News Stories Archive

This was the first time the Marine Corps deployed the King Stallion in an exercise. HMH-461 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam Henke) - U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 carry a cargo container with a CH-53K King Stallion at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Aug. 11, 2022. This was the first time the Marine Corps deployed the King Stallion in an exercise. HMH-461 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam Henke)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Gignac, an air-support operations operator with Marine Air Support Squadron 1, operates a prototype of the Gaming Environment for Air Readiness at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, July 28, 2022. The GEAR is an artificial-intelligence enabled and role-based simulation designed to train and develop MASS-1 Marines by exposing them to interactive scenarios prior to participating in an exercise or deployment. MASS-1 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Gignac, an air-support operations operator with Marine Air Support Squadron 1, operates a prototype of the Gaming Environment for Air Readiness at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, July 28, 2022. The GEAR is an artificial-intelligence enabled and role-based simulation designed to train and develop MASS-1 Marines by exposing them to interactive scenarios prior to participating in an exercise or deployment. MASS-1 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

A U.S. Airman with the 163rd Attack Wing, California Air National Guard, directs an MQ-9 Reaper to a refueling point during Integrated Training Exercise 4-22 at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. on July 20th, 2022. The MQ-9 Reaper received fuel via aviation delivered ground refueling from an MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 764, marking the first time the MQ-9 received fuel from a joint asset and the first time an Air National Guard MQ-9 received fuel from another aircraft. The MQ-9 Reaper provided close air support to Marine Air-Ground Task Force 23 during its execution of the fire support coordination exercise of ITX as the Marine Corps Reserve continues to work to integrate with sister services in preparation for future operations. - A U.S. Airman with the 163rd Attack Wing, California Air National Guard, directs an MQ-9 Reaper to a refueling point during Integrated Training Exercise 4-22 at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. on July 20th, 2022. The MQ-9 Reaper received fuel via aviation delivered ground refueling from an MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 764, marking the first time the MQ-9 received fuel from a joint asset and the first time an Air National Guard MQ-9 received fuel from another aircraft. The MQ-9 Reaper provided close air support to Marine Air-Ground Task Force 23 during its execution of the fire support coordination exercise of ITX as the Marine Corps Reserve continues to work to integrate with sister services in preparation for future operations.

From left, Greg Coulter, DI Lead Engineer with the H-1 Light/Attack Helicopters Program Office, Matt Moritz, Avionics Lead Systems Engineer with the program office, Nick Embry, DI Flight Test Engineer with HX-21, and Victoria Couture, DI Flight Test Engineer with HX-21, successfully test L16 and ANW2 by disembarking from and continuing to communicate with a UH-1Y Venom and an AH-1Z Viper over an encrypted network, marking the first successful digital interoperability flight with an H-1 mixed fleet. - From left, Greg Coulter, DI Lead Engineer with the H-1 Light/Attack Helicopters Program Office, Matt Moritz, Avionics Lead Systems Engineer with the program office, Nick Embry, DI Flight Test Engineer with HX-21, and Victoria Couture, DI Flight Test Engineer with HX-21, successfully test L16 and ANW2 by disembarking from and continuing to communicate with a UH-1Y Venom and an AH-1Z Viper over an encrypted network, marking the first successful digital interoperability flight with an H-1 mixed fleet.

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, secure a landing zone during Counter Assault Exercise on Okinawa, Japan, May 11, 2022. During this force-on-force exercise, an infantry company with 3/2 rapidly deployed into the double-canopy jungles of the Northern Training Area to defend against an assault from another infantry company with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. This exercise was designed to increase 3rd Marine Division’s ability to seize and defend key maritime terrain, such as islands or coastal areas, and conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations in the western Pacific. 3/2 is deployed under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program. - U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, secure a landing zone during Counter Assault Exercise on Okinawa, Japan, May 11, 2022. During this force-on-force exercise, an infantry company with 3/2 rapidly deployed into the double-canopy jungles of the Northern Training Area to defend against an assault from another infantry company with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. This exercise was designed to increase 3rd Marine Division’s ability to seize and defend key maritime terrain, such as islands or coastal areas, and conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations in the western Pacific. 3/2 is deployed under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Michael Cederholm, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, meets Polish Maj. Gen. Dariusz Malinowski, deputy commander of Armed Forces Operation Command, Łask Air Base, Poland, April 14, 2022. 2nd MAW units are deployed to enhance NATO's capabilities in Eastern Europe at the invitation of host nations. - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Michael Cederholm, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, meets Polish Maj. Gen. Dariusz Malinowski, deputy commander of Armed Forces Operation Command, Łask Air Base, Poland, April 14, 2022. 2nd MAW units are deployed to enhance NATO's capabilities in Eastern Europe at the invitation of host nations.

U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 taxi in a CH-53K King Stallion after its first operational flight at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., April 13, 2022. The flight signified the beginning of HMH-461's modernization from the CH-53E Super Stallion to the CH-53K King Stallion. HMH-461 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. - U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 taxi in a CH-53K King Stallion after its first operational flight at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., April 13, 2022. The flight signified the beginning of HMH-461's modernization from the CH-53E Super Stallion to the CH-53K King Stallion. HMH-461 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Brandon Mote, crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-772, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, leads Dutch Marines with Marine Squadron Carib, Netherlands Marine Corps, to a CH-53E Super Stallion for aerial transport in support of exercise Caribbean Urban Warrior on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 28, 2022. The exercise is a bilateral training evolution designed to increase interoperability between U.S. and partner forces. - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Brandon Mote, crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-772, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, leads Dutch Marines with Marine Squadron Carib, Netherlands Marine Corps, to a CH-53E Super Stallion for aerial transport in support of exercise Caribbean Urban Warrior on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 28, 2022. The exercise is a bilateral training evolution designed to increase interoperability between U.S. and partner forces.

F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, arrive aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as they prepare to deploy alongside the Navy as an integrated part of Carrier Strike Group 3. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, led by Carrier Strike Group 3, deployed from San Diego, Jan. 3, in support of global maritime security operations. An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to flawlessly execute our Navy's role across the full spectrum of military operations-from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region. - F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, arrive aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as they prepare to deploy alongside the Navy as an integrated part of Carrier Strike Group 3. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, led by Carrier Strike Group 3, deployed from San Diego, Jan. 3, in support of global maritime security operations. An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to flawlessly execute our Navy's role across the full spectrum of military operations-from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region.