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U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy, III., commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force visits Exercise Yama Sakura 79 on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 12, 2020. YS 79 allows Marines, and their Japanese counterparts to maintain their interoperability, and readiness to respond to any crisis or contingency in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sarah Marshall) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy, III., commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force visits Exercise Yama Sakura 79 on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 12, 2020. YS 79 allows Marines, and their Japanese counterparts to maintain their interoperability, and readiness to respond to any crisis or contingency in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sarah Marshall)

Marines from 1st MAW participate in Yama Sakura 79

OKINAWA, Japan – U.S. Marines from Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing participated in Yama Sakura 79 with Marines from 3D Marine Expeditionary Brigade as well as soldiers from Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, Dec. 9 to Dec. 14, 2020 at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan.

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U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), perform COVID-19 prevention measures during Exercise Driven Thermite 21 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 19, 2020. This exercise ensures that 1st MAW personnel are ready to plan and execute air operations in the Indo-Pacific by operating in a simulated environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Tess Lobossiere) - U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), perform COVID-19 prevention measures during Exercise Driven Thermite 21 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 19, 2020. This exercise ensures that 1st MAW personnel are ready to plan and execute air operations in the Indo-Pacific by operating in a simulated environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Tess Lobossiere)

COVID Mitigation During Driven Thermite 21

OKINAWA, Japan – In mid-November hundreds of Okinawa, Iwakuni and Hawaii-based U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing assembled for exercise Driven Thermite 21, a Wing level Command Post Exercise to validate the Aviation Combat Element Battle Staff’s ability to plan and execute aviation operations within the Indo-Pacific Command.

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U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), perform COVID-19 prevention measures during Exercise Driven Thermite 21 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 19, 2020. This exercise ensures that 1st MAW personnel are ready to plan and execute air operations in the Indo-Pacific by operating in a simulated environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by SSgt. Ronald Spotswood) - U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), perform COVID-19 prevention measures during Exercise Driven Thermite 21 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 19, 2020. This exercise ensures that 1st MAW personnel are ready to plan and execute air operations in the Indo-Pacific by operating in a simulated environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by SSgt. Ronald Spotswood)

1st MAW Tests Battle Staff During Exercise Driven Thermite

OKINAWA, Japan –Hundreds of Okinawa-based U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) kicked-off Driven Thermite 21, a Wing level Command Post Exercise to validate the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) Battle Staff’s ability to plan and execute aviation operations within Indo-Pacific Command.

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Second F-35B Squadron Officially Established In Indo-Pacific Region With The Redesignation Of VMFA-242

IWAKUNI, Japan. -- On October 16, 2020 Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12 re-designated Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242 as part of the Marine Corps’ ongoing transition process from legacy F/A-18 Hornet aircraft to the newer 5th generation F-35B Lightning II.

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Running 24/7, and limited only by imagination: U.S. Marines put 3D printing skills to use in the fight against COVID-19

MCAS FUTENMA, Okinawa, Japan. — For Staff Sgt. Michael P. Burnham and Sgt. Blaine E. Garcia, a trailer-sized workspace filled with sweltering heat and the constant whine of over a dozen machines running at full speed is simply the setting for just another day. This day, however, sees these leaders bringing 3D printing to the fight for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, using their manufacturing skills against COVID-19.

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A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force, takes off from Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim during exercise KAMANDAG 2 at Ternate, Philippines on Oct. 7, 2018. - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force, takes off from Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim during exercise KAMANDAG 2 at Ternate, Philippines on Oct. 7, 2018.

PRESS RELEASE: MASA 2019 Kicks Off

Marine Aviation Support Activity (MASA) 19.2, a semiannual U.S.-Philippine military exercise focused on mutual defense, counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, is scheduled to take place in the Philippines from July 15 - 25, 2019.

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U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips, left, commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley, outgoing commanding officer of 1st MAW, conduct the passing of the colors during 1st MAW’s change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, June 25, 2019. 1st MAW operates throughout the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility, supporting numerous operations, exercises and humanitarian aid missions. The change of command ceremony represents the transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability from the outgoing commanding general to the incoming commanding general. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ryan Persinger) - U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips, left, commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley, outgoing commanding officer of 1st MAW, conduct the passing of the colors during 1st MAW’s change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, June 25, 2019. 1st MAW operates throughout the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility, supporting numerous operations, exercises and humanitarian aid missions. The change of command ceremony represents the transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability from the outgoing commanding general to the incoming commanding general. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ryan Persinger)