A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53K King Stallion aircraft assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, lifts a 420E backhoe loader during helicopter support team operations as part of exercise UNITAS 2025 near Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, Sept. 18, 2025. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This marks the 66th iteration of the world’s longest running annual multinational maritime exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Mya Seymour)
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Brian Hodgson, from Georgia, an airframes mechanic with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 365, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, speaks about his selection to the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, Sept. 16, 2025. Hodgson has attended Officer Candidate School and plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to complete his bachelor’s degree before commissioning as an officer. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Mya Seymour)
Maj. Gen. William H. Swan relinquished command of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) to Maj. Gen. Ryan S. Rideout during a change of command ceremony held at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Thursday.
The ceremony represented the formal transfer of responsibility and authority from Swan to Rideout. Lt. Gen. Calvert Worth, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force, presided over the ceremony.
“I have been extremely blessed, humbled and honored to serve 2nd MAW these past fifteen months,” said Swan. “I witnessed firsthand a commitment to mission excellence that I could not be more proud of. Early on, I tasked my commanders to be ready, to take care of their Marines, Sailors and families, and...
08.28.2025 | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, US |
Story by 1st Lt. John Graham
