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VMFA-251 is the first East Coast-based Marine Corps squadron to employ the F-35C Lightning II, which is designed to operate from conventional aircraft carriers or land bases and provides operational flexibility and persistence to II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa) - U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251 march in formation during the reactivation ceremony for VMFA-251 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Dec. 5, 2024. VMFA-251 is the first East Coast-based Marine Corps squadron to employ the F-35C Lightning II, which is designed to operate from conventional aircraft carriers or land bases and provides operational flexibility and persistence to II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa)

VMFA-251 reactivates as Marine Corps’ first East Coast-based F-35C Lightning II squadron

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), reactivated during a ceremony on Thursday aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, following a four-year, seven-month hiatus.

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VMFA-251 became the first East Coast-based Marine Corps squadron to receive the F-35C, designed to operate from conventional aircraft carriers or land bases and provides operational flexibility and persistence to II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Evan Shockley, from Virginia and commanding officer, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251, taxis an F-35C Lightning Il at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Sept. 17, 2024. VMFA-251 became the first East Coast-based Marine Corps squadron to receive the F-35C, designed to operate from conventional aircraft carriers or land bases and provides operational flexibility and persistence to II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa)

VMFA-251 receives first F-35, the first East Coast-based Marine Corps F-35C to arrive

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), received its first F-35C Lightning II jet aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, Sept. 17, 2024.

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Anderton recently won a 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) cowbell award, which recognizes and encourages members of 2nd MAW to actively seek out and implement innovations, improvements, and best practices that enhance collective performance and readiness. The cowbell award helps 2nd MAW foster a culture of continuous improvement driven by individual and shared excellence. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff. Sgt. Theodore Bergan) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Parker Anderton, from Maine, a heavy equipment mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 271, poses for a photo at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina Aug. 22, 2024. Anderton recently won a 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) cowbell award, which recognizes and encourages members of 2nd MAW to actively seek out and implement innovations, improvements, and best practices that enhance collective performance and readiness. The cowbell award helps 2nd MAW foster a culture of continuous improvement driven by individual and shared excellence. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff. Sgt. Theodore Bergan)

Lance Cpl. Parker Anderton wins 2nd MAW Cowbell Award

Recognizing inefficiencies in existing processes, Lance Cpl. Parker Anderton, from Maine, a 1341 Heavy Equipment Mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 271, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), took it upon himself to develop a more effective troubleshooting system to mitigate those inefficiencies in MWSS-271’s maintenance and repair process.

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Marines with VMUT-2 worked alongside civilian contractors to conduct familiarization training with VMUT-2’s first delivered and assembled MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aircraft. VMUT-2 will serve as the Marine Corps MQ-9A Reaper Fleet Replacement Squadron, whose primary mission is to train 7318 unmanned aerial systems officers and 8022 enlisted sensor operators. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa) - U.S. Marines with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron (VMUT) 2 conduct familiarization training with an MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, April 11, 2024. Marines with VMUT-2 worked alongside civilian contractors to conduct familiarization training with VMUT-2’s first delivered and assembled MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aircraft. VMUT-2 will serve as the Marine Corps MQ-9A Reaper Fleet Replacement Squadron, whose primary mission is to train 7318 unmanned aerial systems officers and 8022 enlisted sensor operators. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa)

Building the eye in the sky: VMUT-2 begins assembly of the first 2nd MAW MQ-9A Reaper

Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron (VMUT) 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), began the assembly of 2nd MAW’s first MQ-9A Reaper, April 10, as part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ continued transition from the legacy RQ-21A Blackjack in accordance with Force Design initiatives.

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VMFA-542 and VMGR-252 demonstrated aviation-delivered ground refueling during a distributed aviation operation to showcase expeditionary advanced-base operations using host-nation support. The training event marked the first U.S. F-35 landing in Sweden at Kallax Air Base. Exercise Nordic Response 24 is designed to enhance military capabilities and allied cooperation in high-intensity warfighting scenarios under challenging arctic conditions while providing U.S. Marines unique opportunities to train alongside NATO allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa) - U.S. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), refuel an F-35B Lightning II jet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542, 2nd MAW, using aviation-delivered ground refueling during Exercise Nordic Response 24 in Lulea, Sweden, March 13, 2024. VMFA-542 and VMGR-252 demonstrated aviation-delivered ground refueling during a distributed aviation operation to showcase expeditionary advanced-base operations using host-nation support. The training event marked the first U.S. F-35 landing in Sweden at Kallax Air Base. Exercise Nordic Response 24 is designed to enhance military capabilities and allied cooperation in high-intensity warfighting scenarios under challenging arctic conditions while providing U.S. Marines unique opportunities to train alongside NATO allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa)

