Stories

U.S. Marines and aircraft with Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct a formation flight as part of Project Legacy off the coast of San Diego, March 4, 2025. The Project Legacy flight was a unique opportunity for all aircraft platforms across MAG-11 to fly as one team, practice tight formations, and take part in the documentation of a historical flight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez) - U.S. Marines and aircraft with Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct a formation flight as part of Project Legacy off the coast of San Diego, March 4, 2025. The Project Legacy flight was a unique opportunity for all aircraft platforms across MAG-11 to fly as one team, practice tight formations, and take part in the documentation of a historical flight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez)

New Heights: 3rd MAW Marines, squadrons earn top aviation awards

Marines and squadrons from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing have been recognized with 12 Marine Corps Aviation Association 2025 Aviation Awards, honoring their exceptional leadership and dedication to mission accomplishment. The highly competitive awards program spans 30 categories across the Marine aviation enterprise. “This accomplishment reflects the commitment and high standards of our Marines,” said Maj. Gen. James Wellons, commanding general of 3rd MAW. “Our Marines are truly the best at what they do, and it’s a real honor to see this widespread recognition for our 3d MAW award winners within the competitive arena of Marine aviation.”

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Marines from the 1st Marine Logistics Group remove the skid plate from the bottom of a fire-damaged electric vehicle to gain access to the vehicle’s battery unit so they can safely dispose of it, Altadena, California, Feb. 19, 2025. - Marines from the 1st Marine Logistics Group remove the skid plate from the bottom of a fire-damaged electric vehicle to gain access to the vehicle’s battery unit so they can safely dispose of it, Altadena, California, Feb. 19, 2025. At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Northern Command deployed approximately 170 active-duty personnel to assist Environmental Protection Agency-led teams with cleanup of wildfire hazardous waste from the Eaton and Palisades fires in California. U.S. Army North, NORTHCOM’s Joint Force Land Component Command, is overseeing the military’s support to federal and state efforts, while Joint Task Force Civil Support is providing on-the-ground command and control of active-duty personnel. Work to remove the hazardous materials is phase 1 of the federal cleanup response to ensure the safety of the residents by preventing these materials from being released into the environment. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Maj. Casey Nelsen)

Task Force Atlas - U.S. Servicemembers Respond to L.A. Fires

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The morning of February 9, 2025, was anything but typical for many Marines across the 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Based out of Camp Pendleton, the once-in-a-generation fires were still burning in the Eaton and Pacific Palisades communities of Los Angeles, only an hour’s drive north. That morning, only 96 hours after notification, a coalition of U.S. Service members totaling 89 departed for these impacted areas to assist in the clearing and neutralization of hazardous material.

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U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Geronimo Vela Jr., an intelligence specialist with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, poses for a portrait with his mother after an award ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 31, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Geronimo Vela Jr., an intelligence specialist with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, poses for a portrait with his mother after an award ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 31, 2025. Vela was named Marine of the Year for his superior performance of duties, positive attitude and dedication to mission accomplishment. The ceremony acknowledges the hard work, accomplishments and sacrifices made over the last year by recognized service members and their families in support of I MEF mission success. Vela is a native of Uvalde, Texas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Andrade)

I MEF Marine of the Year 2024

In a ceremony that celebrated determination, dedication and exemplary professionalism, U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Geronimo Vela Jr., an intelligence specialist with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and a native of Uvalde, Texas, was named I MEF’s Marine of the Year for 2024.

