LEADERS - Page 8

180813-M-ON629-1005.PNG - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Peter Jacobson, an aviation ordnance technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, looks at a 3-D printer at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 13, 2018. Jacobson printed a cover for the F-35B Lightning II infrared countermeasure bucket housing, a device designed to protect aircraft from infrared heat seeking missiles, to prevent corrosion and increase efficiency in the deployment of flares. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Seth Rosenberg)

Innovation in Marine Corps: 3D printing in aviation

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Peter Jacobson, an aviation ordnance technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, noticed a problem with corrosion of a bucket housing cover on the F35B Lightning II jet. He used additive manufacturing, also known as 3-D printing, to make an infrared countermeasure bucket housing cover preventing corrosion in the bucket housing while in Japan, where humidity is high during summer months.

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180917-M-ON629-1043.JPG - U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12, pick up trash during Exercise Valiant Shield 18 at Agat beach, Guam, Sep. 17, 2018. Valiant Shield is a biennial, U.S. only, field training exercise (FTX) with a focus on integration of joint training among U.S. forces in relation to current operational plans. This training enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas.

MAG-12 cleans Agat beach where Marines landed 74 years ago

U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12 cleaned up Agat beach during exercise Valiant Shield 18 September 17.

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180907-M-XZ420-2069.JPG - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Austin Jagodzinski, an ordnance technician with All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 533, transitions to a plank during a workout at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sep. 7, 2018. Jagodzinski prioritizes physical fitness by going to the gym every day before work. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Harmon)

Marines strive for perfection in Marine Corps standards

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Michael Lowery, an F/A-18D pilot and Sgt. Austin Jagodzinski, an ordnance technician with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 533, maintain a perfect score of 300 for their Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and Combat Fitness Test (CFT), at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

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180918-M-IM090-001.JPG - Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley throws the opening pitch of the 4th annual Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Suicide Prevention Awareness Softball Tournament, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 7, 2018. The Suicide Prevention Awareness Softball Tournament is intended to increase suicide prevention awareness and serve as an opportunity for the Marines and Sailors of Marine Aircraft Control Group 18, Marine Aircraft Group 36, Marine wing Headquarters Squadron 1 and Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to build camaraderie and to demonstrate the idea of “work hard, play hard.” Weidley is the commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

Striking out suicide one pitch at a time

The annual softball game is held to enhance suicide prevention awareness, build camaraderie and strengthen bonds within the unit.

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180715-M-IM909-001.JPG - World War II veteran Sam Folsom flew the Grumman F4F Wildcat during his time of service in Guadalcanal in late 1942. His squadron, Marine Fighter Squadron 121, was the highest scoring Marine fighter squadron of WWII and received the presidential unit citation. During Folsom’s time with VMF-121, he shot down three total enemy aircrafts and received the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross. (Courtesy Photo)

One of the last living WWII Marine fighter pilots

Sam Folsom, born July 24, 1920 in Quincy, Massachusetts, was one of the first echelon of 17 Marine fighter pilots with Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 121 tasked with defending Guadalcanal. He is also one of the last living Marine Corps WWII combat pilot.

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180609-M-IM909-1102.JPG - Marines and Sailors volunteer at Ai-no-Mura Senior Citizen Home, Kitanakagusuku, Okinawa, Japan, June 9, 2018. Marines and Sailors volunteer to upkeep the senior citizen home to improve the quality of life. Volunteering is a great method to interact and build lasting relationships within the local community.

Marines, Sailors volunteer at Okinawa senior citizen home

Approximately 20 Marines and Sailors with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spent the morning volunteering at the Ai-no-Mura Senior Citizens Home in Okinawa, Japan, June 9, 2018.

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180522-M-ZX532-835.JPG - Marine Aircraft Group 12 forces deployed several F-35B Lightning ll's for a regularly scheduled aviation training relocation at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 9, 2018. ATR's are designed to increase operational readiness and bilateral interoperability for both U.S. and Japanese forces. The MAG-12 ATR is a concrete example of the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance - the foundation of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific for more than 50 years. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexia Lythos)

VMFA-121 Marines fly high in Misawa ATR

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, deployed several F-35B Lightning II’s for a regularly scheduled aviation training relocation to Misawa Air Base, May 9, 2018. Aircraft training relocations are designed to increase operational readiness and bilateral interoperability for both U.S. and Japanese forces. This training is conducted in accordance with the agreements between the U.S. government and the government of Japan and has been taking place since 1997.

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180411-M-XX001-112.JPG - A UH-1E Gunship pulls out of a rocket and strafing attack on a Viet Cong position near Cao Lanh in the Mekong Delta, Jan. 22, 1969. Large craters caused by air and artillery strikes brought in on the area can be seen near the white explosion. (Courtesy photo from McInerney/AP)

MAG-36 - Remembering Hue City

Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, the first complete Marine air group to be transported by sea to a combat zone, launched from the USS Princeton to the shores of Vietnam, Sept. 1, 1965. Immediately, they began providing troop lifts, air strikes, medical evacuation, resupplies, and reconnaissance insertions and extractions in the southern area of operations.

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180407-M-YL007-001.JPG - A Marine with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing carries the American Flag during the Bataan Death March Memorial hike, April 7, 2018 on Kadena Air Force base, Okinawa, Japan. More than 200 service members and their families participated in the 8.5 mile hike around Kadena’s perimeter in remembrance of the prisoners of war who perished as a result of the Death March that took place in the Philippine archipelago in 1942 during WWII. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Natalie Dillon)

1st MAW honors U.S.-Philippine alliance

KADENA AIR FORCE BASE, OKINAWA, Japan – Since the end of the Spanish-American War in 1902, the U.S. and Philippines have worked diligently to maintain an unshakable alliance. During WWII, that alliance was put to the test when 1st Marine Aircraft Wing took to the skies in the Philippine theater to drive out the invading Imperial Japanese Army.

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180330-M-YL007-012.JPG - Chief Petty Officer Ophael J. Myrtil was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to a tight-knit family. As an infant, Myrtil lost 24 family members when the bus carrying them suffered a fatal accident. Rattled by the sudden loss, Myrtil’s father moved him and his sister to the United States when he was six. Myrtil is now a 17-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and is the lead chief petty officer with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Natalie Dillon)