Stories

A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 269, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepares to depart with an Intrepid Tiger II (IT-II) electronic warfare system externally attached during the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Service Level Training Exercise 2-25 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Feb. 20, 2025. Marines with 4th SSCT led the IT-II training to enhance electronic warfare integration across the Marine Corps, preparing forces for future missions in complex and contested environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 2nd Lt. Brianna Tribou) - A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 269, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepares to depart with an Intrepid Tiger II (IT-II) electronic warfare system externally attached during the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Service Level Training Exercise 2-25 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Feb. 20, 2025. Marines with 4th SSCT led the IT-II training to enhance electronic warfare integration across the Marine Corps, preparing forces for future missions in complex and contested environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 2nd Lt. Brianna Tribou)

Marine aircraft wings exchange electronic warfare expertise

As the battlespace evolves, the Marine Corps is refining its electronic warfare capabilities to maintain a competitive edge. A key component of this effort is the integration of advanced electronic warfare systems, ensuring mission success in increasingly complex environments.

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Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro poses for a group photo with Marines after presenting them with challenge coins in recognition of their exemplary performance and outstanding contributions to their units at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Dec. 4, 2024. Secretary Del Toro toured the installation to engage with servicemembers and assess ongoing efforts to improve quality of life, operational readiness, and infrastructure at MCAS Miramar. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Santicia Ambriez-Stippey) - Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro poses for a group photo with Marines after presenting them with challenge coins in recognition of their exemplary performance and outstanding contributions to their units at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Dec. 4, 2024. Secretary Del Toro toured the installation to engage with servicemembers and assess ongoing efforts to improve quality of life, operational readiness, and infrastructure at MCAS Miramar. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Santicia Ambriez-Stippey)

Secretary of the Navy recognizes service excellence, discusses warfighting and quality of life with Marines of Miramar and 3rd MAW

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro visited Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, engaging with Marines, Sailors and civilians of the installation and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing during town hall events, Dec. 4, 2024. His visit focused on recognizing servicemembers’ achievements, observing quality-of-life initiatives, and expressing gratitude for the dedication and service of the men and women in uniform.

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A U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing prepares for takeoff at Guam International Airport, Sept. 7, 2024. VMGR-352 stopped in Guam while flying from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, to deliver essential personnel, supplies and equipment to 3rd MAW squadrons deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emeline Swyers) - A U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing prepares for takeoff at Guam International Airport, Sept. 7, 2024. VMGR-352 stopped in Guam while flying from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, to deliver essential personnel, supplies and equipment to 3rd MAW squadrons deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emeline Swyers)

Marine Squadron Circles Globe, Aiding International Mission in Africa

Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352 circumnavigated the globe aboard a KC-130J Super Hercules. The flight began and ended at the squadron’s home base of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, and involved 11 strategic stops across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific regions.

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U.S. Marines and Soldiers pose during the Air Defense Artillery Fire Control Officer course at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 25, 2024. Marine Air Support Squadron 3 hosted its first three-week U.S. Army ADAFCO course, with 10 soldiers and four Marines. The ADAFCO course is designed to teach and develop the necessary skills to integrate Army Air and Missile Defense engagement operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez) - U.S. Marines and Soldiers pose during the Air Defense Artillery Fire Control Officer course at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 25, 2024. Marine Air Support Squadron 3 hosted its first three-week U.S. Army ADAFCO course, with 10 soldiers and four Marines. The ADAFCO course is designed to teach and develop the necessary skills to integrate Army Air and Missile Defense engagement operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez)

U.S. Marines host U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Fire Control Officer Course for the first time

In a Marine Corps first, Marine Air Support Squadron 3, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, hosted the U.S. Army’s three-week Air Defense Artillery Fire Control Officer Course. The course brought together ten U.S. Soldiers and four U.S. Marines at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 8 to 26, 2024.

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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)

Marine Corps’ second F-35C Lightning II squadron declares initial operational capability

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.--Demonstrating the Marine Corps’ commitment to aviation advancement, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, declared initial operational capability on July 31, 2024.

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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)

Invaluable Integration | Philippine native, U.S. Marines build cultural bridges to support MASA 24

Demonstrating the strong people-to-people ties that are the bedrock of the U.S.-Philippine relationship, U.S. Marines with Filipino heritage from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing played a crucial role in their unit’s bilateral operations while forward deployed to various locations in the Philippines. These Marines ensured that 3rd MAW could conduct flight operations alongside their Philippine counterparts by enhancing U.S.-Philippine communication despite language barriers, directly enabling Marine Aviation Support Activity 24 from June 3rd to June 21st, 2024.

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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)

From Two Nations: USMC 1st Lt. Francisderick Corpuz Bridging Cultures through Service in the Philippines

1st Lt. Francisderick Corpuz, an air intelligence officer with Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, embodied a life woven between two nations, crisscrossing the Pacific in tandem with his father's service as a U.S. Navy corpsman. Corpuz is the sole sibling born in the Philippines among five, and he is now returning to his homeland as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

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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)

U.S. Marine Loadmaster shapes aviation operations in the Philippines: Sgt. Caleb Shockey

From the sunny streets of Chino Hills, California, to operating as a KC-130J Super Hercules loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Sgt. Caleb Shockey embarked on his journey in the U.S. Marine Corps after enlisting through Recruiting Station Azusa. Shockey left Chino Hills for Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in February 2020 and has upheld the whole Marine concept since.

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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.-Philippine bilateral airfield operations: MWSS-371 conducts FARP operations with Philippine Sailors at Laoag

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371, strengthened ties with their Philippine counterparts by conducting bilateral forward arming and refueling point operations during Marine Aviation Support Activity 24, at Laoag, Philippines, June 3 – June 21, 2024.

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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)

Steel Knight 23.2: Networking Beyond Boundaries with Sgt. Samantha Delgado

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – As Steel Knight 23.2 tests the boundaries and capabilities of I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marines from across I MEF’s Aviation Combat Element, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, challenge themselves in diverse training scenarios. Training for Steel Knight 23.2 takes place at an airfield in the northernmost corner of the Mojave Desert, in aircraft flying over the West Coast, and aboard U.S. Navy combat ships , such as the USS Savannah (LCS 28).

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