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U.S. Marine Corps amphibious combat vehicles with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, maneuver in the open ocean during Quarterly Underway Amphibious Readiness Training 25.2 while underway in the Pacific Ocean, March 9, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps amphibious combat vehicles with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, maneuver in the open ocean during Quarterly Underway Amphibious Readiness Training 25.2 while underway in the Pacific Ocean, March 9, 2025. QUART is a joint training exercise designed to develop and sustain essential amphibious readiness skills for effective operations in maritime environments while reinforcing the Navy-Marine Corps partnership. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Oliver Nisbet)

QUART 25.2: U.S. Marines and Sailors Conduct Iterative Amphibious Training

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps constantly pursue excellence and interoperability in their amphibious mission. While operating in all corners of the globe, the Navy-Marine Corps team demonstrates the nation's combat readiness and lethality in support of deterrence. Quarterly Underway Amphibious Readiness Training allows the Pacific-based I Marine Expeditionary Force and its Navy counterpart, U.S. 3rd Fleet, to practice and perfect amphibious operations in a joint training environment. 

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A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom, left, and AH-1Z Viper conduct a fly-over during the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 16, 2025. - A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom, left, and AH-1Z Viper conduct a fly-over during the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 16, 2025. During the ceremony, Col. Sean Dynan relinquished command of the 15th MEU to Col. Robb McDonald. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Patrick Katz)

15th MEU Commanding Officer Relinquishes Command After Deployment

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Sean P. Dynan relinquished command of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit to Col. Robb T. McDonald during a ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 16.

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U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Adam T. Taitano, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion logistics officer along with U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared R. Wilbanks, 1st CEB combat engineer, fix a door lock during Operation Clean Sweep at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 29, 2024. Operation Clean Sweep is a joint initiative between Marine Corps Installations West and I Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to improve living conditions for Marines and Sailors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jeslianne A. Torres). - U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Adam T. Taitano, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion logistics officer along with U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared R. Wilbanks, 1st CEB combat engineer, fix a door lock during Operation Clean Sweep at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 29, 2024. Operation Clean Sweep is a joint initiative between Marine Corps Installations West and I Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to improve living conditions for Marines and Sailors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jeslianne A. Torres).

Camp Pendleton Marines and Sailors Improve Barracks Conditions

U.S. Marines and Sailors aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton successfully completed the first iteration of Operation Clean Sweep, a deliberate maintenance stand-down that addressed the backlog of barracks maintenance requests through self-help projects and a surge of contracted labor, from Oct. 16-30, 2024.

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From Left; U.S. Marine Corps Col. Brian T. Mulvihill, the commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, Royal Australian Air Force Wing Cmdr. Lauren Guest, the senior Australian Defence Force officer of RAAF Base Darwin, Royal Australian Navy Capt. Mitchell Livingstone, the commanding officer of Headquarters Northern Command, and Australian Army Brigadier Douglas Pashley, the commander of 1st Brigade, stand at attention during the 82nd Battle of the Coral Sea commemorative service at the USS Peary Memorial, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 4, 2024. MRF-D 24.3 Marines paid their respects alongside their Australian Allies during the ceremony. The ceremony commemorated U.S. and Australian service members who lost their lives in the Battle of the Coral Sea, which took place from May 4-8, 1942, during WWII. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Manuel Rivera) - From Left; U.S. Marine Corps Col. Brian T. Mulvihill, the commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, Royal Australian Air Force Wing Cmdr. Lauren Guest, the senior Australian Defence Force officer of RAAF Base Darwin, Royal Australian Navy Capt. Mitchell Livingstone, the commanding officer of Headquarters Northern Command, and Australian Army Brigadier Douglas Pashley, the commander of 1st Brigade, stand at attention during the 82nd Battle of the Coral Sea commemorative service at the USS Peary Memorial, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 4, 2024. MRF-D 24.3 Marines paid their respects alongside their Australian Allies during the ceremony. The ceremony commemorated U.S. and Australian service members who lost their lives in the Battle of the Coral Sea, which took place from May 4-8, 1942, during WWII. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Manuel Rivera)

U.S. Marines, Sailors conclude MRF-D 24.3 rotation, strengthening regional partnerships

DARWIN, Northern Territory, Australia — U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3 completed a six-month rotation to Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, closing a deployment marked by a series of multinational exercises and partnership engagements across the Indo-Pacific region from April to October.

