Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Oceanside, California

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing News

In a significant leap forward for aerial warfare, the U.S. Marine Corps has successfully integrated its iconic H-1 helicopter fleet with advanced, low-cost drone technology, demonstrating a new and lethal capability for the modern battlefield.

In a significant leap forward for aerial warfare, the U.S. Marine Corps has successfully integrated its iconic H-1 helicopter fleet with advanced, low-cost drone technology, demonstrating a new and lethal capability for the modern battlefield. During a recent exercise, Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169, Marine Air Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, showcased the ability of the UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper helicopters to act as airborne motherships, extending the reach and lethality of first-person view drones to strike targets from unprecedented distances.

First on the Scene: Marines Rescue Family of Four from Vehicle Rollover

Two Marines, Cpl. Malakai Obed and Cpl. Caden Perez with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, were traveling toward the main gate of Camp Pendleton on Vandergrift Rd. when they witnessed a serious vehicle crash unfold in front of them...

Steel Wings, Enduring Leadership: 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Change of Command

“Today is not about a commander, it’s certainly not about me... it's about honoring a legacy of the most powerful Marine Aircraft Wing on the planet, and the Marines and Sailors that carry that legacy forward everyday” said Maj. Gen. James B. Wellons during his last remarks as the Commanding General of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Stand and Deliver: Chaplain Cash’s Reminder of Core Values Inspires 3rd MAW Marines

In a force defined by readiness, discipline and endurance, Rear Adm. Carey H. Cash, the 21st Chaplain of the Marine Corps, speaks from rugged experience. From serving as a beacon of faith in Iraq early in his career, to now reinforcing spiritual foundation to Marines of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and reminding our chaplains to “stand and deliver.”

Steel Knight 25: Stingers Deliver JAGM Precision Strikes

U.S. Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, executed a precision strike using the AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) during Exercise Steel Knight 25, Dec. 11, 2025, demonstrating the wing’s ability to project lethal effects from distributed maritime locations.

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Steel Wings, Enduring Leadership

Current and former commanding generals of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing salute the colors during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station...

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Drone Integration

U.S. Marines with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance, 1st Marine Division, light attack helicopter squadron (HMLA) 169 and Marine Special Operations...

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H-1 Drone Platform

Marines aboard a UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, toss...

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Steel Knight 25: Stingers, Scarface Deliver Persistent Close Air Support Across Distributed Battlespace

A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 367, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing,...

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Steel Knight 25: ‘Support Within Striking Distance’

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...

HMLAT-303 - Leaders

LtCol Robert L. Johnson III

Commanding Officer, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303

Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol) Johnson currently serves as the Commanding Officer of HMLAT-303, Marine

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Sergeant Major Justin T. Berg

Sergeant Major, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303

Sergeant Major Berg was born on 18 November 1980 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the

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Address
Contact Us
Mission Statement
Unit History
Command Policies

HMLAT-303
PO Box 555881
Camp Pendleton, CA 92055-5881

HMLAT-303 Squadron Duty Officer
(760) 725-4681

(760) 846-4215

HMLAT-303 Unit Readiness Coordinator
(760) 725-1919

HMLAT-303 Deployment Readiness Coordinator
(858) 603-8280

The mission of Marine Aircraft Group 39 is to provide utility helicopter support, close-in fire support, fire support coordination, aerial reconnaissance, observation and forward air control in aerial and ground escort operations during ship-to-shore movement and subsequent operations ashore.

Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 303 was activated with four officers and three enlisted Marines on 30 April, 1982 and redesignated Marine Helicopter Light Attack Training Squadron 303 (HMLAT-303) in 2005. Today the squadron has grown to over 400 Marines and Sailors and over 30 aircraft. Based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, HMLAT-303 conducts an extensive training syllabus on the UH-1Y, AH-1Z and AH-1W helicopters to include familiarization, navigation, ordnance, formation, night vision goggle, terrain and instrument training.

To date, HMLAT-303 has prepared well over 3000 Cobra and Huey pilots for the Marine Corps Fleet Marine Force, Navy and other NATO countries. HMLAT-303 is the only Marine Corps squadron tasked with training newly designated Marine Light Attack Helicopter replacement, refresher and conversion pilots. In 2007, HMLAT-303 also acquired the mission of spearheading the fleet’s conversion to the newly upgraded UH-1Y and AH-1Z aircraft. In addition to flight training, HMLAT-303 manages fleet wide Marine Corps and Navy NATOPS standardization programs for the H-1 community.

The squadron periodically deploys to Yuma, Arizona where training efficiency is enhanced due to proximity of ordnance delivery ranges and superb weather conditions.

In their thirty one year history, the Marines and Sailors of HMLAT-303 truly have lived up to the challenge directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, “…that HMLAT-303 will provide the leadership and professional performance to set new standards in aircrew training.

Command Policies Coming Soon