations from the Western Pacific to the Arabian Gulf to include strikes against ISIL targets in Iraq. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jake McClung/Released)

Former commanding generals of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing joined Maj. Gen. Mark Wise, right, commanding general of 3rd MAW, during the pass in review portion of the change of command aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., July 22. Maj. Gen. Michael Rocco relinquished command to Wise, who came from serving as deputy commander of U.S. Forces Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kimberlyn Adams/Released) - Former commanding generals of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing joined Maj. Gen. Mark Wise, right, commanding general of 3rd MAW, during the pass in review portion of the change of command aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., July 22. Maj. Gen. Michael Rocco relinquished command to Wise, who came from serving as deputy commander of U.S. Forces Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kimberlyn Adams/Released)

A crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 looks outside an MV-22B Osprey during a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 8. Crew chiefs aboard the Osprey assisted with maintaining visuals during the flight for the pilots. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Michael Thorn/Released) - A crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 looks outside an MV-22B Osprey during a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 8. Crew chiefs aboard the Osprey assisted with maintaining visuals during the flight for the pilots. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Michael Thorn/Released)

Maj. Gen. Michael Rocco, left, commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and senior leaders from the Naval Aviation Enterprise and 3rd MAW listen to a brief about Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 16 during the “Boots on the Ground” event aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., April 5. “Boots on the Ground” allows senior leaders the opportunity to tour squadrons, meet with maintenance personnel and discuss how to better support aviation readiness requirements. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alissa P. Schuning/Released) - Maj. Gen. Michael Rocco, left, commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and senior leaders from the Naval Aviation Enterprise and 3rd MAW listen to a brief about Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 16 during the “Boots on the Ground” event aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., April 5. “Boots on the Ground” allows senior leaders the opportunity to tour squadrons, meet with maintenance personnel and discuss how to better support aviation readiness requirements. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alissa P. Schuning/Released)

Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 attach buckets to an MV-22B Osprey to perform dumps during a firefighting exercise supporting the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection aboard Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base, Calif., Feb. 11. The Marines with VMM-165 flew out to the Diamond Valley Lake on Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base with an MV-22B Osprey to perform bucket dips in an effort to prove the aircraft was capable of such training while supporting Cal Fire. - Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 attach buckets to an MV-22B Osprey to perform dumps during a firefighting exercise supporting the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection aboard Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base, Calif., Feb. 11. The Marines with VMM-165 flew out to the Diamond Valley Lake on Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base with an MV-22B Osprey to perform bucket dips in an effort to prove the aircraft was capable of such training while supporting Cal Fire.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Skaggs, an aeromedical safety corpsman with Marine Aircraft Group 39 and a Pensacola, Fla. native, demonstrates proper compression technique for CPR during an Improvised Sudden Attack First Emergency Response (IMSAFER) course aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 14. Skaggs also taught students how to use an automated external defibrillator properly during the IMSAFER course. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Skaggs, an aeromedical safety corpsman with Marine Aircraft Group 39 and a Pensacola, Fla. native, demonstrates proper compression technique for CPR during an Improvised Sudden Attack First Emergency Response (IMSAFER) course aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 14. Skaggs also taught students how to use an automated external defibrillator properly during the IMSAFER course.

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 takes off from Red Beach on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10. This is the first time that the F-35 conducted close air support missions in support of exercise Steel Knight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian Marion/Released) - An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 takes off from Red Beach on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10. This is the first time that the F-35 conducted close air support missions in support of exercise Steel Knight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian Marion/Released)

Cpl. Joseph Giordano, a team leader with Alpha Battery, 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, carries a FIM-92 stinger weapons system during the National Training Center Rotation 16-01 on Fort Irwin, Calif., Oct. 20. This was the first time in more than 10 years that a Marine LAAD unit participated in this exercise. - Cpl. Joseph Giordano, a team leader with Alpha Battery, 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, carries a FIM-92 stinger weapons system during the National Training Center Rotation 16-01 on Fort Irwin, Calif., Oct. 20. This was the first time in more than 10 years that a Marine LAAD unit participated in this exercise.

A UH-1Y Huey with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 469 takes off with a Bambi Bucket to fight wildfires aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, August 16. The squadron used three helicopters to conduct 44 air drops and complete the mission within three hours of the initial drop. - A UH-1Y Huey with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 469 takes off with a Bambi Bucket to fight wildfires aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, August 16. The squadron used three helicopters to conduct 44 air drops and complete the mission within three hours of the initial drop.