Stories

A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, refuels an F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311during exercise Steel Knight 25 at Sacramento Mather Airport, California, Dec. 9, 2025. The forward node at Mather enabled aircraft to arm and refuel before launching a simulated Maritime Strike, demonstrating 3rd MAW’s ability to sustain fixed-wing operations from distributed locations. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team’s ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian A. Stippey) - A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, refuels an F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311during exercise Steel Knight 25 at Sacramento Mather Airport, California, Dec. 9, 2025. The forward node at Mather enabled aircraft to arm and refuel before launching a simulated Maritime Strike, demonstrating 3rd MAW’s ability to sustain fixed-wing operations from distributed locations. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team’s ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian A. Stippey)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Andres Osborn, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, takes a measurement during reconnaissance and engineering assessments to identify terrain suitability for future Forward Arming and Refueling Point and logistics sites during Steel Knight 25 on San Clemente Island, California, Dec. 4, 2025. These assessments enable 3d MAW to establish expeditionary aviation support sites across distributed and contested environments. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. Osborn is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha Devine) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Andres Osborn, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, takes a measurement during reconnaissance and engineering assessments to identify terrain suitability for future Forward Arming and Refueling Point and logistics sites during Steel Knight 25 on San Clemente Island, California, Dec. 4, 2025. These assessments enable 3d MAW to establish expeditionary aviation support sites across distributed and contested environments. Steel Knight is an annual exercise that strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to respond forward, integrate across domains, and sustain Marine Air-Ground Task Force readiness. Osborn is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha Devine)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Johnson Truong, an air support operations operator with Marine Air Support Squadron 3, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, coordinates fire missions from the Multifunction Air Operations Center in support of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 6, 2023. The MAOC provides expeditionary aviation command and control and air surveillance to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. 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 MAGTF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel Childs) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Johnson Truong, an air support operations operator with Marine Air Support Squadron 3, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, coordinates fire missions from the Multifunction Air Operations Center in support of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 6, 2023. The MAOC provides expeditionary aviation command and control and air surveillance to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. 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 MAGTF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel Childs)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Samantha Delgado, a network administrator with Marine Wing Communications Squadron (MWCS) 38, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, poses for a photo in front of the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS 28) at Naval Base San Diego, California, Dec. 6, 2023. Delgado supports Steel Knight 23.2 by building a network that sends traffic and data through a variety of systems, such as the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar. Steel Knight 23.2 is a three-phase exercise designed to train I MEF in the planning, deployment and command and control of a joint force against a peer or near-peer maneuver capabilities of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sean Potter) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Samantha Delgado, a network administrator with Marine Wing Communications Squadron (MWCS) 38, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, poses for a photo in front of the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS 28) at Naval Base San Diego, California, Dec. 6, 2023. Delgado supports Steel Knight 23.2 by building a network that sends traffic and data through a variety of systems, such as the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar. Steel Knight 23.2 is a three-phase exercise designed to train I MEF in the planning, deployment and command and control of a joint force against a peer or near-peer maneuver capabilities of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sean Potter)

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)

Two AH-1Z Viper pilots with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169 participate in a simulation of exercise Sea Horse Wind aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 1. Exercise Sea Horse Wind was a long-range raid conducted by more than 600 Marines with 1st Marine Division and 29 aircraft with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jake M.T. McClung/Released) - Two AH-1Z Viper pilots with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169 participate in a simulation of exercise Sea Horse Wind aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 1. Exercise Sea Horse Wind was a long-range raid conducted by more than 600 Marines with 1st Marine Division and 29 aircraft with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jake M.T. McClung/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) - 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)

A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 sets down a Humvee during the Steel Knight exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 14. During the exercise, three Super Stallions with HMH-465 lifted and transported many supplies as well as two Humvees back to Camp Wilson aboard MCAGCC Twentynine Palms. - A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 sets down a Humvee during the Steel Knight exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 14. During the exercise, three Super Stallions with HMH-465 lifted and transported many supplies as well as two Humvees back to Camp Wilson aboard MCAGCC Twentynine Palms.