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

As the crew chief lifts his hands to indicate he is not touching anything, Lance Cpl. Chester Pickering, an ordnanceman with Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 and native of Loveland, Ohio, ensures that the .50 caliber machine gun aboard the UH-1N Huey. is clear. This process is called hot loading because there is still electricity flowing through the helicopter and its rotors are still turning. - As the crew chief lifts his hands to indicate he is not touching anything, Lance Cpl. Chester Pickering, an ordnanceman with Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 and native of Loveland, Ohio, ensures that the .50 caliber machine gun aboard the UH-1N Huey. is clear. This process is called hot loading because there is still electricity flowing through the helicopter and its rotors are still turning.

Warrior ordnance keeps Cobras armed, loaded, ready for battle

Like firefighters responding to an alarm, the Marines suddenly stopped whatever they were doing and rushed to the scene. The Marines then load, arm and sent the AH-1W Super Cobra back into battle. Once troops on ground make contact with an enemy, the ordnancemen of Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 load and arm two hellfire missiles, two

Read More

Corporal Joseph Daum, a motor transport driver turned refueler operator for Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 and Los Angeles native, pulls a hose from a 5,000-gallon tanker toward a KC-130 for fueling, Sept. 29, at Al Asad, Iraq. Marines from MWSS-272, based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., are keeping Al Asad?s fuel supply flowing, or rolling in their case. - Corporal Joseph Daum, a motor transport driver turned refueler operator for Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 and Los Angeles native, pulls a hose from a 5,000-gallon tanker toward a KC-130 for fueling, Sept. 29, at Al Asad, Iraq. Marines from MWSS-272, based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., are keeping Al Asad?s fuel supply flowing, or rolling in their case.

'Untouchable' truck crews keep fuel rolling

Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., are keeping Al Asad’s fuel supply flowing, or rolling in their case. The Untouchables of MWSS-272’s fueling section trucker crews provide a rolling fuel depot with nonstop service for all Al Asad’s aircraft and generators. Two 12-Marine teams alternate

Read More

AL ASAD, Iraq ? General Michael Hagee, 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps, talks with Sgt. Alain Alba during breakfast at Al Asad, Sept. 25. Hagee and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, John L. Estrada, came to Al Asad during a visit to the Marine Corps area of responsibility in Iraq. - AL ASAD, Iraq ? General Michael Hagee, 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps, talks with Sgt. Alain Alba during breakfast at Al Asad, Sept. 25. Hagee and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, John L. Estrada, came to Al Asad during a visit to the Marine Corps area of responsibility in Iraq.

CMC, SMMC visit warriors on front

General Michael Hagee, 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada, 15th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, visited Al Asad, Iraq, Sept. 25. The two leaders’ visit brought them to other Marine Corps installations throughout the Al Anbar province, as they checked on their Marines fighting the War on Terror. After arriving in

Read More

Staff Sgt. Remko Wouters, an engineer equipment operator with the Untouchables of Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 and Phoenix native, fills a Bobcat bucket with sand to place inside a Hesco barrier at Al Asad, Iraq, Sept. 21. - Staff Sgt. Remko Wouters, an engineer equipment operator with the Untouchables of Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 and Phoenix native, fills a Bobcat bucket with sand to place inside a Hesco barrier at Al Asad, Iraq, Sept. 21.

'Untouchable' engineers lend support to TACC security

The Tactical Air Command Center security guards here recently received support from two “Untouchable” Marines. Staff Sgt. Remko Wouters and Lance Cpl. Kyle Paulson, engineer equipment operators with the Untouchables of Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, helped TACC security install and fortify new guard shacks, Sept. 19 through 24. The Marines

Read More

AL ASAD, Iraq - Sergeant Travis G. Poitras, an ordnanceman with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 332 and Limington, Maine, native, signals pilots to keep their hands off the controls while Marines arm ordnance loaded onto one of the Moonlighters? F/A-18 Hornets, Sept. 21, at Al Asad, Iraq. - AL ASAD, Iraq - Sergeant Travis G. Poitras, an ordnanceman with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 332 and Limington, Maine, native, signals pilots to keep their hands off the controls while Marines arm ordnance loaded onto one of the Moonlighters? F/A-18 Hornets, Sept. 21, at Al Asad, Iraq.

Moonlighters turn engines full time in Iraq

The Moonlighters of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 332 are sticking to one job during their deployment here, supporting the Marines on the ground. The F/A-18 Hornet squadron based aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., joined the deployed 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing in July. The Moonlighters have been actively supporting II Marine

Read More

AL ASAD, Iraq ? Corporal Justin J. Poust, a 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing air tasking order production noncommissioned officer, carves the 2nd MAW emblem in a newly refurbished basketball court. Poust and other NCOs from Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 remodeled the court to exemplify initiative to their junior Marines. - AL ASAD, Iraq ? Corporal Justin J. Poust, a 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing air tasking order production noncommissioned officer, carves the 2nd MAW emblem in a newly refurbished basketball court. Poust and other NCOs from Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 remodeled the court to exemplify initiative to their junior Marines.

MWHS-2 NCOs exemplify initiative

Time and time again, the Marine Corps’ senior leaders remind anyone willing to listen that noncommissioned officers are the backbone of the Corps. At Al Asad, Iraq, a group of NCOs are demonstrating that fact, taking charge of a base improvement project aimed at making down time and physical training a little more enjoyable. Corporals Thomas E.

Read More

AL ASAD, Iraq ? Major Marion D. Jones, executive officer for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26, speaks with Sailors of the Mobile Air Cargo Handling team. The outgoing MACH III team was rewarded for their work in Iraq. - AL ASAD, Iraq ? Major Marion D. Jones, executive officer for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26, speaks with Sailors of the Mobile Air Cargo Handling team. The outgoing MACH III team was rewarded for their work in Iraq.

MALS-26 MACH team rewarded on heels of deployment;;

The Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26’s Mobile Air Cargo Handling team finished its deployment on a high note as Maj. Marion D. Jones, the executive officer of MALS-26, presented the MACH team with awards, Sept. 26, to thank them for their efforts. The MACH III team is being replaced by the MACH IV team, which was also present for the awards

Read More

A future Iraqi Security Forces base at Al Asad, Iraq, is slowly coming to life as Marines from the 2nd Force Service Support Group's Engineer Support Battalion build billeting, water purification systems and other essential infrastructure for the future Iraqi base. - A future Iraqi Security Forces base at Al Asad, Iraq, is slowly coming to life as Marines from the 2nd Force Service Support Group's Engineer Support Battalion build billeting, water purification systems and other essential infrastructure for the future Iraqi base.

Al Asad detachment helps build new Iraq

“As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down.” Those are the words of President George W. Bush, stating the U.S. policy of slowly relinquishing control of Iraq to its own people. At the heart of this policy is the successful evolution of the Iraqi Security Forces, who, despite bombs and death threats, continue to learn the ropes of combat patrols

Read More

Team saves lives with armor upgrades in Al Taqaddum

During the beginning stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom, many U.S. casualties came as the result of inadequately armored vehicles being struck by improvised explosive devices. Now, as the struggle to establish a free and secure Iraq continues, those who are trying to throw the country back into chaos have developed larger and more destructive IEDs

Read More

AL ASAD, Iraq ? Corporal Scott E. Hutchings, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band, plays taps during a Patriot Day service at Al Asad, Iraq. Patriot Day remembers those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. - AL ASAD, Iraq ? Corporal Scott E. Hutchings, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band, plays taps during a Patriot Day service at Al Asad, Iraq. Patriot Day remembers those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.