3rd Marine Aircraft Wing trains for modern island hopping campaign

Photo By Lance Cpl. Isaac Velasco | An AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), fly over a U.S. Navy Submarine during the Advanced Naval Basing evolution of Summer Fury 21 at San Clemente, California, July 20, 2021. Advanced Naval Basing offering forward logistics and support, as well as sensor and strike capabilities that make a significant contribution to undersea warfare campaigns in the Indo-Pacific region. Summer Fury is an exercise conducted by 3rd MAW in order to maintain and build capability, strength, and trust within its units to generate the readiness and lethality needed to deter and defeat adversaries during combat operations as the U.S. Marine Corps refines tactics and equipment in accordance with Force Design 2030. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isaac Velasco)  

MIRAMAR, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

08.02.2021

Story by Lance Cpl. Alondra OrtizMontejano 

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – (August 2, 2021) Marines and Sailors with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) participate in an island hopping campaign as part of advanced naval base training during Exercise Summer Fury 21. With assets positioned across the West Coast, both on land and at sea, 3rd MAW tested components of expeditionary advanced base operations in preparation for future maritime conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region.

Island hopping originated during World War II when Allied forces deployed to the Pacific theater adopted a “leapfrogging” tactic as a way to gain control of strategic, maritime islands while avoiding heavily guarded enemy targets. Leapfrogging ultimately paved the way for Marines to more efficiently reach enemy objectives with fewer casualties, leaving adversaries in Southeast Asia in a constant state of surprise and unbalance.

Using this blueprint, 3rd MAW synchronized the seizure of strategic airfields at San Clemente Island which set conditions on the objective to bypass heavily fortified islands in order to seize lightly defended locations that could support follow-on operations during Summer Fury. During the course of the evolution, Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 and Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 reinforced 3rd MAW efforts by establishing forward arming and refueling points on both San Clemente Island and at a helicopter outlying landing field.

Additionally, Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 provided continuous logistical support, allowing 3rd MAW assets to continue the fight. The FARPs effectively increased the range and tempo of aviation operations within the simulated island chain increasing 3rd MAW’s ability to gain command and control of maritime islands.

As warfighting remains both “timeless and ever changing,” 3rd MAW continues to make considerable progress toward the goals of Force Design 2030 through adversarial-minded war gaming and combat-driven exercises. During Summer Fury 21, 3rd MAW units participated in evolutions such as advanced naval base training, long range strike operations, and forward air controlling exercises, enhancing readiness and lethality in support of a maritime campaign.

3rd MAW continues to “Fix, Fly and Fight” as the Marine Corps’ largest aircraft wing, and remains combat-ready, deployable on short notice, and lethal when called into action.

For additional content regarding Summer Fury 21, please visit us at DVIDS - Images - Summer Fury 21: Sonobouy Operations [Image 1 of 11] (dvidshub.net).

• Date Taken: 08.02.2021
• Date Posted: 08.02.2021 19:03
• Story ID: 402270
• Location: MIRAMAR, CALIFORNIA, US
• Hometown: MIRAMAR, CALIFORNIA, US