Stories

Marines with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort July 11, after a six month deployment to the Western Pacificin support of the Unit Deployment Program. The UDP is designed to balance strategic capabilities in the Pacific theater to train with allies, respond to crises and promote security and cooperation across the region. - Marines with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort July 11, after a six month deployment to the Western Pacificin support of the Unit Deployment Program. The UDP is designed to balance strategic capabilities in the Pacific theater to train with allies, respond to crises and promote security and cooperation across the region.

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.

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin T. O’Rourke relinquished command of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 to Lt. Col. Alvin Bryant in a change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, June 19. - Lieutenant Colonel Kevin T. O’Rourke relinquished command of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 to Lt. Col. Alvin Bryant in a change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, June 19.

Marines with Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort trained in a confined space simulator at Pinewood Station 894 in Burton, S.C., June 10. The confined space simulator trains firefighters to function calmly in small spaces. Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Ma­rines specialize in aircraft fires, but can be called to provide mutual aid for any incident covered by the Structural Fire De­partment, that is why they train every day with aircraft or structural fires in mind. - Marines with Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort trained in a confined space simulator at Pinewood Station 894 in Burton, S.C., June 10. The confined space simulator trains firefighters to function calmly in small spaces. Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Ma­rines specialize in aircraft fires, but can be called to provide mutual aid for any incident covered by the Structural Fire De­partment, that is why they train every day with aircraft or structural fires in mind.

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.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, also known as the Checkerboards, deployedJan. 12, aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in support of Navy Carrier Air Wing 3 aswell as Carrier Support Group Ten. The Navy carrier air wing attached to the USSHarry S. Truman will provide close air support for maritime security operations. - Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, also known as the Checkerboards, deployed Jan. 12, aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in support of Navy Carrier Air Wing 3 as well as Carrier Support Group Ten. The Navy carrier air wing attached to the USS Harry S. Truman will provide close air support for maritime security operations.

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, also known as the Stingers, deployed Jan. 11 to the Helmand Province in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Approximately 40 Marines with MALS-31 will be augmented with MALS-40 to provide intermediate level support to operational aviation squadrons. - Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, also known as the Stingers, deployed Jan. 11 to the Helmand Province in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Approximately 40 Marines with MALS-31 will be augmented with MALS-40 to provide intermediate level support to operational aviation squadrons.

Maj. Clint Weber, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 operations officer,addresses the graduating class of the Marine Division Tactics Course during the graduation ceremony at the Officers’ Club, Friday. Pilots, weapons systems officers and air traffic controllers were recognized for performance excellence during the course. - Maj. Clint Weber, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 operations officer,addresses the graduating class of the Marine Division Tactics Course during the graduation ceremony at the Officers’ Club, Friday. Pilots, weapons systems officers and air traffic controllers were recognized for performance excellence during the course.

Marines from Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 help the crew of a C-17 push a container of avionics equipment into place. The equipment was being shipped to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 40, who are deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. - Marines from Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 help the crew of a C-17 push a container of avionics equipment into place. The equipment was being shipped to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 40, who are deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.