Marine Corps Installations West

U.S. Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct a close air support exercise on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 8, 2023. HMLA-775, along with the other squadrons on the air station, provide aviation support that enables I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton tenant commands and visiting units to maintain and enhance their mission capabilities and combat readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Luis Agostini)

U.S. Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, engage targets from the side door of a UH-1Y Venom helicopter during a training exercise on Range 440Z at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Nov. 4, 2021. The reservists of HMLA-775 provide aviation support that enables I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton tenant commands the ability to maintain and enhance their combat readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew Cortez)

U.S. Marines and airmen conduct Exercise Patriot Hook on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, April 26, 2021. The exercise tested Marines’ ability to work with other services to quickly deploy aircraft, equipment and personnel as part of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response effort. Patriot Hook is the first in a series of exercises air station Marines are conducting over the summer to test their capabilities. While the air station is primarily a rotary wing air base, with its 6,000-foot runway it has the capability to support larger aircraft such as C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III. Having this capability gives commanders of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton’s tenant units the flexibility to schedule strategic lift training and deployments directly from Camp Pendleton. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Drake Nickels)

Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, work with airmen to load personnel and aircraft on an Air Force C-5M Super Galaxy on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton March 13 and 23, 2021. The C-5M, the largest military transport used by the Air Force, transported Marines and equipment with 3rd MAW from California to Japan and back as part of a scheduled rotation of personnel and equipment for the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Drake Nickels)

U.S. Marines parachute down to Drop Zone Basilone during a parachute operation on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 10, 2020. Marines with Air Delivery Platoon, Landing Support Company, 1st Transportation Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, coordinated the training opportunity to support various units around the base and enable Marines to gain proficiency and remain current with their airborne jump training. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Drake Nickels)

A U.S. Air Force C-5M Super Galaxy lands at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 18, 2020. The C-5M, the largest military transport aircraft used by the Air Force, transported Marines and equipment to support horizontal construction on San Clemente Island. The air station provides the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing with flexible deployment options. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Drake Nickels)

U.S. Marine Col. Ian R. Clark, the chief of staff for Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, describes his life as a helicopter pilot and what it takes to become one during an interview on Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 16, 2020. Clark is an experienced pilot who wants to help others pursue their dreams of becoming Marines and pilots. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Stephen Beard)

A U.S. Marine Corps UC-12W Huron with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, lands at MCAS Camp Pendleton, California, July 31, 2020. This is the first time in the unit's history H&HS has operated aircraft as a flying squadron. The UC-12W gives H&HS operational support airlift capabilities, and allows them to to move critical equipment and personnel to any location in the U.S. in a timely and cost effective manner in support of other Marine Corps units. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Stephen Beard)

U.S. Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct flight operations over Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, June 23, 2020. Aircraft with HMH-462 extracted Marines from a training area in Twentynine Palms while flying in support of Service Level Training Exercise 5-20. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Anthony Alvarez)

U.S. Marines and sailors participate in a COVID-19 patient transportation rehearsal of concept on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, April 10, 2020. Two MV-22B Ospreys transported a medical team and a simulated COVID-19 patient from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, for treatment at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. The exercise was designed to test and validate the process to safely transport and treat an infected patient. Aircraft and service members from three West Coast installations took part in the training. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Elizabeth Gerber)

U.S. Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, assault an an aerial gunnery range at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California, Feb. 20, 2020. HMLA-169 is based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, which operates and maintains a secure airfield in order to support I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton tenant commands and visiting units to maintain and enhance their mission capabilities and combat readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Anthony Alvarez)

U.S. Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775 run a preflight inspection on a UH-1Y Venom helicopter before it takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 5 2019. Also known as the “Coyotes,” HMLA-775 was reactivated on Camp Pendleton in 2016 after being decommissioned for nearly eight years. The air station operates and maintains a secure airfield in order to support I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton tenant commands and visiting units to enhance their mission capabilities and combat readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Andrew Cortez)

A C-5M Super Galaxy landed at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 3, 2019. The C-5M was a visiting U.S. Air Force aircraft from Travis Air Force Base, California, and is capable of embarking almost any piece of Marine Corps combat equipment and delivering it to any location in the world. The air station provides I Marine Expeditionary Force and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing with flexible deployment options. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Drake Nickels)

