Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Tyler Chittick, front, a KC-130J Super Hercules pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, presents the VMGR-352 flag to the honor graduate of Fox Company, Marine Combat Training, School of Infantry West, during a graduation ceremony after a Veteran's Day flag in San Diego, Nov. 7, 2024. The run, spearheaded by Capt. Tyler Chittick, began at MCAS Miramar and will end at the School of Infantry West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton totaling 55 miles of relay run and hike. Each year Chittick brings Marines together to complete a challenging physical activity in honor of fallen and disabled veterans including a fellow Marine who was injured by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2011. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Luc Boatman) - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Tyler Chittick, front, a KC-130J Super Hercules pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, presents the VMGR-352 flag to the honor graduate of Fox Company, Marine Combat Training, School of Infantry West, during a graduation ceremony after a Veteran's Day flag in San Diego, Nov. 7, 2024. The run, spearheaded by Capt. Tyler Chittick, began at MCAS Miramar and will end at the School of Infantry West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton totaling 55 miles of relay run and hike. Each year Chittick brings Marines together to complete a challenging physical activity in honor of fallen and disabled veterans including a fellow Marine who was injured by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2011. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Luc Boatman)

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen James Wellons, left, commanding general, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) awards Staff Sgt. Nicholas Bevan, right, airframes mechanic, MALS-13, 3rd MAW at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Oct. 9, 2024. Bevan received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM) for designing a 3D printable maintenance tool that will be used to help maintain aircrafts for years to come. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Elizabeth Gallagher) - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen James Wellons, left, commanding general, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) awards Staff Sgt. Nicholas Bevan, right, airframes mechanic, MALS-13, 3rd MAW at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Oct. 9, 2024. Bevan received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM) for designing a 3D printable maintenance tool that will be used to help maintain aircrafts for years to come. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Elizabeth Gallagher)

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, taxis during a live ordnance training event at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar combat aircraft loading area, California, July 25, 2024. This was the first time VMFA-311 conducted live ordnance operations independently and a milestone for the squadron, which declared initial operational capability on July 31, 2024. Achieving initial operational capability means that VMFA-311 has the operational F-35C aircraft, trained pilots, maintainers, and support equipment to self-sustain its mission essential tasks. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez) - A U.S. Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, taxis during a live ordnance training event at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar combat aircraft loading area, California, July 25, 2024. This was the first time VMFA-311 conducted live ordnance operations independently and a milestone for the squadron, which declared initial operational capability on July 31, 2024. Achieving initial operational capability means that VMFA-311 has the operational F-35C aircraft, trained pilots, maintainers, and support equipment to self-sustain its mission essential tasks. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez)

U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Goad, left, a powerline division chief with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal by Lt. Col. Jeffrey Davis, commanding officer of VMFA-314, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, July 1, 2024. Goad, president of the VMFA-314 motorcycle riding club, was awarded for providing life-saving aid to a fellow motorcycle rider on April 21, 2024. (U.S. Marine Corps courtesy photo) - U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Goad, left, a powerline division chief with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal by Lt. Col. Jeffrey Davis, commanding officer of VMFA-314, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, July 1, 2024. Goad, president of the VMFA-314 motorcycle riding club, was awarded for providing life-saving aid to a fellow motorcycle rider on April 21, 2024. (U.S. Marine Corps courtesy photo)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Robert Guyette, an F-35B Lightning II pilot and commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, places an American flag and an Australian flag in the cockpit of a Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to RAAF No. 75 Squadron before a bilateral training flight at RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory, Australia, June 20, 2024. Leaders with VMFA-214, a USMC F-35B squadron, flew the RAAF F-35A during bilateral training, exhibiting interchangeability between RAAF and U.S. Marine aviation. VMFA-214 deployed more than 200 Marines and eight F-35B Lightning II aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, to RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, to conduct bilateral training with the RAAF No. 3 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicholas Johnson) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Robert Guyette, an F-35B Lightning II pilot and commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, places an American flag and an Australian flag in the cockpit of a Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to RAAF No. 75 Squadron before a bilateral training flight at RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory, Australia, June 20, 2024. Leaders with VMFA-214, a USMC F-35B squadron, flew the RAAF F-35A during bilateral training, exhibiting interchangeability between RAAF and U.S. Marine aviation. VMFA-214 deployed more than 200 Marines and eight F-35B Lightning II aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, to RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, to conduct bilateral training with the RAAF No. 3 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicholas Johnson)

