Aviation Specials - July 2018

From the readiness standpoint — and we

will focus on the Hornet, because the

AV-8B is seeing a renaissance — I would

also say the Hornet is fi nally starting to

see improvement.

at Twentynine Palms, such as ITX. ‘It’s

the place where we can truly take an

expeditionary approach as we would

do at a forward deployed location,’

says Wise.

Changing times

The Marine Corps is a force in transition.

It is embracing a wealth of new

technology and platforms, and this

is keenly felt at the 3rd MAW. ‘A lot of

people don’t realize that the 3rd MAW is

transitioning all of its type, model, series

of aircraft — some are in the early stage,

while others are almost complete. The

F-35 is an example that is at an early

stage of transition. VMFA-121 [‘Green

Knights’] was the  rst unit to receive the

F-35B. We got the squadron to its full

capability then transferred it to MCAS

Iwakuni, Japan. The second squadron,

VMFA-211 ‘Avengers’, is getting ready

for its  rst deployment with the MEU

[Marine Expeditionary Unit] this

summer, and the third unit, VMFA-122

‘Flying Leathernecks’, came to us from

Beaufort, and is now well on its way in

transition [to the F-35B].

‘The F-35 is coming to Miramar as well.

VMFA-314 ‘Black Knights’ has returned

from a recent deployment and will begin

a phased transition to the F-35C over

This image:

VMFAT-101

‘Sharpshooters’

serves as the

training unit for

the Marine Corps,

based at MCAS

Miramar.

Bottom left to right:

VMFA-121 stood

up as the Marine

Corps’  rst F-35B

unit at MCAS Yuma

initially, before

moving to MCAS

Iwakuni, Japan.

Pilot  ight hours

in the Hornet

community are on

the rise.

(^52) LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW

US NAVY & MARINE CORPS AIR POWER YEARBOOK 2018

50-56 3rd MAW C.indd 52 01/06/2018 10:13