U.S. Marines with Marine Aircraft Group 39 and 1st Marine Division learn to use their AN/PVS-14 night vision monoculars during the Night Vision Device Ground Operator Training Course at the Marine Aviation Training Systems Site on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 17, 2019. The week-long course, normally given to just Marine aviators, is part of an initiative to create a standardized curriculum for night vision devices for Marines who are part of the ground combat element of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Marines with 1st Marine Division are the first to receive the curriculum. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Emmanuel Necoechea)

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Hitt, an Orlando, Florida, native, shares his experiences as an air traffic controller at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 8, 2019. Hitt joined the Marine Corps in August 2017, and has been serving at the air traffic control tower at MCAS Camp Pendleton since June 2018, where he was recently recognized as the ATC of the Quarter. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Dylan Chagnon)

In observation of National Bird Day, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton shows its appreciation for the birds of the Marine Corps this January 5th. Marine aviation has stayed at the forefront of cutting-edge technology. Currently, the four Marine aircraft wings are operating across the world and stand ready to overcome any obstacles in the future. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Elizabeth Gerber)

U.S. Marines and families attend a change of command ceremony for Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton at the Santa Margarita Ranch House, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 2, 2018. Col. Ian R Clark relinquished command of MCAS Camp Pendleton to Col. Richard T. Anderson after three years of serving as the commanding officer. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Pfc. Stephen Beard)

Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually in the United States on the third Saturday in May. The holiday was created on Aug. 31, 1949, to honor Americans serving in the U.S. military following the consolidation of the military services as the Department of Defense. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Lukas Kalinauskas)

Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton hosts the Warrior Games on Camp Pendleton’s Red Beach, April 20, 2018. The Warrior Games consist of a tire flipping race, capture the flag, tug of war, and a grappling tournament. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Lukas Kalinauskas.) 00:00-00:34 Sgt. Benjamin Rodriguez, Station Captain, Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting 00:34-01:24 Lt. Col. Gregory Rivaldi, CO, Headquarters Squadron 01:24-02:04 Master Sgt. Lorena Duffel, Ordnance Chief, Station Weapons Ordnance

Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton maintains the facilities, equipment and properties by conducting training and operations in support of I Marine Expeditionary Force, base tenants and international partners. Every minute of flight time has hundreds of Marines supporting the effort. Whether that's it is plane captain taxing the aircraft, the maintenance controller declaring the aircraft safe for flight, the maintainer keeping the aircraft running or the air traffic controller, their mission is to support the warfighter. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Desiree King and Lance Cpl. Noah Rudash)

Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response Central Command is welcomed back home by the Marines' families. Dayna Christie, the mother of U.S. Marine, Joshua McAlpine, anxiously awaits her son's return into her arms. (U.S. Marine Corps video by LCpl Francisco J. Diaz Jr/Released)

Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) U.S. Air Force students with Scripps Ranch High School receive a tour of the Mechanical Museum and the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 on Camp Pendleton, Calif., Mar. 29, 2017. The purpose of the JROTC visit commemorated the upcoming 75th anniversary of Camp Pendleton. (U.S. Marine Corps Video by Cpl. Cody R. Woods, MCIW-MCB CAMPEN/Released)

Marine Corps Installation West Camp Pendleton celebrates the 75-year legacy of training Marines. This production summarizes all conflicts Marines fought in and all aspects of training conducted on the installation from 1942 to 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps Video by Sergeant Hector de Jesus)

United States Marine Corps Air Traffic Control Facilities Officer Captain Joseph Ellis discusses the F-35B Lightning II refueling exercise taking place on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 31, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps Video by Lance Cpl Desiree D King)

U.S. Marines showcase their expertise in various military occupational specialties on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 30, 2016. Part of the "How We Support the Warfighter" Web Series. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl Cody Woods)

The Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton Honor Guard retires the colors at the Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton annual Evening Colors Ceremony at the Santa Margarita Ranch House, Sept. 28, 2016.

