Stories

Lt. Col. Benedict G. Buerke relinquishes command of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 to Lt. Col. Steven B. Bowden aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Aug. 10.During the ceremony, Buerke was awarded the Bronze Star for his service as the commanding officer of the Checkerboards. - Lt. Col. Benedict G. Buerke relinquishes command of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 to Lt. Col. Steven B. Bowden aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Aug. 10. During the ceremony, Buerke was awarded the Bronze Star for his service as the commanding officer of the Checkerboards.

Lance Cpl. Hunter Cauthron places a screen over the engine intake of an F/A-18 Hornet aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort June 6. - Lance Cpl. Hunter Cauthron places a screen over the engine intake of an F/A-18 Hornet aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort June 6. The screen over the engine intake is used when Marines who are not pilots start the aircraft’s engines to conduct pre-flight checks. It ensures foreign object debris does not enter the engine. Cauthron is an engine mechanic and plane captain with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312.

Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Aguilar, left, stands in front of Lt. Col. Harry F. Thomas, center, and Sgt. Maj. Adrian L. Tagliere prior to receiving an award in recognition of his leadership during a ceremony at Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort March 2. During the ceremony, Aguilar was presented with the Navy & Marine Association Leadership Award, a peer-selected recognition. The association sponsors more than 400 awards annually for commanders to recognize officers and enlisted personnel who have been selected by their peers as outstanding leaders in their respective communities. Aguilar is a maintenance controller with VMFA-312. Thomas is the commanding officer of VMFA-312 and Tagliere is the sergeant major of the same unit. - Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Aguilar, left, stands in front of Lt. Col. Harry F. Thomas, center, and Sgt. Maj. Adrian L. Tagliere prior to receiving an award in recognition of his leadership during a ceremony at Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort March 2. During the ceremony, Aguilar was presented with the Navy & Marine Association Leadership Award, a peer-selected recognition. The association sponsors more than 400 awards annually for commanders to recognize officers and enlisted personnel who have been selected by their peers as outstanding leaders in their respective communities. Aguilar is a maintenance controller with VMFA-312. Thomas is the commanding officer of VMFA-312 and Tagliere is the sergeant major of the same unit.

Cpl. Daniel Jacobs, left, stands at attention in front of Lt. Col. Harry Thomas Jr., as his promotion warrant is read in the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 hangar, June 2. Jacobs was meritoriously promoted to corporal, assuming the responsibilities of a noncommissioned officer earlier than anticipated. Jacobs is an ordnance technician with VMFA-312, Marine Aircraft Group 31. Thomas is the commanding officer of the squadron. - Cpl. Daniel Jacobs, left, stands at attention in front of Lt. Col. Harry Thomas Jr., as his promotion warrant is read in the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 hangar, June 2. Jacobs was meritoriously promoted to corporal, assuming the responsibilities of a noncommissioned officer earlier than anticipated. Jacobs is an ordnance technician with VMFA-312, Marine Aircraft Group 31. Thomas is the commanding officer of the squadron.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 and Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 conducted a live missile shoot for training, July 21 through 25. Ordnance used during the training includes the AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120, LUU-2 flare, and AGM-88. - Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 and Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 conducted a live missile shoot for training, July 21 through 25. Ordnance used during the training includes the AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120, LUU-2 flare, and AGM-88.

Sergeant Major Jimmy Sanchez, the sergeant major for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, holds VMFA-312's colors while Lt. Col. Joseph Reedy, the commanding officer of VMFA-312, places battle streamers on the colors during a rededication to colors ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, May 23. The rededication to colors ceremony marked VMFA-312's 70th anniversary. VMFA-312 was commissioned on June 1, 1943 at Page Field aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. - Sergeant Major Jimmy Sanchez, the sergeant major for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, holds VMFA-312's colors while Lt. Col. Joseph Reedy, the commanding officer of VMFA-312, places battle streamers on the colors during a rededication to colors ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, May 23. The rededication to colors ceremony marked VMFA-312's 70th anniversary. VMFA-312 was commissioned on June 1, 1943 at Page Field aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

Marines from the Ordnance, Powerline and Avionics work centers of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 tow a F/A-18 Hornet into VMFA-312’s hangar for regular maintenance aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, May 10. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 celebrate their 70th anniversary May 23 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and May 24 aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. The squadron was commissioned on June 1, 1943 at Page Field aboard MCRD Parris Island and equipped with F4U Corsairs. - Marines from the Ordnance, Powerline and Avionics work centers of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 tow a F/A-18 Hornet into VMFA-312’s hangar for regular maintenance aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, May 10. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 celebrate their 70th anniversary May 23 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and May 24 aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. The squadron was commissioned on June 1, 1943 at Page Field aboard MCRD Parris Island and equipped with F4U Corsairs.

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.