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U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dominic Albanese, a drone operator with Meteorological and Oceanographic Platoon, 1st Intelligence Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, utilizes a Base Station during Cobra Horizon 24.2 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 25, 2024. Cobra Horizon is a semiannual training exercise that focuses on refining expeditionary meteorology and oceanographic employment, rapid response planning processes, and integrating a multi-service METOC environment to support future missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nicole Stuart) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dominic Albanese, a drone operator with Meteorological and Oceanographic Platoon, 1st Intelligence Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, utilizes a Base Station during Cobra Horizon 24.2 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 25, 2024. Cobra Horizon is a semiannual training exercise that focuses on refining expeditionary meteorology and oceanographic employment, rapid response planning processes, and integrating a multi-service METOC environment to support future missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nicole Stuart)

Looking to the Future: U.S. Marines and Airmen Conduct Exercise Cobra Horizon 24.2

In an era defined by rapid technological advancements, Meteorological and Oceanographic Marines are continuing to modernize the operational capabilities of I Marine Expeditionary Force. From Sept. 16 to Sept. 27, 2024, Marines with 1st Intelligence Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, and Airmen from 1st Combat Weather Squadron rehearsed meteorology and oceanographic employment, rapid response planning processes, and multi-service METOC integration to support future missions during training exercise Cobra Horizon at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

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U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Erik LeMoine, center, a supply officer with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, gives a speech after an award ceremony at Robertson Barracks, NT, Australia, Aug. 21, 2024. On May 17, 2024, LeMoine was swimming at Robertson Barracks when he noticed a Marine was motionless at the bottom of the pool. Without hesitation, Lemoine pulled him out of the water and performed five minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation before paramedics took over care. LeMoine is a native of Nebraska. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres) - U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Erik LeMoine, center, a supply officer with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, gives a speech after an award ceremony at Robertson Barracks, NT, Australia, Aug. 21, 2024. On May 17, 2024, LeMoine was swimming at Robertson Barracks when he noticed a Marine was motionless at the bottom of the pool. Without hesitation, Lemoine pulled him out of the water and performed five minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation before paramedics took over care. LeMoine is a native of Nebraska. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

MRF-D 24.3 Marine awarded for live-saving actions during training in Darwin, Australia

During an off-duty physical training event at the Robertson Barracks’ pool facility in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Erik LeMoine, the supply officer for Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, sprang into action when he noticed a fellow Marine motionless at the bottom of the pool, May 17.

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U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 371, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and Philippine Sailors run a fuel line after refueling a KC-130J Super Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd MAW, during forward arming and refueling point operations at Laoag International Airport, Laoag, Philippines, June 15, 2024. The FARP supported aircraft with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd MAW, and 1st Special Operations Squadron during Marine Aviation Support Activity 24. MASA is an annual Philippine-U.S. military exercise focused on mutual defense, strengthening relationships, and rehearsing emerging aviation concepts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nikolas Mascroft) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 371, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and Philippine Sailors run a fuel line after refueling a KC-130J Super Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd MAW, during forward arming and refueling point operations at Laoag International Airport, Laoag, Philippines, June 15, 2024. The FARP supported aircraft with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport (VMGR) 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd MAW, and 1st Special Operations Squadron during Marine Aviation Support Activity 24. MASA is an annual Philippine-U.S. military exercise focused on mutual defense, strengthening relationships, and rehearsing emerging aviation concepts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nikolas Mascroft)

Invaluable Integration | Philippine native, U.S. Marines build cultural bridges to support MASA 24

Demonstrating the strong people-to-people ties that are the bedrock of the U.S.-Philippine relationship, U.S. Marines with Filipino heritage from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing played a crucial role in their unit’s bilateral operations while forward deployed to various locations in the Philippines. These Marines ensured that 3rd MAW could conduct flight operations alongside their Philippine counterparts by enhancing U.S.-Philippine communication despite language barriers, directly enabling Marine Aviation Support Activity 24 from June 3rd to June 21st, 2024.

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