Stories

This identity design was created in adobe illustrator to represent the official unit insignia for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Feb. 12, 2025. The flying diamond insignia was first recognized during World War II as a shoulder patch. The patch was later mandated by the Commandant of the Marine Corps to represent all Marine Aircraft Wings.

2nd Marine Aircaft Wing

II Marine Expeditionary Force

Stewart received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for providing lifesaving immediate medical treatment and coordinating emergency medical care for a driver after a vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in Virginia on May 17, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bryan Giraldo) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Everett Good, left, from Missouri, commanding officer, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 29, and 1st Lt. Willie Stewart, from Colorado, a CH-53E Super Stallion student pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron (HMHT) 302, shake hands during an award ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, June 17, 2025. Stewart received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for providing lifesaving immediate medical treatment and coordinating emergency medical care for a driver after a vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in Virginia on May 17, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bryan Giraldo)

Aviate, navigate, communicate: how one Marine Corps pilot’s bias for action saved a life

The day was sunny and the roads were dry – ideal conditions for driving – as U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Willie Stewart drove his truck down Interstate 95. He was heading to Norfolk, Virginia, on May 17, 2025, to board a U.S. Navy ship that would take him to Fleet Week New York.

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VMA-231 conducted a ceremony to celebrate its last Harrier flight before its deactivation in September. In 2026, the squadron will reactivate as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 231 and prepare to operate the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bryan Giraldo) - U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II's with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 231 fly in formation during the squadron’s final flight ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, May 29, 2025. VMA-231 conducted a ceremony to celebrate its last Harrier flight before its deactivation in September. In 2026, the squadron will reactivate as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 231 and prepare to operate the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bryan Giraldo)

Marine Attack Squadron 231 completes final Harrier flight at Cherry Point

Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 231, known as the "Ace of Spades," marked the end of an era with its final AV-8B Harrier II flight on Thursday, culminating decades of rich history and distinguished service with the iconic vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

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This marks the first summit intended to update briefs on high-end tactics, Department of Defense capabilities, and provide WTI course updates relevant to future conflicts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin G. Rivas) - U.S. Marine Corps Commanding Generals from 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, meet with instructor pilots assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) during the 1st Annual Wing Commanding General Summit at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, April 24, 2025. This marks the first summit intended to update briefs on high-end tactics, Department of Defense capabilities, and provide WTI course updates relevant to future conflicts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin G. Rivas)

1st Annual Wing Commanding General WTI Warfighting Summit

The Commanding Generals of each of the four Marine Aircraft Wings visited Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) during Weapon and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-25, April 24-25, 2025.

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The April 2025 SLC brought together 2nd MAW O-6 and O-5 commanders, station commanders, their senior enlisted leaders, and 2nd MAW staff to enhance their understanding of key topics impacting 2nd MAW and improve mission effectiveness at each level of command. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Akeel Austin) - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. William H. Swan, center, from Wisconsin, commanding general, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, poses for a photo with senior leaders and staff from across 2nd MAW during the April 2025 Senior Leaders Conference at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, April 1, 2025. The April 2025 SLC brought together 2nd MAW O-6 and O-5 commanders, station commanders, their senior enlisted leaders, and 2nd MAW staff to enhance their understanding of key topics impacting 2nd MAW and improve mission effectiveness at each level of command. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Akeel Austin)

2nd MAW leaders build the team at the April 2025 Senior Leaders Conference

Last week, leaders from 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), Marine Corps Installations East, and II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) came together for three days aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina to participate in 2nd MAW’s April 2025 Senior Leaders Conference (SLC).

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U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman First Class Robert Zaruba, from Florida, an aeromedical safety corpsman with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, poses for a portrait at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, March. 28, 2025. Zaruba was named the Robert Graham Senior Enlisted Aerospace and Operational Physiology Professional of the Year for outstanding performance as an aeromedical safety corpsman. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. David Ornelas Baeza) - U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman First Class Robert Zaruba, from Florida, an aeromedical safety corpsman with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, poses for a portrait at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, March. 28, 2025. Zaruba was named the Robert Graham Senior Enlisted Aerospace and Operational Physiology Professional of the Year for outstanding performance as an aeromedical safety corpsman. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. David Ornelas Baeza)

Demonstrating Excellence in Safety: 2nd MAW Sailor named U.S. Navy Aerospace and Operational Physiology Professional of the Year

The ice-cold breeze blew right into the face of Hospital Corpsman First Class (HM1) Robert Zaruba, a Florida native and Aeromedical Safety Corpsman (AMSC) with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), as he and a fellow corpsman stepped out from the parked commercial plane and into the Arctic Circle.

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Cpl. Akridge was awarded the 2nd MAW commanding general's cowbell award for his outstanding performance as a datalink coordinator with Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Gavin Kulczewski) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Steven Akridge, from Virginia, a tactical air defense controller with Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) 2, was awarded with a cowbell from Maj. Gen. William H. Swan, from Wisconsin, commanding general, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, alongside his staff at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, March 13, 2025. Cpl. Akridge was awarded the 2nd MAW commanding general's cowbell award for his outstanding performance as a datalink coordinator with Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Gavin Kulczewski)

Impacting at every level: How one Lance Corporal’s innovation earned a Cowbell

The searing heat of Djibouti beat down around U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Steven Akridge, a Martinsville, Virginia, native and tactical air defense controller with Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW). He stared at the inoperable air surveillance system, a critical piece of equipment for 2nd MAW’s tactical air defense control unit. Without it, operations could be delayed, and the unit's mission could have been placed in jeopardy.

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MWSS-272 deployed to the Bahamas to conduct aviation ground support rehearsals and refine distributed aviation operations for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mya Seymour - U.S Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 272 refuel an MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 at an expeditionary landing zone near the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center on Andros Island, Bahamas, Mar. 2, 2025. MWSS-272 deployed to the Bahamas to conduct aviation ground support rehearsals and refine distributed aviation operations for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mya Seymour)

2nd MAW units complete distributed aviation operations exercise in The Bahamas

Units with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) completed an exercise focused on distributed aviation operations (DAO) near the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) on Andros Island, Bahamas, Jan. 28 to Mar. 15.

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VMFA-251 is the first East Coast-based Marine Corps squadron to employ the F-35C Lightning II, which is designed to operate from conventional aircraft carriers or land bases and provides operational flexibility and persistence to II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa) - U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251 march in formation during the reactivation ceremony for VMFA-251 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Dec. 5, 2024. VMFA-251 is the first East Coast-based Marine Corps squadron to employ the F-35C Lightning II, which is designed to operate from conventional aircraft carriers or land bases and provides operational flexibility and persistence to II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa)

VMFA-251 reactivates as Marine Corps’ first East Coast-based F-35C Lightning II squadron

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), reactivated during a ceremony on Thursday aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, following a four-year, seven-month hiatus.

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VMUT-2 serves as the Marine Corps' MQ-9A Reaper Fleet Replacement Squadron, whose primary mission is to train MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators in their respective military occupational specialties. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Akeel Austin) - A U.S. Marine Corps MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aircraft system with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron (VMUT) 2 taxis at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Nov. 21, 2024. VMUT-2 serves as the Marine Corps' MQ-9A Reaper Fleet Replacement Squadron, whose primary mission is to train MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators in their respective military occupational specialties. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Akeel Austin)