Biography

Japanese observers tour and examine a MV-22 Osprey during a noncombatant evacuation demonstration as part of exercise Cobra Gold 16 at Utapao, Thailand, February 17, 2016. U.S. Marines put an Osprey on static display during the demonstration while partner nations exercised their own evacuation capabilities. The Osprey provides a longer flight range and a bigger capacity for supplies compared to traditional helicopters, but allows service members to access smaller areas compared to traditional fixed-wing aircraft. Cobra Gold, in its 35th iteration, is a multi-national exercise designed to advance regional security and ensure effective responses to regional crises by bringing together a robust combined task force from partner nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. The Osprey is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Japanese observers tour and examine a MV-22 Osprey during a noncombatant evacuation demonstration as part of exercise Cobra Gold 16 at Utapao, Thailand, February 17, 2016. U.S. Marines put an Osprey on static display during the demonstration while partner nations exercised their own evacuation capabilities. The Osprey provides a longer flight range and a bigger capacity for supplies compared to traditional helicopters, but allows service members to access smaller areas compared to traditional fixed-wing aircraft. Cobra Gold, in its 35th iteration, is a multi-national exercise designed to advance regional security and ensure effective responses to regional crises by bringing together a robust combined task force from partner nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. The Osprey is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 practice landing the MV-22B Osprey and taking off from the USS Ashland, during Cobra Gold 16 test flights at Utapao, Thailand, February 16, 2016. The MV-22B Osprey is a joint service multirole combat aircraft that is capable of moving troops or cargo at a high speed rate. Cobra Gold is designed to improve the quality of life and building on the commitment to bettering the Indo-Asia-Pacific. Marines are with VMM-262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 practice landing the MV-22B Osprey and taking off from the USS Ashland, during Cobra Gold 16 test flights at Utapao, Thailand, February 16, 2016. The MV-22B Osprey is a joint service multirole combat aircraft that is capable of moving troops or cargo at a high speed rate. Cobra Gold is designed to improve the quality of life and building on the commitment to bettering the Indo-Asia-Pacific. Marines are with VMM-262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Two Marines work together to refuel a UH-1Y Huey before a flight during Exercise Cobra Gold in Utapao, Thailand, Feb. 16, 2016. Logistic and aviation units work together to practice the characteristics of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise designed to build partnership and interoperability between participating nations. The Marines are with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36. 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Two Marines work together to refuel a UH-1Y Huey before a flight during Exercise Cobra Gold in Utapao, Thailand, Feb. 16, 2016. Logistic and aviation units work together to practice the characteristics of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise designed to build partnership and interoperability between participating nations. The Marines are with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36. 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Sgt. Eric M. Ekelund prepares an MV-22B Osprey to land the tactical recovery of aircraft and personal force during a Cobra Gold 16 demonstration at Utapao, Thailand February 15. During the scenario-based training the MV-22B Osprey unloads the TRAP force personnel so they can continue on foot to rescue the simulated casualty. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise that focuses on increasing relationships and capabilities of participating countries by training to form solutions to common challenges. Ekelund, from Bay Shore, New York is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Sgt. Eric M. Ekelund prepares an MV-22B Osprey to land the tactical recovery of aircraft and personal force during a Cobra Gold 16 demonstration at Utapao, Thailand February 15. During the scenario-based training the MV-22B Osprey unloads the TRAP force personnel so they can continue on foot to rescue the simulated casualty. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise that focuses on increasing relationships and capabilities of participating countries by training to form solutions to common challenges. Ekelund, from Bay Shore, New York is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Sgt. Kyle J. Mohr (Left) and Cpl. Erik A. Dudley prepare a UH-1Y Huey for a flight mission during an amphibious demonstration as part of exercise Cobra Gold 16 in Utapao, Thailand, Feb. 12, 2016. Mohr and Dudley must prepare the aircraft for their pilot’s inspection, as well as perform their own inspections, before every flight. The amphibious demonstration is designed to increase naval interoperability and logistics capabilities. Dudley, a Bath, Maine, native, is an aerial observer and flight line mechanic. Mohr, a Two Rivers, Wis., native, is a crew chief. Both Marines are with Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, which is currently supporting Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - Sgt. Kyle J. Mohr (Left) and Cpl. Erik A. Dudley prepare a UH-1Y Huey for a flight mission during an amphibious demonstration as part of exercise Cobra Gold 16 in Utapao, Thailand, Feb. 12, 2016. Mohr and Dudley must prepare the aircraft for their pilot’s inspection, as well as perform their own inspections, before every flight. The amphibious demonstration is designed to increase naval interoperability and logistics capabilities. Dudley, a Bath, Maine, native, is an aerial observer and flight line mechanic. Mohr, a Two Rivers, Wis., native, is a crew chief. Both Marines are with Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, which is currently supporting Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

Brigadier Gen. Russell A. Sanborn, right, stands in front of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing with Maj. Gen. Steven R. Rudder, before assuming command of the wing during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, July 30, 2015. Sanborn recently served as the director of Marine and Family Programs in Quantico, Virginia. Rudder will become the director of J5 Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate, Pacific Command. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Devon Tindle/Released) - Brigadier Gen. Russell A. Sanborn, right, stands in front of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing with Maj. Gen. Steven R. Rudder, before assuming command of the wing during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, July 30, 2015. Sanborn recently served as the director of Marine and Family Programs in Quantico, Virginia. Rudder will become the director of J5 Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate, Pacific Command. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Devon Tindle/Released)

An MV-22B Osprey takes off from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, as Operation Sahayogi Haat draws to a close May 21. The Osprey is bringing U.S. Marines back to Okinawa, Japan. The U.S. military came together as Joint Task Force 505 in response to a 7.8 magnitude earthquake April 25. - An MV-22B Osprey takes off from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, as Operation Sahayogi Haat draws to a close May 21. The Osprey is bringing U.S. Marines back to Okinawa, Japan. The U.S. military came together as Joint Task Force 505 in response to a 7.8 magnitude earthquake April 25.