U.S. Marines with I Marine Expeditionary Force board a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation as part of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Dec. 2, 2023. The MCCRE consisted of a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel exercise, high-altitude aerial refueling, aviation delivered ground refueling, and external lift exercises to ensure HMH-361's operational and combat readiness before deployment. Steel Knight 23.2 is a three-phase exercise designed to train I MEF in the planning, deployment and command and control of a joint force against a peer or near-peer maneuver capabilities of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jackson Rush) - U.S. Marines with I Marine Expeditionary Force board a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation as part of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Dec. 2, 2023. The MCCRE consisted of a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel exercise, high-altitude aerial refueling, aviation delivered ground refueling, and external lift exercises to ensure HMH-361's operational and combat readiness before deployment. Steel Knight 23.2 is a three-phase exercise designed to train I MEF in the planning, deployment and command and control of a joint force against a peer or near-peer maneuver capabilities of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jackson Rush)

U.S. Marines stationed on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, pose for a group photo to commemorate 29 Marines becoming certified wildland firefighters on MCAS Miramar, March 24, 2023. These Marines have trained to become wildland firefighters to form the first hand crew composed primarily of U.S. Marines. - U.S. Marines stationed on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, pose for a group photo to commemorate 29 Marines becoming certified wildland firefighters on MCAS Miramar, March 24, 2023. These Marines have trained to become wildland firefighters to form the first hand crew composed primarily of U.S. Marines.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Alexander H. Miller, senior watch officer, Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, far right, gives the 'Commander's Update Brief' to U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Killea, commanding general, MCIWEST-MCB, Camp Pendleton, during exercise Semper Durus 17 on Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 13, 2017. Semper Durus is a regional command post exercise and is comprised of a series of field training scenarios designed to improve regional command and control, enhance interagency coordination, and improve installation capabilities to respond to, and recover from, a crisis event and validate the installation mission assurance all-hazard plan. - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Alexander H. Miller, senior watch officer, Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, far right, gives the 'Commander's Update Brief' to U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Killea, commanding general, MCIWEST-MCB, Camp Pendleton, during exercise Semper Durus 17 on Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 13, 2017. Semper Durus is a regional command post exercise and is comprised of a series of field training scenarios designed to improve regional command and control, enhance interagency coordination, and improve installation capabilities to respond to, and recover from, a crisis event and validate the installation mission assurance all-hazard plan.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Timothy Hart (left) a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialist and Cpl. Dominik Cochrane, a motor vehicle operator, both with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, post security for a Forward Arming and Refueling Point during the Aviation Ground Support Leadership Course on Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 8, 2023. Marines in the course trained for and demonstrated capabilities across the six activities of AGS: forward arming and refueling, airbase ground defense, airfield damage repair, aircraft salvage and recovery, base recovery after attack, and airfield operations. This course is designed to equip noncommissioned officers in AGS units with the knowledge and experience to be technically proficient, and develop them as strong, effective leaders. Cochrane is a Cleveland native and Hart is Houston native. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Timothy Hart (left) a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialist and Cpl. Dominik Cochrane, a motor vehicle operator, both with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, post security for a Forward Arming and Refueling Point during the Aviation Ground Support Leadership Course on Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 8, 2023. Marines in the course trained for and demonstrated capabilities across the six activities of AGS: forward arming and refueling, airbase ground defense, airfield damage repair, aircraft salvage and recovery, base recovery after attack, and airfield operations. This course is designed to equip noncommissioned officers in AGS units with the knowledge and experience to be technically proficient, and develop them as strong, effective leaders. Cochrane is a Cleveland native and Hart is Houston native.

Col. Charles Dockery, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, expresses his thanks to the law enforcement personnel responsible for the 2019 MCAS Miramar Airshow at the MCAS Miramar Provost Marshall Office on Sept. 17. The law enforcement meetings mission was to discuss the responsibilities of keeping the community on and off Marine Corps Air Station safe during this year’s airshow. - Col. Charles Dockery, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, expresses his thanks to the law enforcement personnel responsible for the 2019 MCAS Miramar Airshow at the MCAS Miramar Provost Marshall Office on Sept. 17. The law enforcement meetings mission was to discuss the responsibilities of keeping the community on and off Marine Corps Air Station safe during this year’s airshow.

