Lance Cpl. Gerald J. Demontmollin III scans the area for targets inside of a UH-1Y Venom Feb. 24, 2016, at Camp Pendleton. Demontmollin and his squadron performed simulated assault and close air support training to maintain unit readiness. Demontmollin, from Grass Valley, is a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Air Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Justin E. Bowles) - Lance Cpl. Gerald J. Demontmollin III scans the area for targets inside of a UH-1Y Venom Feb. 24, 2016, at Camp Pendleton. Demontmollin and his squadron performed simulated assault and close air support training to maintain unit readiness. Demontmollin, from Grass Valley, is a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Air Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Justin E. Bowles)

Bulk refueling specialists with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 prepare to refuel an F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 at Red Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10, 2015. Various squadrons within 3rd MAW performed more than 70 sorties ranging from external lifts, convoy escorts and casualty evacuation missions with rotary aircraft and fire support missions with the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to providing refueling points for air and ground assets. - Bulk refueling specialists with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 prepare to refuel an F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 at Red Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10, 2015. Various squadrons within 3rd MAW performed more than 70 sorties ranging from external lifts, convoy escorts and casualty evacuation missions with rotary aircraft and fire support missions with the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to providing refueling points for air and ground assets.

An F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, performs a conventional take-off at the Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field during Exercise Steel Knight 2016 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Dec. 11, 2015. This year’s iteration of Exercise Steel Knight works to advance 1st Marine Division’s warfighting capabilities, to include interoperability between the ground and air forces and integration of the F-35B. - An F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, performs a conventional take-off at the Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field during Exercise Steel Knight 2016 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Dec. 11, 2015. This year’s iteration of Exercise Steel Knight works to advance 1st Marine Division’s warfighting capabilities, to include interoperability between the ground and air forces and integration of the F-35B.

Marines push one of Marine Heavy Helicopter 363’s refurbished CH-53D helicopters on the flight line after rolling it out of an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. The squadron is now preparing to redeploy to Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, after completing a seven month tour here. The Marines have flown more than 3,000 hours and transported more than 14,000 personnel during their deployment. - Marines push one of Marine Heavy Helicopter 363’s refurbished CH-53D helicopters on the flight line after rolling it out of an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. The squadron is now preparing to redeploy to Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, after completing a seven month tour here. The Marines have flown more than 3,000 hours and transported more than 14,000 personnel during their deployment.