Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542 launches an F-35B Lightning II at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, May 31, 2023. VMFA-542 received its first F-35B Lightning II jets and is the Marine Corps’ first East Coast operational F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadron. The arrival of the aircraft marks the beginning of F-35 deliveries to MCAS Cherry Point, continuing 2nd MAW’s operational transition from legacy fixed-wing tactical aircraft to the F-35. VMFA-542 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542 launches an F-35B Lightning II at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, May 31, 2023. VMFA-542 received its first F-35B Lightning II jets and is the Marine Corps’ first East Coast operational F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadron. The arrival of the aircraft marks the beginning of F-35 deliveries to MCAS Cherry Point, continuing 2nd MAW’s operational transition from legacy fixed-wing tactical aircraft to the F-35. VMFA-542 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Kyle Kavanagh, Weapons Company, Commanding Officer, Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, briefs personnel during a Rehearsal of Concept using a terrain model in preparation for a simulated raid during Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise I at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina, Dec. 20, 2022. The raid was the culminating MAGTF mission for the exercise. Through continued training and preparation, the 26th MEU will continue to be the nation’s premier expeditionary force-in readiness and remains ready and able to respond at a moment’s notice. - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Kyle Kavanagh, Weapons Company, Commanding Officer, Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, briefs personnel during a Rehearsal of Concept using a terrain model in preparation for a simulated raid during Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise I at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina, Dec. 20, 2022. The raid was the culminating MAGTF mission for the exercise. Through continued training and preparation, the 26th MEU will continue to be the nation’s premier expeditionary force-in readiness and remains ready and able to respond at a moment’s notice.

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U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Song, right, a C-40A Clipper crew chief with Marine Transport Squadron 1, Marine Aircraft Group 41, Marine Forces Reserve, poses with other Marines with VMR-1 after the first C-40A Clipper mission conducted by solely by Marines at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Song, right, a C-40A Clipper crew chief with Marine Transport Squadron 1, Marine Aircraft Group 41, Marine Forces Reserve, poses with other Marines with VMR-1 after the first C-40A Clipper mission conducted by solely by Marines at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas.

Karen Delich, a health specialist from Colorado Springs addresses students attending Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-17 and Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One staff during a tactical risk management period of instruction at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., March 15, 2017. WTI is a seven week event hosted by MAWTS-1. MAWTS-1 provides standardized tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine Aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing Aviation Weapons and Tactics. - Karen Delich, a health specialist from Colorado Springs addresses students attending Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-17 and Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One staff during a tactical risk management period of instruction at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., March 15, 2017. WTI is a seven week event hosted by MAWTS-1. MAWTS-1 provides standardized tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine Aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing Aviation Weapons and Tactics.