Lance Cpl. Luis Da Luz, a hazardous material entry team technician with Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, passes HAZMAT samples to Lance Cpl. Alex Herrero, a HAZMAT entry team technician with ARFF, during an exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., May 17. The exercise simulated a bioterrorism attack and required several MCAS Miramar units to coordinate an effective response. - Lance Cpl. Luis Da Luz, a hazardous material entry team technician with Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, passes HAZMAT samples to Lance Cpl. Alex Herrero, a HAZMAT entry team technician with ARFF, during an exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., May 17. The exercise simulated a bioterrorism attack and required several MCAS Miramar units to coordinate an effective response.

Federal, state and local government stakeholders along with industry representatives met to discuss regional and Marine Corps autonomous vehicle proving grounds, to watch autonomous vehicles begin testing, and to tour the installation at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Feb. 21. - Federal, state and local government stakeholders along with industry representatives met to discuss regional and Marine Corps autonomous vehicle proving grounds, to watch autonomous vehicles begin testing, and to tour the installation at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Feb. 21. The representatives came from the San Diego Association of Governments, California Department of Motor Vehicles, California Department of Transportation, California Energy Commission, California Highway Patrol, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSCPAC), Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and MCAS Miramar.

Capt. Christopher Lavergne, a KC-130J Super Hercules pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, proudly displays the 2017 Marine Corps Aviation Association Henry Wildfang award in front of a KC-130J at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 27. VMGR-352 received the Henry Wildfang award for successful mission accomplishments and the most mishap free hours. - Capt. Christopher Lavergne, a KC-130J Super Hercules pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, proudly displays the 2017 Marine Corps Aviation Association Henry Wildfang award in front of a KC-130J at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 27. VMGR-352 received the Henry Wildfang award for successful mission accomplishments and the most mishap free hours.

Marine Air Control Group 38 conducted Exercise Lightning Sword, a Marine Air Command and Control System integrated training exercise, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, MCAS Camp Pendleton, California and MCAS Yuma, Arizona, March 6 to 17. Lightning Sword provided MACG-38 an opportunity to exercise a fully capable MACCS in a constructed marine expeditionary force level scenario. - Marine Air Control Group 38 conducted Exercise Lightning Sword, a Marine Air Command and Control System integrated training exercise, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, MCAS Camp Pendleton, California and MCAS Yuma, Arizona, March 6 to 17. Lightning Sword provided MACG-38 an opportunity to exercise a fully capable MACCS in a constructed marine expeditionary force level scenario.

A crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165 looks outside an MV-22B Osprey during a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 8. Crew chiefs aboard the Osprey assisted with maintaining visuals during the flight for the pilots. - A crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165 looks outside an MV-22B Osprey during a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 8. Crew chiefs aboard the Osprey assisted with maintaining visuals during the flight for the pilots.

Firefighters with the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Fire Department decontaminate a Marine with Explosive Ordnance Disposal after he entered the contaminated area during a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives exercise at the gas chamber aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., May 19, 2016. The exercise revolved around PMO, the Miramar Fire Department, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting working together to identify and eliminate the threat of a simulated clandestine drug lab. - Firefighters with the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Fire Department decontaminate a Marine with Explosive Ordnance Disposal after he entered the contaminated area during a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives exercise at the gas chamber aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., May 19, 2016. The exercise revolved around PMO, the Miramar Fire Department, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting working together to identify and eliminate the threat of a simulated clandestine drug lab.

Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 attach a simulated cargo of 1,400 pounds to an MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Dec. 16, 2015. Daytime external lift training prepares the Marines with VMM-363 to attach cargo to the aircraft which helps qualify more air crew in the mission-essential task of rapid insertion and extraction for the squadron. - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 attach a simulated cargo of 1,400 pounds to an MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Dec. 16, 2015. Daytime external lift training prepares the Marines with VMM-363 to attach cargo to the aircraft which helps qualify more air crew in the mission-essential task of rapid insertion and extraction for the squadron.

Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 perform post-flight checks on an MV-22B Osprey after an aerial refueling training event at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Dec. 16. The squadron conducts this annual training once every two months to maintain their proficiency with the maneuvers. - Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 perform post-flight checks on an MV-22B Osprey after an aerial refueling training event at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Dec. 16. The squadron conducts this annual training once every two months to maintain their proficiency with the maneuvers.