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U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum "Flight School" summer camp students pose for a group photo at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, July 11, 2023. VMM-268 partnered with the summer camp to introduce middle school students to the aviation career field and enhance community relations. - U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum "Flight School" summer camp students pose for a group photo at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, July 11, 2023. VMM-268 partnered with the summer camp to introduce middle school students to the aviation career field and enhance community relations.

U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct air-to-air refueling with a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker during a trans-Pacific flight en route to Marine Aviation Support Activity 23, at sea, July 8, 2023. MASA is a bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of Philippines and the U.S. Marine Corps, aimed at enhancing interoperability and coordination focused on aviation-related capabilities. - U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct air-to-air refueling with a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker during a trans-Pacific flight en route to Marine Aviation Support Activity 23, at sea, July 8, 2023. MASA is a bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of Philippines and the U.S. Marine Corps, aimed at enhancing interoperability and coordination focused on aviation-related capabilities.

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U.S. Marines, with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), pose for a photo aboard the SS Curtis (T-AVB-4) during Balikatan 23 off the coast of the Philippines, April 18, 2023. Balikatan 23 is the 38th iteration of the annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military. The exercise includes three weeks of training focused on amphibious operations, command and control, humanitarian assistance, urban operations and counterterrorism skills throughout northern and western Luzon. Coastal defense training figures prominently in the Balikatan 23 training schedule. - U.S. Marines, with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, pose for a photo aboard the SS Curtis (T-AVB-4) during Balikatan 23 off the coast of the Philippines, April 18, 2023. Balikatan 23 is the 38th iteration of the annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military. The exercise includes three weeks of training focused on amphibious operations, command and control, humanitarian assistance, urban operations and counterterrorism skills throughout northern and western Luzon. Coastal defense training figures prominently in the Balikatan 23 training schedule.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael P. Fisher, commanding officer Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, observes the pass and review with former VMFA 311 commanders during a reactivation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, April 14, 2023. The reactivation and redesignation of VMFA-311 marks the transition for the squadron to the F-35C Lightning II, which brings its unique capabilities to 3rd MAW as a long-range compliment to existing aviation assets. Formerly Marine Attack Squadron 311, the Tomcats have made their mark on Marine Corps aviation for decades, and now will continue their legacy. - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael P. Fisher, commanding officer Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, observes the pass and review with former VMFA 311 commanders during a reactivation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, April 14, 2023. The reactivation and redesignation of VMFA-311 marks the transition for the squadron to the F-35C Lightning II, which brings its unique capabilities to 3rd MAW as a long-range compliment to existing aviation assets. Formerly Marine Attack Squadron 311, the Tomcats have made their mark on Marine Corps aviation for decades, and now will continue their legacy.

U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Christopher D. Genualdi, capabilities integration officer, Logistical Combat Element Integration Division, Capabilities Development Directorate, Combat Development and Integration, speaks during a demonstration at DZ Cockatoo on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, March 29, 2023. Combat Development and Integration demonstrated the Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System, programming the Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air to carry a payload over a short distance, drop it at a specified location in the landing zone and return to its staring point. The TRUAS has a 9-mile range and maximum payload of 150 pounds, which is sufficient to fly in ammunition, food, medical supplies, and batteries, among other supplies. This small system only requires two Marines to operate and will be a game-changing capability for our distributed forces. Fielding this capability is a critical step in setting conditions for the development of the ULS-A Medium system, which is the required capability for large-scale tactical distribution in a contested space. - U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Christopher D. Genualdi, capabilities integration officer, Logistical Combat Element Integration Division, Capabilities Development Directorate, Combat Development and Integration, speaks during a demonstration at DZ Cockatoo on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, March 29, 2023. Combat Development and Integration demonstrated the Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System, programming the Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air to carry a payload over a short distance, drop it at a specified location in the landing zone and return to its staring point. The TRUAS has a 9-mile range and maximum payload of 150 pounds, which is sufficient to fly in ammunition, food, medical supplies, and batteries, among other supplies. This small system only requires two Marines to operate and will be a game-changing capability for our distributed forces. Fielding this capability is a critical step in setting conditions for the development of the ULS-A Medium system, which is the required capability for large-scale tactical distribution in a contested space.

