1st Marine Aircraft Wing

BASA AIR BASE, Philippines ─ U.S. Marine Corps pilots assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Corps Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force fly an MV-22B Osprey after picking up U.S. and Philippine Marines from the Basa Air Base in the Philippines in support of Air Assault Support Exercise 16.2, Aug. 1, 2016. Operating the Osprey in the Philippines strengthens III MEF’s ability to provide aerial support during humanitarian assistance missions and fulfill other alliance roles as needed. (Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Carl King/Released)

Marine Cpl. Christopher Madere, a UH-1Y crew chief with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, says he appreciates the 3rd Marine Division logo being painted on his helicopter. The logo provides a connection between the MAG and ground personnel to show that they are not separate operating forces. “By knowing what the logo represents and everything we do is in support of them, it makes me proud of what I do,” says Cpl. Madere. In the near future, the logo is expected to be painted on all of the aircraft in MAG-36. Madere is from Marble Falls, Texas. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Carl King/ Released)

CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines — Lance Cpl. Samantha Lenz, a flight line mechanic assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, works on an MV-22B Osprey at Clark Air Base in the Philippines in preparation for Air Assault Support Exercise 16.2, July 30, 2016. The goal of AASE 16.2 is to maintain the readiness and interoperability of the U.S. and armed forces of the Philippines to ensure an effective and rapid response to any contingency in the region. (Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Carl King/Released)

Auxiliary fuel tanks for the UH-1Y Venom are installed onto the aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, June 14, 2016. This is the first time in the Fleet Marine Force that the tanks will be installed and used. “For humanitarian missions, we can provide assistance more quickly and farther out,” said Maj. Carl A. Bailey, the executive officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing through the Unit Deployment Program. “The distances here are extreme, and there is a lot of water and not a lot of gas stations, so being able to strap on these aux-tanks, pick up and go, is going to be a game changer for us.” The Marines are with HMLA 469. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler S. Giguere)

Cpl. Paul P. Packer removes trash from a planter area March 22 during an environmental beautification activity project in Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan. The project fosters positive community involvement and strengthens the relationship between Marines and Okinawa residents. During the cleanup, Marines partnered up and removed trash from the streets surrounding the Ginowan convention area. More than 70 Marines participated in the event. Packer is an engineer equipment electrical systems technician with Marine Air Control Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force and a Federal Way, Washington, native.

Marines begin the installation of newly received auxiliary fuel tanks for the UH-1Y Venom at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, June 14, 2016. “We have never installed these in the fleet, which the Marines here with the engineers are accomplishing today,” said Maj. Carl A. Bailey, the executive officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing through the Unit Deployment Program. “These are going to extend our range, our time on station and enable us to self-deploy throughout the Pacific area of operations. Our goal is to self-deploy to the Philippines, and if we can do that, we will not need C-17s, C-5s or any other aircraft. We won’t have to break down our own aircraft, we will just strap on the tanks and go.” The Marines are with HMLA 469. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler S. Giguere)

FA-18A++ Hornets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron(VMFA) 314, forward based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, are lined up on the flightline at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, during the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise March 7-18, 2016. VMFA-314, also known as the “Black Knights,” took the lead in conducting dissimilar air combat training and bilateral tactical mission training with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Not only does this training mission increase the squadron’s readiness in air-to-air mission sets and executes flight leadership qualification upgrades, it supports theater security cooperation and combined interoperability with the JASDF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force service members prepare for a flight on an MV-22B Osprey by putting on cranials to protect their head and ears, as well as an inflatable vest in case of emergency over a body of water, during their visit to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, March 8, 2016. U.S. Marine crew chiefs give safety briefs to their passengers before each flight, explaining emergency exits, evacuation steps. The Japanese service members visited MCAS Futenma to strengthen relations in the Asia-Pacific and to view the capabilities of the Osprey firsthand. The Osprey is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Hester/ Released)

An FA-18A++ Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron(VMFA) 314, forward based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, sits on the flightline at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, during the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise March 7-18, 2016. VMFA-314, also known as the “Black Knights,” took the lead in conducting dissimilar air combat training and bilateral tactical mission training with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Not only does this training mission increase the squadron’s readiness in air-to-air mission sets and executes flight leadership qualification upgrades, it supports theater security cooperation and combined interoperability with the JASDF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)

U.S. Marines put out the last few spot fires on an engulfed aircraft during a training exercise with Royal Thai sailors as part of Exercise Cobra Gold 16 at Utapao, Thailand, Feb. 19, 2016. The Marines and Thai sailors trained together throughout the exercise to build relationships and skills. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise designed to increase cooperation and interoperability between participating nations in the Asia-Pacific. The Marines are with the aircraft rescue and firefighting section with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36. 1st Marines Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

FA-18A++ Hornets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron(VMFA) 314, forward based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, are lined up on the flightline at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, during the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise March 7-18, 2016. VMFA-314, also known as the “Black Knights,” took the lead in conducting dissimilar air combat training and bilateral tactical mission training with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Not only does this training mission increase the squadron’s readiness in air-to-air mission sets and executes flight leadership qualification upgrades, it supports theater security cooperation and combined interoperability with the JASDF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)