Photos

Maj. Mike"Duck" Marmon, Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 pilot, taxis an F-5N Tiger II on the flight line at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 21, 2009. The Snipers recently trained the Sharpshooters of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 in air-to-air combat at Miramar, Calif. The Snipers are the Marine Corps' only agressor squadron, serving as enemy forces during air combat training to other squadrons throughout the Navy and Marine Corps.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Diamant

Military policemen Lance Cpl. Kevin Mathias, left, and Lance Cpl. Kyle Schmitt plan their patrol routes after raising the storm flag amidst a sandstorm that swept over the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 18, 2009. “We change the flag any time we get a high wind or storm warning,” said Staff Sgt. Dustin Schellenger, provost marshal’s office operations chief. The storm, which lasted approximately one hour, averaged winds of 32.2 mph with gusts of 43.7 mph, according to the station weather office.

Photo by Cpl. Pete Zrioka

Arizona Sen. John McCain speaks with a local reporter during a visit to the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 17, 2009. While visiting the air station, McCain heard about the potential future basing of the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and re-enlisted Staff Sgt. James Daponte, a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Marine.(Photo by Cpl. Pete Zrioka)

Photo by Cpl. Pete Zrioka

Arizona Sen. John McCain speaks with Gaby Gonzalez, KSWT 13 news anchor, during a visit to the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 17, 2009. While visiting the air station, McCain heard about the potential future basing of the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and re-enlisted Staff Sgt. James Daponte, a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Marine.(Photo by Cpl. Pete Zrioka)

Photo by Cpl. Pete Zrioka

Arizona Sen. John McCain speaks with a local reporter during a visit to the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 17, 2009. While visiting the air station, McCain heard about the potential future basing of the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and re-enlisted Staff Sgt. James Daponte, a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Marine.

Photo by Cpl. Pete Zrioka

Arizona Sen. John McCain speaks with Adam Mertz, KYMA 11 news anchor, during a visit to the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 17, 2009. While visiting the air station, McCain heard about the potential future basing of the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and re-enlisted Staff Sgt. James Daponte, a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Marine.(Photo by Cpl. Pete Zrioka)

Photo by Cpl. Pete Zrioka

Arizona Sen. John McCain speaks with a local reporter during a visit to the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 17, 2009. While visiting the air station, McCain heard about the potential future basing of the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and re-enlisted Staff Sgt. James Daponte, a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Marine.

Photo by Cpl. Pete Zrioka

Sgt. Daniel Hernandez, a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructor, assists Mariah Gomez, a 16-year-old member of the Yuma County Explorer Academy, in climbing the double bars of the obstacle course at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 16, 2009. The YCEA, an organization for youth ages 14-20 with interest in one day serving in law enforcement, spent July 13-17 on station participating in a variety of activities including MCMAP training and using the indoor simulated marksmanship trainer.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Graham J. Benson

Lance Cpl. Tyler M. Peha, Yuma Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron military policeman, applies camouflage paint as Sgt. Willard Smiley, Search and Rescue quality assurance representative, briefs the squad before a patrol during the Enhanced Combat Skills course July 15, 2009, at Camp Pendleton, Calif. The Marines learned the importance of ensuring that each person involved with a mission is completely informed about every aspect from alternate routes to rally points.

Photo by Sgt. Terika S. King

Course instructor Cpl. Nathaniel Brown teaches convoy security techniques to Yuma Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Marines July 13, 2009, during the Enhanced Combat Skills course at Camp Pendleton, Calif. The Marines learned the proper way to debark a vehicle in a hostile environment.

Photo by Cpl. Nataly Salguero

Yuma Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Marines clear rooms during the Enhanced Combat Skills course in Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 14, 2009. The course was conducted by 1st Marine Logistics Group and taught by infantrymen with combat experience.

