Stories

The Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 departed July 30, and made their way to Fort Stewart in Hinesville, Ga., for Field Exercise 2-14. Field Exercise 2-14 is a 10 to 12 day field exercise the squadron conducts in order to get Marines and sailors tactically ready with weapon familiarization, performing land navigation, living in the field and gives them a chance to execute their Military Occupational Specialties in the field. - The Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 departed July 30, and made their way to Fort Stewart in Hinesville, Ga., for Field Exercise 2-14. Field Exercise 2-14 is a 10 to 12 day field exercise the squadron conducts in order to get Marines and sailors tactically ready with weapon familiarization, performing land navigation, living in the field and gives them a chance to execute their Military Occupational Specialties in the field.

Lt. Col. James B. Stone IV relinquished command of Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 to Lt. Col. Phillip J. Schendler aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, July 10.“I’ve had a tremendous group of team players,” said Stone when asked about his time at MCAS Beaufort. “Any successes I’ve had are the successes of the Marines here.”MWSS-273 provides internal airfield communications, weather services, expeditionary airfield services, aircraft rescue and firefighting, aircraft and ground refueling, essential engineering services, motor transport, messing, chemical defense, security and law enforcement, airbase commandant functions, and explosive ordinance disposal. - Lt. Col. James B. Stone IV relinquished command of Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 to Lt. Col. Phillip J. Schendler aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, July 10. “I’ve had a tremendous group of team players,” said Stone when asked about his time at MCAS Beaufort. “Any successes I’ve had are the successes of the Marines here.” MWSS-273 provides internal airfield communications, weather services, expeditionary airfield services, aircraft rescue and firefighting, aircraft and ground refueling, essential engineering services, motor transport, messing, chemical defense, security and law enforcement, airbase commandant functions, and explosive ordinance disposal.

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort welcomed home one of its own, July 11. Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 returned to Fightertown and with it, a new era in Marine Corps aviation.VMFAT-501 was located at MCAS Beaufort until 1997, when it deactivated. The squadron was reactivated in April 2010 and designated as a training squadron. After four years of training with the F-35B Lightning II the squadron moved back to MCAS Beaufort."Between June and September we'll have all the VMFAT-501 aircraft and squadron personnel relocating, and in October we'll start training," said Lieutenant Colonel Luis E. Villalobos, the officer in charge of the Pilot Training Center.The Marine Corps’ F-35B variant replaces and performs the roles of three legacy aircraft. The F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier II and EA-6B Prowler will be phased out over a period of time. The future of Marine Corps aviation, the F-35B, has arrived. - Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort welcomed home one of its own, July 11. Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 returned to Fightertown and with it, a new era in Marine Corps aviation.VMFAT-501 was located at MCAS Beaufort until 1997, when it deactivated. The squadron was reactivated in April 2010 and designated as a training squadron. After four years of training with the F-35B Lightning II the squadron moved back to MCAS Beaufort."Between June and September we'll have all the VMFAT-501 aircraft and squadron personnel relocating, and in October we'll start training," said Lieutenant Colonel Luis E. Villalobos, the officer in charge of the Pilot Training Center. The Marine Corps’ F-35B variant replaces and performs the roles of three legacy aircraft. The F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier II and EA-6B Prowler will be phased out over a period of time. The future of Marine Corps aviation, the F-35B, has arrived.

The 6th Annual Feds Feed Families Campaign began June 18, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The campaign, which runs through August, is a voluntary effort undertaken by federal employees to bring nonperishable food items to their offices for distribution to local food banks. The food is used to support food insecure households in the surrounding communities. Donation boxes are located at the Marine Corps Exchanges on MCAS Beaufort and Laurel Bay and the Station Chapel. - The 6th Annual Feds Feed Families Campaign began June 18, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The campaign, which runs through August, is a voluntary effort undertaken by federal employees to bring nonperishable food items to their offices for distribution to local food banks. The food is used to support food insecure households in the surrounding communities. Donation boxes are located at the Marine Corps Exchanges on MCAS Beaufort and Laurel Bay and the Station Chapel.

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island’s Auxiliary Security Force began their Oleoresin Capsicum Contamination training at the Provost Marshal's Office aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, June 3. The Provost Marshal’s Office aboard the Air Station provides law enforcement, investigative, and security services to MCAS Beaufort, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Naval Hospital Beaufort, S.C. - Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island’s Auxiliary Security Force began their Oleoresin Capsicum Contamination training at the Provost Marshal's Office aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, June 3. The Provost Marshal’s Office aboard the Air Station provides law enforcement, investigative, and security services to MCAS Beaufort, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Naval Hospital Beaufort, S.C.

Sgt. Michael McIntire stands with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general and command sergeant major, Maj. Gen. Robert Hedelund and Sgt. Maj. Christopher Robinson, before receiving an award, May 20. The award, sponsored by the Navy and Marine Association, is given to leaders considered to be ethical, proud, and professional. - Sgt. Michael McIntire stands with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general and command sergeant major, Maj. Gen. Robert Hedelund and Sgt. Maj. Christopher Robinson, before receiving an award, May 20. The award, sponsored by the Navy and Marine Association, is given to leaders considered to be ethical, proud, and professional.

Active duty service members, veterans, and family members from all walks of life participate in the 2014 Beaufort, S.C., Memorial Day parade and Ceremony at the Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, S.C., May 26, 2014. The ceremony was held in remembrance of the many military service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aneshea S. Yee/Released) - Active duty service members, veterans, and family members from all walks of life participate in the 2014 Beaufort, S.C., Memorial Day parade and Ceremony at the Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, S.C., May 26, 2014. The ceremony was held in remembrance of the many military service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aneshea S. Yee/Released)

Fighter jets are a common sight at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, soaring and roaring past overhead. Pilots train relentlessly day and night, practicing air to air combat, air to ground combat, studying weapons and tactics, and dropping ordnance. - Fighter jets are a common sight at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, soaring and roaring past overhead. Pilots train relentlessly day and night, practicing air to air combat, air to ground combat, studying weapons and tactics, and dropping ordnance.

Captain William T. Paxton, an F-18 pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, was awarded the Bronze Star medal with a combat distinguishing device during an award ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, May 5. While serving with 2nd Battalion 8th Marines as the forward air controller, Paxton spent five hours calling in accurate air strikes on enemy targets, allowing his small command element to escape and evacuate an injured Marine. - Captain William T. Paxton, an F-18 pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, was awarded the Bronze Star medal with a combat distinguishing device during an award ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, May 5. While serving with 2nd Battalion 8th Marines as the forward air controller, Paxton spent five hours calling in accurate air strikes on enemy targets, allowing his small command element to escape and evacuate an injured Marine.