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

Archive: September, 2005

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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Al Asad remembers 9/11

Marines, Soldiers and Sailors gathered in the Al Asad, Iraq, base theater to celebrate Patriot Day, Sept. 10, a day of remembrance for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.“Four years have passed since our country was brutally attacked on a quiet September morning. On that day, thousands of innocent lives were taken from us,” said

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AL ASAD, Iraq ? Gunnery Sgt. Ron S. Smith, the MALS-26 aviation information systems chief, takes the oath of enlistment during a reenlistment ceremony at the Marine Air Group 26 headquarters building, at Al Asad, Iraq. Smith?s family was able to sit in on the ceremony because of video teleconferencing technology. - AL ASAD, Iraq ? Gunnery Sgt. Ron S. Smith, the MALS-26 aviation information systems chief, takes the oath of enlistment during a reenlistment ceremony at the Marine Air Group 26 headquarters building, at Al Asad, Iraq. Smith?s family was able to sit in on the ceremony because of video teleconferencing technology.

MALS-26 Marine’s family joins reenlistment at Al Asad

When Gunnery Sgt. Ron S. Smith, the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 aviation information systems chief, reenlists, he likes to mark the occasion by doing something no one else has done.For one of his reenlistments, the Brooklyn, NY, native, tried to spring out of a helicopter. For his most recent, Smith decided to become the first forward

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Army Cpl. Derek A. Marinaro, a team leader with the 109th Mechanized Infantry, uses sign language to communicate with his parents during a video teleconferencing session. Marinaro's parents are deaf, and his inability to talk with them over phone made this the first time he had communicated with his parents since he arrived in Iraq six weeks ago. The video teleconference was made possible by the Freedom Calls Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting better communication between deployed service members and their loved ones. - Army Cpl. Derek A. Marinaro, a team leader with the 109th Mechanized Infantry, uses sign language to communicate with his parents during a video teleconferencing session. Marinaro's parents are deaf, and his inability to talk with them over phone made this the first time he had communicated with his parents since he arrived in Iraq six weeks ago. The video teleconference was made possible by the Freedom Calls Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting better communication between deployed service members and their loved ones.