From a slow take off to high flying - Capt. Kelsey Casey, from San Francisco, assigned to the “Tomcats” of Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311, prepares for flight operations aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) during a certification exercise (CERTEX). Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, is supporting a CERTEX that will evaluate the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) on crisis response operations for a number of potential contingencies. CERTEX, taking place off the coast of and within Australia’s Shoalwater Bay Training Area, will test the MEU’s ability to conduct all of its core missions such as stability operations, non-combatant evacuation and disaster relief. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeanette Mullinax/Released)

Gunnery Sgt. Richard D. Madrid, an airborne, air delivery specialist with 3rd Air Delivery Platoon, Landing Support Company, 3rd Transportation Support Battalion, prepares to board a C-130 after free-falling May 21, 2018, on Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan. The Marines conducted air drop operations dropping a type-five platform, door bundles, free fall and static line jumpers, and the Polaris MRZR onto the island. 3rd Marine Logistics Group Marines worked alongside Marines with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, during the regularly scheduled training evolution to complete their first ever successful drop of a Polaris MRZR from a C-130. Madrid is a native of Monterey Park, California. - Gunnery Sgt. Richard D. Madrid, an airborne, air delivery specialist with 3rd Air Delivery Platoon, Landing Support Company, 3rd Transportation Support Battalion, prepares to board a C-130 after free-falling May 21, 2018, on Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan. The Marines conducted air drop operations dropping a type-five platform, door bundles, free fall and static line jumpers, and the Polaris MRZR onto the island. 3rd Marine Logistics Group Marines worked alongside Marines with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, during the regularly scheduled training evolution to complete their first ever successful drop of a Polaris MRZR from a C-130. Madrid is a native of Monterey Park, California.

A pilot prepares to take off from the flightline at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort,South Carolina, May 4,2016. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 is participating in a Weapons Systems Evaluation Program at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, May 6-20,2016. The program gives pilots experience with flying against real aircraft outside a simulation. The real world training helps Marines be tactically proficient and prepared to deploy. - A pilot prepares to take off from the flightline at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort,South Carolina, May 4,2016. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 is participating in a Weapons Systems Evaluation Program at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, May 6-20,2016. The program gives pilots experience with flying against real aircraft outside a simulation. The real world training helps Marines be tactically proficient and prepared to deploy.

On Dec. 18, 2015 Lt. Col. Jonathan Morel became the first Marine to fly the CH-53K helicopter, during a test flight over Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation's Development Flight Center at West Palms Beach. The flight test ran for 1.5 hours and now marks the sixth flight for the aircraft. - On Dec. 18, 2015 Lt. Col. Jonathan Morel became the first Marine to fly the CH-53K helicopter, during a test flight over Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation's Development Flight Center at West Palms Beach. The flight test ran for 1.5 hours and now marks the sixth flight for the aircraft.

Marine air crew with Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 oversees ground Marines from within a CH-53E Super Stallion during an external lift exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 25, 2015. The air crew within carefully observed the ground team to ensure they securely attached their 8,500-pound high beam to a pintle hook below. - Marine air crew with Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 oversees ground Marines from within a CH-53E Super Stallion during an external lift exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 25, 2015. The air crew within carefully observed the ground team to ensure they securely attached their 8,500-pound high beam to a pintle hook below.

A sailor aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) signals to the pilot of an F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to land as it arrives for the first phase of operational testing, May 18, 2015. The short take-off, vertical landing capabilities of the F-35B are crucial to the mission of the Marine Corps and necessary for operation aboard a Navy amphibious ship. The aircraft are stationed with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Beaufort, South Carolina and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Yuma, Arizona. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Remington Hall/Released) - A sailor aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) signals to the pilot of an F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to land as it arrives for the first phase of operational testing, May 18, 2015. The short take-off, vertical landing capabilities of the F-35B are crucial to the mission of the Marine Corps and necessary for operation aboard a Navy amphibious ship. The aircraft are stationed with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Beaufort, South Carolina and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Yuma, Arizona. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Remington Hall/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Sean M. Stephenson poses for a photo in front of his AV-8B Harrier on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) March 17, 2015. Stephenson started out his career as an enlisted band member and then persued his dream of becoming a pilot. Stehenson is a Harrier pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 231, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Sean M. Stephenson poses for a photo in front of his AV-8B Harrier on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) March 17, 2015. Stephenson started out his career as an enlisted band member and then persued his dream of becoming a pilot. Stehenson is a Harrier pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 231, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Lt. Col. Jason Holden, right, commanding officer of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, and a Woodbridge, Virginia native, shakes the hand of Cpl. Andrew Sturgess, his crew chief and a Sidney, Indiana, native, after a successful training flight aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, April 10. This training operation marks the last time the commanding officer of VMM-163 will participate in a squadron-sized event before relinquishing command. - Lt. Col. Jason Holden, right, commanding officer of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, and a Woodbridge, Virginia native, shakes the hand of Cpl. Andrew Sturgess, his crew chief and a Sidney, Indiana, native, after a successful training flight aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, April 10. This training operation marks the last time the commanding officer of VMM-163 will participate in a squadron-sized event before relinquishing command.

Maj. Paul Holst, an instructor pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, flies into Beaufort skies to conduct an F-35B Lightning II night flight for the first time in Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and VMFAT- 501 history, March 2. Pilots conducted the night flights throughout the week to determine how to teach new pilots. - Maj. Paul Holst, an instructor pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, flies into Beaufort skies to conduct an F-35B Lightning II night flight for the first time in Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and VMFAT- 501 history, March 2. Pilots conducted the night flights throughout the week to determine how to teach new pilots.

A member of the Malaysian Armed Forces watches as an MV-22B Osprey loaded with U.S. Marines approaches a landing zone Feb. 27 during a theater security cooperation event. The Marines are with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and are currently conducting the annual Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. - A member of the Malaysian Armed Forces watches as an MV-22B Osprey loaded with U.S. Marines approaches a landing zone Feb. 27 during a theater security cooperation event. The Marines are with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and are currently conducting the annual Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region.