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

AL ASAD, Iraq- Lance Cpl. Andrew Krebs, a motor transportation refueler from Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, pulls the fuel nozzle out from his truck to refuel an AH-1W Cobra, Aug. 10. After inserting the nozzle, the Marine grounds the truck to the bird cutting out static electricity and opens the fuel valves to begin fueling. - AL ASAD, Iraq- Lance Cpl. Andrew Krebs, a motor transportation refueler from Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, pulls the fuel nozzle out from his truck to refuel an AH-1W Cobra, Aug. 10. After inserting the nozzle, the Marine grounds the truck to the bird cutting out static electricity and opens the fuel valves to begin fueling.

Refuelers sustain squadrons, keep aircraft flying high

Throughout Iraq there are two things that keep squadron’s generators burning and their aircraft engines turning, the JP-8 fuel which powers everything from lights to F/A-18s and the Marine refuelers who ensure everyone receives the fuel they need.The refuelers of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 man the hot pits and work the mobile fuel trucks to

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AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 and Soldiers from Task Force Dragon stand in formation during the transfer of authority ceremony, Aug. 10. - AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 and Soldiers from Task Force Dragon stand in formation during the transfer of authority ceremony, Aug. 10.

Flying Tigers hand reins to Task Force Dragon

The task of transporting service members and cargo around part of Iraq’s Al Anbar Province recently transferred from the hands of a Marine squadron to an Army task force.Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 handed the reins to the Army’s Task Force Dragon in a transfer of authority ceremony here, Aug. 10.The Soldiers of Task Force Dragon,

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Sgt. Lester Peterson with 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, Task Force Military Police, reaches deep down inside for everything he has to hold two ATVs during the Hercules Hold event of the Al Asad Strongman Competition, Aug. 12. Competitors were split up into various weight classes and competed in events like the Atlas Stone carry and Farmer?s Walk. - Sgt. Lester Peterson with 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, Task Force Military Police, reaches deep down inside for everything he has to hold two ATVs during the Hercules Hold event of the Al Asad Strongman Competition, Aug. 12. Competitors were split up into various weight classes and competed in events like the Atlas Stone carry and Farmer?s Walk.

Al Asad StrongMan Competition tests service members, civilians strength, endurance

Whether it’s running, biking and swimming various miles to test their endurance, or demonstrating raw power by bench pressing 325 pounds fifteen times, service members pride themselves on their physical fitness. Recently service members were presented with a different way to test their mettle.Service members and civilians competed in the first ever

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Lance Cpl. Travis Hilbert, a combat engineer waters the saw blade as Sgt. Jeffery Balschmiter, a combat engineer, cuts out the section of runway that is going to be repaired, August 11. The combat engineers of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 have recently started repairing sections of the Al Asad runway as part of the Rapid Runway Repair project. - Lance Cpl. Travis Hilbert, a combat engineer waters the saw blade as Sgt. Jeffery Balschmiter, a combat engineer, cuts out the section of runway that is going to be repaired, August 11. The combat engineers of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 have recently started repairing sections of the Al Asad runway as part of the Rapid Runway Repair project.

Combat engineers put skills to test on Al Asad’s runways

Whether it is building or renovating, combat engineers are always working hard to ensure that service members have what they need to make work or life a little better. Recently, the Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 took on a mission that has an affect on service members throughout Iraq.The engineers of MWSS-271 have started the Rapid

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Air Traffic Controllers keep Al Qaim skies running smooth

Just like a guide dog helps a blind person or a ground guide assists a heavy equipment operator, air traffic controllers are on the ground to help pilots. Wherever there are Marine Corps aircraft flying, there are air traffic controllers ensuring that the pilots know when they can take-off or land, how to approach the airfield, or what is in the

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AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - Lance Cpls. Andres Valez, left, and Arturo Gonzales install a light underneath an awning that Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 371's Engineer Operations Company built at Ammo Supply Point 102, Aug. 9. The ASP, located outside Habbiniyah, is manned by soldiers from the Iraqi Army's 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division. Valez is an electrical engineer and Gonzales is a combat engineer. - AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - Lance Cpls. Andres Valez, left, and Arturo Gonzales install a light underneath an awning that Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 371's Engineer Operations Company built at Ammo Supply Point 102, Aug. 9. The ASP, located outside Habbiniyah, is manned by soldiers from the Iraqi Army's 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division. Valez is an electrical engineer and Gonzales is a combat engineer.

Engineers make life easier for Iraqi Army soldiers

Operation Iraqi Freedom has given control of the country back to its people. As more Iraqi Army units become responsible for their own areas of operation, the Marines working alongside them are doing everything in their power to set the Iraqi Army up for success.Recently, Marines from the Engineer Operations Company of Marine Wing Support Squadron

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Couple serves Corps, deployment together

The stresses of deployment are easier to bear when service members have someone to share the experience with. Some Marines are lucky enough to have a brother, sister, or even a parent beside them to help bear that stress during a deployment. Only a few get the chance to spend their deployment in the same place as their spouse.The McKenzies are one

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AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - A UH-1N "Huey" flown by Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 returns to the flightline after completing a mission, Aug. 8. The squadron's primary mission is providing close air support to Marines on the ground. - AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - A UH-1N "Huey" flown by Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 returns to the flightline after completing a mission, Aug. 8. The squadron's primary mission is providing close air support to Marines on the ground.

Gunfighters bring heat to the Middle East

In the overwhelming heat of the Iraqi summer, most people would want to spend their time indoors. Marines often do not have that luxury, as their mission - whether it is outside the wire or out on the flightline - invariably takes them out into the heat.In the sweltering heat of Al Taqaddum, the “Gunfighters” of Marine Light Attack Helicopter

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AL ASAD, Iraq - Lt. Col. Joseph Craft, the commanding officer of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121, speaks to the Marines taking part in the squadron's Incident Free Liberty Campaign during the initial meeting, July 3. The two task forces in the campaign, Victor and Kilo, devised separate courses of action to keep Marines alive after they come home from deployment. - AL ASAD, Iraq - Lt. Col. Joseph Craft, the commanding officer of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121, speaks to the Marines taking part in the squadron's Incident Free Liberty Campaign during the initial meeting, July 3. The two task forces in the campaign, Victor and Kilo, devised separate courses of action to keep Marines alive after they come home from deployment.