Photo by Sgt. Terika S. King

Yuma Headquarters and Headquarters squadron Marines practice the “combat gliding” technique July 13, 2009, during the Enhanced Combat Skills course held by the 1st Marine Logistics Group at Camp Pendleton, Calif. The combat glide enables Marines to keep a low profile and move with speed and agility. The squadron participated in the course from July 12-17, 2009.

Photo by Sgt. Terika S. King

Yuma Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Marines patrol in Camp Pendleton, Calif., during the Enhanced Combat Skills course July 13, 2009. Marines attended the training in order to hone skills they learned through boot camp and Marine Combat Training as well as learn new techniques applicable to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Photo by Sgt. Terika S. King

Lance Cpl. Christian Antonio, Intermediate Maintenance Activity asset manager, provides rear security during a simulated patrol at the Enhanced Combat Skills course in Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 12, 2009. Antonio attended the course with fellow Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Marines from the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz.

Photo by Sgt. Terika S. King

Sgt. Brandon Dills, Marine Attack Squadron 311 seat maintainer, answers poolees' questions during their visit to the flight line of the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 10, 2009. Of the 15 poolees from the local recruiting station, three are slated for aviation maintenance jobs in the Corps. "It's really cool to see the plane that I might be working on," said Rafael Rojas, 19, who is scheduled to leave for boot camp in early 2010. The potential Marines toured the squadron hangar, learned about squadron and Harrier history, got an up-close view of a Harrier and visited the station's flight simulator.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Graham J. Benson

Poolees from the local Yuma recruiting station listen as Capt. Michael Lippert, Marine Attack Squadron 311 pilot, answers questions about one of the squadron's AV-8B Harriers at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 10, 2009. The Tomcats hosted a visit for 15 future Marines. The poolees toured the squadron hangar, learned about squadron and Harrier history, got an up-close view of a Harrier and visited the station's flight simulator. "The reason we want to bring them out here is to cement their commitment and give them a glimpse of the Marine Corps beyond boot camp," said Maj. Tom Hodge, Recruiting Station Phoenix's commanding officer. Of the 15 poolees, three are slated for aviation maintenance jobs in the Corps.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Graham J. Benson

Capt. Jon Schaafsma, Marine Attack Squadron 311 pilot, prepares to land an AV-8B Harrier on the flight line of the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 9, 2009, as part of his practice for the 25th annual Prairie Air Show held July 10-12 in Peoria, Ill. The Tomcats sent three Harriers to the show, one for ground display, one for the flight demonstration and one backup. "I think the main purpose of air shows is to show the public exactly what we are doing with their money, and they give us a chace to show off just a few of our abilities," said Lt. Col. Michael Gough, VMA-311 commanding officer.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Graham J. Benson

Emergency aircraft recovery crewmen Lance Cpl. Tony Eck, left, Lance Cpl. Nick Gohl, and Lance Cpl. Josh Kidwell tighten a plug on the engine of one of four sets of arresting gear on the flight line at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 8, 2009. The recovery crew repaired a set of gear that was out of operation for more than two years. The device uses a heavy steel cable and heavy nylon tapes to rapidly decelerate landing aircraft in an emergency, much like the arresting gear on an aircraft carrier.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Diamant

Emergency aircraft recovery crewmen strain to remove a plug on the engine of one of four sets of arresting gear on the flight line at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 8, 2009. The recovery crew repaired a set of gear that was out of operation for more than two years. The device uses a heavy steel cable and heavy nylon tapes to rapidly decelerate landing aircraft in an emergency, much like the arresting gear on an aircraft carrier.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Diamant

Emergency aircraft recovery crewman Lance Cpl. Josh Kidwell adds lubricant to the engine of one of four sets of arresting gear on the flight line at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., July 8, 2009. The recovery crew repaired a set of gear that was out of operation for more than two years. The device uses a heavy steel cable and heavy nylon tapes to rapidly decelerate landing aircraft in an emergency, much like the arresting gear on an aircraft carrier.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Diamant