MCAS New River Go-Getter: Cpl. Aaron Crance - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Aaron B. Crance, a team leader with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, Jacksonville, North Carolina, poses for a photo in front of the MCAS New River Station Ordnance building sign on MCAS New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, March 13, 2022. Crance, the recipient of the March MCAS New River Go-Getter award, enlisted into the Marine Corps in July of 2020 from Lynchburg, Virginia. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Antonino Mazzamuto)

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 165, Marine Air Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, stages by the fuel line at a forward arming and refueling point during Steel Knight 23 Dec. 1, 2022, on Camp Wilson, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. Exercise Steel Knight 23 provides 3rd MAW an opportunity to refine Wing-level warfighting in support of I Marine Expeditionary Force and fleet maneuver. - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 165, Marine Air Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, stages by the fuel line at a forward arming and refueling point during Steel Knight 23 Dec. 1, 2022, on Camp Wilson, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. Exercise Steel Knight 23 provides 3rd MAW an opportunity to refine Wing-level warfighting in support of I Marine Expeditionary Force and fleet maneuver.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Brooke Thompson, an avionics technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, poses for a photo in front of an F-35B Lightning II aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 20,2022. Thompson was awarded the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal for her meritorious service since her arrival to MCAS Iwakuni in 2018, where she held multiple billets, and supported multiple exercises and operations across the Indo-Pacific. - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Brooke Thompson, an avionics technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, poses for a photo in front of an F-35B Lightning II aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 20,2022. Thompson was awarded the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal for her meritorious service since her arrival to MCAS Iwakuni in 2018, where she held multiple billets, and supported multiple exercises and operations across the Indo-Pacific.

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 Reinforced, Aviation Combat Element, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin 22, refuels in flight during a Transpacific flight over Queensland, Australia, Sept. 13, 2022. TRANSPAC was a long-range tactical redeployment from Darwin to Hawaii with stops in Fiji, American Samoa, and Kiribati. - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 Reinforced, Aviation Combat Element, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin 22, refuels in flight during a Transpacific flight over Queensland, Australia, Sept. 13, 2022. TRANSPAC was a long-range tactical redeployment from Darwin to Hawaii with stops in Fiji, American Samoa, and Kiribati.

This was the first time the Marine Corps deployed the King Stallion in an exercise. HMH-461 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam Henke) - U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 carry a cargo container with a CH-53K King Stallion at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Aug. 11, 2022. This was the first time the Marine Corps deployed the King Stallion in an exercise. HMH-461 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam Henke)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Gignac, an air-support operations operator with Marine Air Support Squadron 1, operates a prototype of the Gaming Environment for Air Readiness at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, July 28, 2022. The GEAR is an artificial-intelligence enabled and role-based simulation designed to train and develop MASS-1 Marines by exposing them to interactive scenarios prior to participating in an exercise or deployment. MASS-1 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Gignac, an air-support operations operator with Marine Air Support Squadron 1, operates a prototype of the Gaming Environment for Air Readiness at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, July 28, 2022. The GEAR is an artificial-intelligence enabled and role-based simulation designed to train and develop MASS-1 Marines by exposing them to interactive scenarios prior to participating in an exercise or deployment. MASS-1 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

A U.S. Airman with the 163rd Attack Wing, California Air National Guard, directs an MQ-9 Reaper to a refueling point during Integrated Training Exercise 4-22 at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. on July 20th, 2022. The MQ-9 Reaper received fuel via aviation delivered ground refueling from an MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 764, marking the first time the MQ-9 received fuel from a joint asset and the first time an Air National Guard MQ-9 received fuel from another aircraft. The MQ-9 Reaper provided close air support to Marine Air-Ground Task Force 23 during its execution of the fire support coordination exercise of ITX as the Marine Corps Reserve continues to work to integrate with sister services in preparation for future operations. - A U.S. Airman with the 163rd Attack Wing, California Air National Guard, directs an MQ-9 Reaper to a refueling point during Integrated Training Exercise 4-22 at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. on July 20th, 2022. The MQ-9 Reaper received fuel via aviation delivered ground refueling from an MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 764, marking the first time the MQ-9 received fuel from a joint asset and the first time an Air National Guard MQ-9 received fuel from another aircraft. The MQ-9 Reaper provided close air support to Marine Air-Ground Task Force 23 during its execution of the fire support coordination exercise of ITX as the Marine Corps Reserve continues to work to integrate with sister services in preparation for future operations.

