A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper helicopter, foreground, and a UH-1Y Venom helicopter lift off the runway at U-Tapao International Airport, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 10, 2018. - A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper helicopter, foreground, and a UH-1Y Venom helicopter lift off the runway at U-Tapao International Airport, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 10, 2018. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 arrived in Thailand to participate in the 37th iteration of Cobra Gold as part of the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Combat Element. HMLA-369, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is currently forward-deployed under the unit deployment program with MAG-36, 1st MAW. Exercise Cobra Gold 2018 is an annual exercise conducted in the Kingdom of Thailand held from Feb. 13-23 with seven full participating nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andy Martinez)
180201-M-XX123-002.PNG - Captain Joseph J. Foss peers from the cockpit of a Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat, the fighter type in which he scored all 26 of his victories. (Bettmann/Getty Images)
Cpl. Parker J. Berg adjusts an antenna during exercise Warrior Challenge 18 on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 24, 2018. Warrior Challenge 18, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18’s internal squadron exercise, increases Marine’s technical skills, builds unit cohesion, and rehearses the communications support prior to the execution of Key Resolve 18. - Cpl. Parker J. Berg adjusts an antenna during exercise Warrior Challenge 18 on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 24, 2018. Warrior Challenge 18, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18’s internal squadron exercise, increases Marine’s technical skills, builds unit cohesion, and rehearses the communications support prior to the execution of Key Resolve 18.
U.S. Marines with Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) extinguish a fire from a training aircraft during a wheel fire exercise at West Field, Marine Corps Air Station, Feb. 2, 2018. - U.S. Marines with Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) extinguish a fire from a training aircraft during a wheel fire exercise at West Field, Marine Corps Air Station, Feb. 2, 2018. ARFF conducted a wheel fire exercise to improve proficiency in assessing and extinguishing a fire by utilizing the Mobile Aircraft Firefighting Training Device. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jesus Sepulveda Torres)
Master Sgt. Kevin O. Cochran, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing's current operations chief, poses with a few of his awards on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 10, 2018. - Master Sgt. Kevin O. Cochran, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing's current operations chief, poses with a few of his awards on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 10, 2018. Preparing to retire, Cochran, a Dayton, Ohio native, was recognized for assisting an Okinawan man out of his overturned vehicle Jan. 8, 2018. Cochran is a 23-year Marine Corps veteran. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jess Etheridge)
An MV-22B Osprey of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 lands on the flight deck of the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. - An MV-22B Osprey of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 lands on the flight deck of the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Olivia Raftshol, a KC-130J Hercules co-pilot, left, and Maj. Matthew Stolzenberg, a KC-130J Hercules pilot, with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, prepare to land at Iwo To (Iwo Jima), Japan, Nov. 7, 2017. Multiple squadrons participated in the professional military education on the island to gain information on its historical significance and foster esprit de corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy) - U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Olivia Raftshol, a KC-130J Hercules co-pilot, left, and Maj. Matthew Stolzenberg, a KC-130J Hercules pilot, with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, prepare to land at Iwo To (Iwo Jima), Japan, Nov. 7, 2017. Multiple squadrons participated in the professional military education on the island to gain information on its historical significance and foster esprit de corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)
Marines with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing participated in the joint field training exercise Blue Chromite 2018, throughout the prefecture of Okinawa, Japan, October 23 – November 3, 2017. BC18 is a U.S.-only mission rehearsal which strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps expeditionary, amphibious rapid- response capabilities required to swiftly and effectively respond to a regional crisis or contingency across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. - Marines with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing participated in the joint field training exercise Blue Chromite 2018, throughout the prefecture of Okinawa, Japan, October 23 – November 3, 2017. BC18 is a U.S.-only mission rehearsal which strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps expeditionary, amphibious rapid- response capabilities required to swiftly and effectively respond to a regional crisis or contingency across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
An F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 based out of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, conducts a nighttime aerial refueling training operation with a KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 based out of MCAS Iwakuni Oct. 25, 2017. The training was conducted at night to improve operational readiness and enhance pilot proficiency. - An F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 based out of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, conducts a nighttime aerial refueling training operation with a KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 based out of MCAS Iwakuni Oct. 25, 2017. The training was conducted at night to improve operational readiness and enhance pilot proficiency. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)
. - Marines with Marine Air Support Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 18, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct a range in South Korea during exercise Midori Guardian 17, which was held from September 5 to October 15, 2017. Midori Guardian, a Unit Level Training event aimed at enhancing squadron readiness while in a field environment, utilizes simulated real-world scenarios focused on Direct Air Support Center and an Air Support Element operations, live-fire ranges, and Marine Corps Common Skills training to prepare the unit for future operations. (courtesy photo)