Stories

Marines with HMLA-269 trained in a cold-weather, high-altitude environment to increase proficiency in expeditionary advanced basing operations (EABO). HMLA-269 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Elias E. Pimentel III) - An AH-1Z Viper helicopter and two UH-1Y Venom helicopters assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 269 fly over Lamar, Colorado, Nov. 12, 2021. Marines with HMLA-269 trained in a cold-weather, high-altitude environment to increase proficiency in expeditionary advanced basing operations (EABO). HMLA-269 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Elias E. Pimentel III)

In accordance with the Commandant’s Force Design 2030, VMAT-203 will transition to a Fleet Replacement Detachment assigned to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 and will continue training Marines until the Harrier is fully decommissioned. - U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Training Squadron (VMAT) 203 stand in formation during a deactivation ceremony for the squadron at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Oct. 29, 2021. VMAT-203 was established in 1983 and was tasked with the mission of training Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier pilots. In accordance with the Commandant’s Force Design 2030, VMAT-203 will transition to a Fleet Replacement Detachment assigned to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 and will continue training Marines until the Harrier is fully decommissioned. VMAT-203 was a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Adam Henke)

United States Marines with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, prepare to deploy to Haiti in support of Joint Task Force-Haiti for a humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief mission from Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, Aug. 23, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Eric Ramirez) - United States Marines with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, prepare to deploy to Haiti in support of Joint Task Force-Haiti for a humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief mission from Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, Aug. 23, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Eric Ramirez)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Sean Nguyen completes a maximum repetition on bench squat. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Sean Nguyen, a supply and fiscal noncommissioned officer with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 271, competed in the 2021 USPA Drug Tested Feeding Frenzy, a national qualifying powerlifting competition held by the United States Powerlifting Association, a premier powerlifting federation.

SLTE is a series of exercises designed to prepare Marines for operations around the globe by increasing their ability to operate and conduct offensive and defensive combat operations. MAG-29 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Elias E. Pimentel III) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Timonthy P. Gensitskiy, an ordnance team member with Marine Light Attack Squadron (HMLA) 269, signals to pilots that a UH-1Y Venom helicopter’s weaponry has been disarmed after a flight at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, April 28, 2021. HMLA-269 and other squadrons assigned to Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 29 are training to integrate with and support various Marine ground units as part of Service Level Training Exercise (SLTE) 3-21. SLTE is a series of exercises designed to prepare Marines for operations around the globe by increasing their ability to operate and conduct offensive and defensive combat operations. MAG-29 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Elias E. Pimentel III)

The students train for two hours during each simulator flight, executing each task until it becomes second nature, said Jerry W. Fitzgerald, a Harrier contract simulator instructor. - 1st Lt. Matthew C. Forman, a replacement pilot with Marine Attack Training Squadron 203, looks at his control panel and heads-up display as he "taxis" an AV-8B Harrier simulator March 11.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (March 7, 2018) Members of the Israeli Defense Force observe flight operations aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), March 7, during exercise Juniper Cobra 2018 (JC18). JC18 is a computer-assisted exercise that is conducted through computer simulations focused on improving combined missile defense capabilities and overall interoperability between U.S. European Command and the Israel Defense Force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joe J. Cardona Gonzalez/Released) - 180307-N-ZK016-0040 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (March 7, 2018) Members of the Israeli Defense Force observe flight operations aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), March 7, during exercise Juniper Cobra 2018 (JC18). JC18 is a computer-assisted exercise that is conducted through computer simulations focused on improving combined missile defense capabilities and overall interoperability between U.S. European Command and the Israel Defense Force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joe J. Cardona Gonzalez/Released)

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepares to take off during an Initial Response Team (IRT) fly-away drill on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 14, 2021. An IRT with 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2nd MEB)took off from Camp Lejeune to Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue to simulate a forward theater deployment to establish a command and control communication node for 2nd MEB. 2nd MEB’s training and education creates a deployable force prepared to move on a moment’s notice. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jesus Sepulveda Torres) - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepares to take off during an Initial Response Team (IRT) fly-away drill on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 14, 2021. An IRT with 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2nd MEB)took off from Camp Lejeune to Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue to simulate a forward theater deployment to establish a command and control communication node for 2nd MEB. 2nd MEB’s training and education creates a deployable force prepared to move on a moment’s notice. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jesus Sepulveda Torres)

A crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, leads Marines with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment to board a CH-53E Super Stallion during Exercise Deep Water 2020 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., July 29, 2020. The purpose of the exercise is to increase 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s interoperability and readiness on a scale that simulates peer-level threats. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Yuritzy Gomez) - A crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, leads Marines with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment to board a CH-53E Super Stallion during Exercise Deep Water 2020 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., July 29, 2020. The purpose of the exercise is to increase 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s interoperability and readiness on a scale that simulates peer-level threats. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Yuritzy Gomez)

Marine Staff Sgt. Jonel Mendez was named Service Person of the Quarter by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee for his outstanding volunteer service to the community. - Marine Staff Sgt. Jonel Mendez gives remarks during a luncheon at Beaufort, North Carolina, Feb. 28, 2020. Mendez was named Service Person of the Quarter by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee for his outstanding volunteer service to the community. Mendez is the Alpha Company Gunnery Sergeant with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Rowe)