From left, Greg Coulter, DI Lead Engineer with the H-1 Light/Attack Helicopters Program Office, Matt Moritz, Avionics Lead Systems Engineer with the program office, Nick Embry, DI Flight Test Engineer with HX-21, and Victoria Couture, DI Flight Test Engineer with HX-21, successfully test L16 and ANW2 by disembarking from and continuing to communicate with a UH-1Y Venom and an AH-1Z Viper over an encrypted network, marking the first successful digital interoperability flight with an H-1 mixed fleet. - From left, Greg Coulter, DI Lead Engineer with the H-1 Light/Attack Helicopters Program Office, Matt Moritz, Avionics Lead Systems Engineer with the program office, Nick Embry, DI Flight Test Engineer with HX-21, and Victoria Couture, DI Flight Test Engineer with HX-21, successfully test L16 and ANW2 by disembarking from and continuing to communicate with a UH-1Y Venom and an AH-1Z Viper over an encrypted network, marking the first successful digital interoperability flight with an H-1 mixed fleet.

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, secure a landing zone during Counter Assault Exercise on Okinawa, Japan, May 11, 2022. During this force-on-force exercise, an infantry company with 3/2 rapidly deployed into the double-canopy jungles of the Northern Training Area to defend against an assault from another infantry company with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. This exercise was designed to increase 3rd Marine Division’s ability to seize and defend key maritime terrain, such as islands or coastal areas, and conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations in the western Pacific. 3/2 is deployed under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program. - U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, secure a landing zone during Counter Assault Exercise on Okinawa, Japan, May 11, 2022. During this force-on-force exercise, an infantry company with 3/2 rapidly deployed into the double-canopy jungles of the Northern Training Area to defend against an assault from another infantry company with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. This exercise was designed to increase 3rd Marine Division’s ability to seize and defend key maritime terrain, such as islands or coastal areas, and conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations in the western Pacific. 3/2 is deployed under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Michael Cederholm, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, meets Polish Maj. Gen. Dariusz Malinowski, deputy commander of Armed Forces Operation Command, Łask Air Base, Poland, April 14, 2022. 2nd MAW units are deployed to enhance NATO's capabilities in Eastern Europe at the invitation of host nations. - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Michael Cederholm, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, meets Polish Maj. Gen. Dariusz Malinowski, deputy commander of Armed Forces Operation Command, Łask Air Base, Poland, April 14, 2022. 2nd MAW units are deployed to enhance NATO's capabilities in Eastern Europe at the invitation of host nations.

U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 taxi in a CH-53K King Stallion after its first operational flight at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., April 13, 2022. The flight signified the beginning of HMH-461's modernization from the CH-53E Super Stallion to the CH-53K King Stallion. HMH-461 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. - U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 taxi in a CH-53K King Stallion after its first operational flight at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., April 13, 2022. The flight signified the beginning of HMH-461's modernization from the CH-53E Super Stallion to the CH-53K King Stallion. HMH-461 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Brandon Mote, crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-772, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, leads Dutch Marines with Marine Squadron Carib, Netherlands Marine Corps, to a CH-53E Super Stallion for aerial transport in support of exercise Caribbean Urban Warrior on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 28, 2022. The exercise is a bilateral training evolution designed to increase interoperability between U.S. and partner forces. - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Brandon Mote, crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-772, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, leads Dutch Marines with Marine Squadron Carib, Netherlands Marine Corps, to a CH-53E Super Stallion for aerial transport in support of exercise Caribbean Urban Warrior on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 28, 2022. The exercise is a bilateral training evolution designed to increase interoperability between U.S. and partner forces.

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F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, arrive aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as they prepare to deploy alongside the Navy as an integrated part of Carrier Strike Group 3. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, led by Carrier Strike Group 3, deployed from San Diego, Jan. 3, in support of global maritime security operations. An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to flawlessly execute our Navy's role across the full spectrum of military operations-from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region. - F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, arrive aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as they prepare to deploy alongside the Navy as an integrated part of Carrier Strike Group 3. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, led by Carrier Strike Group 3, deployed from San Diego, Jan. 3, in support of global maritime security operations. An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to flawlessly execute our Navy's role across the full spectrum of military operations-from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region.