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. Marines with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing conduct logistics operations aboard the SS Wright (T-AVB-3) during Exercise Carolina Dragon 25 at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, Sept. 17, 2025. Carolina Dragon 25 is a 2nd MAW and Expeditionary Strike Group 2 exercise designed to validate and exercise the SS Wright’s capabilities and to prepare and confirm readiness for incorporation into future 2nd MAW exercises and contingency operations. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Gavin K. Kulczewski)
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