MASA 24: MWSS-371 and Philippine airfield operators conduct FARP operations at Laoag International Airport - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 371, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and Philippine Sailors run a fuel line after refueling a KC-130J Super Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd MAW, during forward arming and refueling point operations at Laoag International Airport, Laoag, Philippines, June 15, 2024. The FARP supported aircraft with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd MAW, and 1st Special Operations Squadron during Marine Aviation Support Activity 24. MASA is an annual Philippine-U.S. military exercise focused on mutual defense, strengthening relationships, and rehearsing emerging aviation concepts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nikolas Mascroft)

From Two Nations: USMC 1st Lt. Francisderick Corpuz Bridging Cultures through Service in the Philippines - U.S. Marine Corps 1stLt Francisderick Corpuz, center, an air intelligence officer with Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, speaks to a Philippine Marine during Marine Aviation Support Activity 24 at Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines, June 18, 2024.Corpuz’s background as a Filipino native enabled him to deploy as a cultural liaison during MASA 24, bridging communication gaps and providing mutual cooperation between U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. MASA is an annual Philippine-U.S. military exercise focused on mutual defense, strengthening relationships, and rehearsing emerging aviation concepts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez)

MASA 24: VMGR-352 conducts transportation flight operations - U.S. Marines Corps Sgt. Caleb Shockey, a fixed-wing aircraft crew chief with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, loads ground support equipment onto a KC-130J Super Hercules for a transportation flight during Marine Aviation Support Activity 24 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 9, 2024. VMGR-352 transported fixed-wing ordnance, including bombs and missiles, and ground support equipment, from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to Clark Air Base, Philippines, in support of the MASA 24 littoral live fire exercise; the ordnance and equipment was received, ground transported, and guarded by Philippine and U.S. Marines. MASA is an annual Philippine and U.S. Marine Corps exercise focused on mutual defense, strengthening relationships, and rehearsing emerging aviation concepts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez)

MASA 24: MWSS-371 and Philippine airfield operators conduct FARP operations at Laoag International Airport - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 371, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and Philippine Sailors refuel a KC-130J Super Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd MAW, during forward arming and refueling point operations at Laoag International Airport, Laoag, Philippines, June 15, 2024. The FARP supported aircraft with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd MAW, and 1st Special Operations Squadron during Marine Aviation Support Activity 24. MASA is an annual Philippine-U.S. military exercise focused on mutual defense, strengthening relationships, and rehearsing emerging aviation concepts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nikolas Mascroft)

U.S. Marines with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing All Type Model Series Armament Team unload ordnance from a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter at a forward arming and refueling point in support of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2 at Inyokern Airfield, California, Dec. 2, 2023. ATAT is comprised of aviation ordnance Marines qualified to load and arm every type model series platform in the 3rd MAW fleet. Steel Knight 23.2 is a three-phase exercise designed to train I Marine Expeditionary Force in the planning, deployment and command and control of a joint force against a peer or near-peer adversary combat force and enhance existing live-fire and maneuver capabilities of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez) - U.S. Marines with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing All Type Model Series Armament Team unload ordnance from a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter at a forward arming and refueling point in support of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2 at Inyokern Airfield, California, Dec. 2, 2023. ATAT is comprised of aviation ordnance Marines qualified to load and arm every type model series platform in the 3rd MAW fleet. Steel Knight 23.2 is a three-phase exercise designed to train I Marine Expeditionary Force in the planning, deployment and command and control of a joint force against a peer or near-peer adversary combat force and enhance existing live-fire and maneuver capabilities of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez)