Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362

The Commanding Officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122), Lt. Col. John P. Price, conducts post-flight checks in retrograde of VMFA-122's first flight operations in an F-35B Lightning ll at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, Ariz., March 29, 2018. VMFA-122 conducted the flight operations for the first time as an F-35 squadron. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Sabrina Candiaflores)

Two F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 taxi to the runway during the Marine Division Tactics Course at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., June 16. This course gives pilots air-to-air combat experience and the tools to train Marines in their squadrons on the latest tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kimberlyn Adams/Released)

VMFA-211 F35B

Sharpshooters have a blast on 'live-fire day'

Earning their stripes: HMLAT-303 corporals honored in ceremony

VMM-163 performs heavy lifting with CLB-11

VMM-166 Homecoming

A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 "Warhorses" dries in the sun after being washed aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Aug. 20. The Warhorses deployed five aircraft to Colorado Springs during a deployment for training in order to break the squadron's Marines and pilots out of their comfort zones and normal flight patterns.

Three F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, fly in formation during fixed-wing aerial refueling training over eastern California, Aug. 27. VMFA-121 is the first F-35B squadron in the Marine Corps.

A power line mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 preforms a maintenance check on an F/A-18C Hornet on the flight line aboard Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, July 26. Power line mechanics and other maintainers make sure every F/A-18C Hornet is ready and safe for flight.

An Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165 runs as pilots perform pre-flight preparations before Maj. Gen. Gregg Sturdevant, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing assistant wing commander, takes his final flight with the wing aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., May 14. Sturdevant wanted to take one last flight with 3rd MAW and felt it fitting he fly with his former squadron.

Lance Cpl. Cory Helton, top, a power lines mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 and Whitley County, Ky., native, grapples with another Marine during the Kings and Queens of the Ring event at the first Marine Aircraft Group 11 field meet aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Aug. 22. Marines throughout MAG-11 competed in different events to win the MAG-11 trophy for their squadron.

Three F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, fly in formation during fixed-wing aerial refueling training over eastern California, Aug. 27. VMFA-121 is the first F-35B squadron in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Thorn)

Sgt. Ryan Shouse, a maintenance control non-commissioned officer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 and a Scottsburg, Ind., native, watches as F/A-18C Hornets launch from the flight line aboard Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, July 24. Marines with maintenance control ensure all maintenance is completed and there are no issues with the aircraft.

An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 sits aboard the JS Shimokita after landing on it during exercise Dawn Blitz, June 14. Dawn Blitz demonstrates the unique capabilities of the Marine Corps and Navy to rapidly respond to contingencies in coordination with our coalition partners.

Third Marine Aircraft Wing's first F-35B taxis in Fri., Nov. 16, 2012 at approximately 1 p.m. on the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma flightline. Piloted by F-35 pilot instructor Maj. A. C. Liberman, today's arrival highlights next week's official re-designation of Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121, an F/A-18 Hornet Squadron, as the world's first operational F-35 squadron at MCAS Yuma. The F-35B accomplishes the multi-role, fifth-generation capabilities needed across the full spectrum of military operations to deter potential adversaries and protect our nation and its interests. Known as the F-35 Lightning II, the F-35B will eventually replace the Corps' aging legacy tactical fleet of AV-8B Harriers, F/A-18 Hornets and EA-6B Prowlers.

Commandant of the Marine Corps General James Amos introduces the Medal of Honor aircraft at MCAS Miramar.

An MV-22B Osprey hovers in the sky as part of the Level III Demonstration during the 2012 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show, Oct. 13. This demonstration allowed spectators to observes the Osprey transition from helicopter to airplane mode.

F-35B pilot instructor Maj. A. C. Liberman greets Yuma-based Marines upon his arrival to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma after flying in Third Marine Aircraft Wing's first F-35B to the station flightline, Nov. 16. The arrival of the aircraft marks the beginning of a new chapter in Marine Corps aviation history, bringing the latest and greatest aircraft in the world to the tip of America's expeditionary spear. The arrival of the F-35B to MCAS Yuma highlights next week's official re-designation of Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121, an F/A-18 Hornet Squadron, as the world's first operational F-35 squadron at MCAS Yuma. MCAS Yuma is scheduled to receive four operational squadrons consisting of up to 16 aircraft plus one Operational Testing and Evaluation (OT&E) squadron with up to 8 aircraft.