Photo Information

A U.S. Marine fires an M2 .50-caliber machine gun from a CH-53E Super Stallion in Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 3.

Photo by Sgt. Dominic Romero

3rd MAW strengthens as WTI 1-21 concludes

5 Nov 2020 | Sgt. Dominic Romero The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

Upon the completion of Weapons and Tactics Instructor course 1-21, over 100 newly qualified instructors return to their respective squadrons throughout the Marine Corps.

Culminating in a fully integrated, combined arms exercise encompassing all functions of Marine aviation, WTI prepares graduates to support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force with mission planning, briefing and debriefing, threat systems, and unit weapons system employment.

“The WTI course is critical to the readiness of not only 3rd MAW, but the whole Marine Corps aviation enterprise. My pilots, crews and maintainers get tremendous opportunities to execute against some very varsity level problem sets. Make no mistake about it, our lethality across aviation combat functions – from command and control to aviation ground support logistics, and everything in between – is sharpened during WTI. The weapons we carry forward are forged at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Mahoney, 3rd Marine Air Wing Commanding General.

“All of these capabilities are essential to maintaining 3rd MAW readiness, and will ultimately help prepare our Marines to effectively move forward and confront challenges across the globe." Maj. Gen. Christopher Mahoney, 3rd MAW Commanding General

During WTI 1-21, 1st, 2nd and 3rd MAW provided aircraft such as the F-35C Lightning II, AH-1Z Viper, UH-1Y Venom, and CH-53E Super Stallion to assist in the ability to conduct all of the functions of Marine aviation. 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment arrived from Camp Lejeune to conduct predeployment training in conjunction with the aviators.

Weapons and Tactics Instructor course is a seven-week period of instruction, hosted by MAWTS-1 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., that incorporates Marine Corps planning and implementation of advanced air and ground tactics though a series of escalating evolutions in order to produce certified weapons and tactics instructors.

The mission of MAWTS-1 is to provide standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications that support Marine aviation training and readiness, and to provide assistance in the development and employment of aviation weapons and tactics.

3rd MAW continues to “Fix, Fly and Fight” as the Marine Corps’ largest aircraft wing, and remains combat-ready, deployable on short notice, and lethal when called into action.

For questions regarding this release, please contact the 3rd MAW Communication Strategy and Operations Office at 3rdmawmedia@usmc.mil.