U.S. Marine Corps aircraft and personnel conduct distributed aviation operations and first U.S. F-35 landing in Sweden during Exercise Nordic Response 24

Four U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), and a KC-130J Super Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252, 2nd MAW, conducted distributed aviation operations (DAO) during Exercise Nordic Response 24 at Kallax Air Base in Lulea, Sweden, March 13, 2024.

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Born into a military family, Col. Matthew McKinney assumed the role of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany's commanding officer on June 29 bursting with ideas and enthusiasm on how to move the installation forward. Much of this enthusiasm centers around strengthening the base’s bond with people they depend on both in and outside the fence line. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Jonathan Wright) - Born into a military family, Col. Matthew McKinney assumed the role of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany's commanding officer on June 29 bursting with ideas and enthusiasm on how to move the installation forward. Much of this enthusiasm centers around strengthening the base’s bond with people they depend on both in and outside the fence line. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Jonathan Wright)

MCLB Albany commanding officer aiming to boost community engagement, raise up next Marine generation

Col. Matthew McKinney assumed the reins at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany bursting with ideas and enthusiasm on how to move the base forward.Much of this enthusiasm centers around strengthening the base’s bond with people they depend on both in and outside the fence line.McKinney took command of MCLB Albany on June 29, succeeding Col. Michael

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U.S. Marine Capt. Kyle King, the assistant operations officer with 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and Hope Sweetnam, King’s partner, pose for a photo after an evening run in Yucca Valley, California, Nov. 8, 2022. King is the first active-duty Marine to win the Marine Corps Marathon since 1983. The Marine Corps Marathon promotes physical fitness, generates community goodwill, and showcases the organizational skills of the Marine Corps. - U.S. Marine Capt. Kyle King, the assistant operations officer with 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and Hope Sweetnam, King’s partner, pose for a photo after an evening run in Yucca Valley, California, Nov. 8, 2022. King is the first active-duty Marine to win the Marine Corps Marathon since 1983. The Marine Corps Marathon promotes physical fitness, generates community goodwill, and showcases the organizational skills of the Marine Corps.

Active-duty Marine wins Marine Corps Marathon for first time in 39 years

U.S. Marine Capt. Kyle King is intimately familiar with the sound of the blast from a 105 mm howitzer. As an artillery officer, the sound is music to his ears. This time, however, he wasn’t standing on a gun line amongst a battery of artillery Marines. He was at the starting line of the 2022 Marine Corps Marathon, on a mission to secure a victory for the Marine Corps...

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A U.S. Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Central Command takes care of a young girl awaiting processing at an Evacuation Control Checkpoint (ECC) during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 26, 2021. - A U.S. Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Central Command takes care of a young girl awaiting processing at an Evacuation Control Checkpoint (ECC) during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 26, 2021. U.S. service members are assisting the Department of State with a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) in Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla)

FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2021 KABUL AIRPORT ATTACK

One year ago, on August 26, 2021, our Nation lost thirteen brave service members—eleven United States Marines, a Fleet Marine Force Navy Corpsman, and a United States Army Soldier. In an act of supreme devotion to mission, they gave their lives so that others may be free of oppression under a brutal regime. Confronted with a dishonorable attack against our allies and civilians, our Marines kept their honor clean.

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Capt. J. Ramseur, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort base firefighter, talks about hazardous material protection during a Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response course aboard MCAS Beaufort, Jan. 14. The HAZWOPER training is vital for safety aboard the Air Station, which has many hazardous waste risks. - Capt. J. Ramseur, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort base firefighter, talks about hazardous material protection during a Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response course aboard MCAS Beaufort, Jan. 14. The HAZWOPER training is vital for safety aboard the Air Station, which has many hazardous waste risks.

HAZWOPER: Same vital training, lower cost

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort is improving efficiency in 2015 is with updates to the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training course. The cost-saving changes began with the Jan. 12 – Jan. 16 HAZWOPER course. The course is required by federal law and regulation for Marines aboard the Air Station performing work that could expose them to hazardous substances.

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