U.S. Marine Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Smith assumes command and Sergeant Major Dallas Miller posts command of Marine Aircraft Group 41 Detachment Alpha during an Assumption of Command and Posting of Detachment Ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Pendleton, Calif. July 21, 2016. (U.S Marine Corps Motion Media by Lance Cpl Cody R. Woods).

A collection of news coverage from Marine Corps Installations - West May 2016.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. The Camp Pendleton Fire Department and local fire authorities conducted a hazard reduction burn here, May 21.

Created in 1978, the Camp Pendleton's Air Facility was re-designated as Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton in 1985. MCAS Camp Pendleton operates a secure Class A airfield and maintains air station facilities, equipment and properties in support of the warfighting forces preparing for combat.

In use by the military since 1917, Miramar served briefly as a Marine Corps air station from 1945 to 1947 before transitioning to the Navy. Following a Base Realignment and Closure Committee recommendation in 1993, the installation was transferred back to the Corps and on Oct. 1, 1997, became a Marine Corps air station once again. Today, MCAS Miramar is the West Coast home of Marine aviation. MCAS Miramar is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, whose roughly 17,000 Marines operate the F/A-18 Hornet, KC-130J Hercules, CH-53 Super Stallion and MV-22 Osprey from the air station. MCAS Miramar is home to a number of the military's most state-of-the-art training facilities. Importantly, many of these facilities are not only used to train military personnel, but are also shared with local law enforcement personnel and personnel from other federal, county and city agencies for training. The majority of MCAS Miramar's training facilities are located aboard East Miramar, a 15,000 acre spread of hilly, chaparral desert that contains five small-arms ranges, a nuclear, biological, and chemical training facility, and an aircraft fire rescue training site. The land itself supports training in land navigation, convoy operations, and related ground training exercises. MCAS Miramar Community: MCAS Miramar hosts and supports a variety of community outreach events, from fun-runs and charity events to base tours. These events give San Diegans an opportunity to interact face-to-face with the Marines who share their community. As an award-winning, world-class air show, the Miramar Air Show is the highlight of the air station's annual schedule of activities. The thrilling, three-day event draws hundreds of thousands from around the world to witness the finest in civilian and military aviation. The show is free for all attendees, but funds raised though premium seating and corporate sponsors go to quality of life projects and programs to further morale and welfare of service members and families assigned to the air station.

The first air facility in Yuma was constructed in 1928 for military and civilian use. When the United States entered World War II, an air base was erected and by early 1943, Yuma Army Air Base began graduating classes of pilots. The base became one of the busiest flying schools in the nation. At the end of the war, all flight activity here ceased and the area was partially reclaimed by the desert. In 1951, the Air Force reactivated the base, which was later transferred to the Navy in 1959. On July 20, 1962, the Base's designation was changed to Marine Corps Air Station. MCAS Yuma is one of the Marine Corps' premier aviation training bases. With access to 2.8 million acres of bombing and aviation training ranges and superb flying weather, MCAS Yuma supports 80 percent of the Corps' air-to-ground aviation training. Each year, the air station hosts numerous units and aircraft from U.S. and NATO forces. The ideal weather and location along the Colorado River make Yuma and the surrounding area an oasis in the southwestern Sonoran Desert. Nestled in five square miles just southeast of Yuma, the air station is home to a number of tenant units including Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1, Marine Aircraft Group-13, Marine Wing Support Squadron-371, Marine Fighter Training Squadron-401, Marine Air Control Squadron-1, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 and Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4 and Combat Service Support Detachment-16. The main runway has been extended to 13,300 feet, or enough concrete for 37 miles of two-lane highway. MAWTS-1 hosts the biannual Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) aboard MCAS Yuma and is recognized as the most comprehensive graduate level aviation course of instruction in the world today. On average, over 8,000 U.S. Marines log more than 8,000 flight hours during more than 5,000 sorties each year. WTI trains aviators, infantry, artillery and armory officers in addition to their service support personnel in advanced Marine Air Ground Task Force tactics, techniques and procedures.

The Miramar Air Station Falcons claimed a 19-8 victory in their opening game of the season against the 1st Marine Division Headquarters Battalion Standard Bearers at the Paige Field House football field here, Aug. 26. The night was a grueling contest starring two defenses that consistently forced fumbles throughout the night.