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Category: Marines

F-35B preparing for first combat deployment

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The F-35B will be making its first combat deployment aboard USS Essex in the middle of this year. VMFA-211 will embark aboard USS Essex for the deployment.

An F-35B from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron-211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepares to take off for flight operations aboard the Wasp-class Amphibious ship USS Essex (LHD 2) March 28, 2018. The Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th MEU fully integrated for the first time before their summer deployment. Amphibious Squadron, MEU integration training is a crucial pre-deployment exercise that allows the Navy-Marine Corps team to rapidly plan and execute complex operations from naval shipping. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. A. J. Van Fredenberg)
An F-35B from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron-211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepares to take off for flight operations aboard the Wasp-class Amphibious ship USS Essex (LHD 2) March 28, 2018. The Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th MEU fully integrated for the first time before their summer deployment. Amphibious Squadron, MEU integration training is a crucial pre-deployment exercise that allows the Navy-Marine Corps team to rapidly plan and execute complex operations from naval shipping. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. A. J. Van Fredenberg)

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VMFA-122 flies the F-35B for the first time

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The Commanding Officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122), Lt. Col. John P. Price, conducts VMFA-122's first flight operations in an F-35B Lightning II on Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, Ariz., March 29, 2018. VMFA-122 is conducting the flight operations for the first time as an F-35 squadron. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Allison Lotz)
The Commanding Officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122), Lt. Col. John P. Price, conducts VMFA-122’s first flight operations in an F-35B Lightning II on Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, Ariz., March 29, 2018. VMFA-122 is conducting the flight operations for the first time as an F-35 squadron. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Allison Lotz)

Japan’s plan to stand up Marines unit in trouble as local governments unwilling to host MV-22s

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Japan is preparing to stand up its first amphibious infantry unit this month but the plan to have troops securing its southern islands is facing difficulties as local governments are not keen to host the MV-22 Osprey in their prefectures.

Exercise Iron Fist 2016, PHIBLEX Recon Insert 160224-M-RK999-142
By U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ryan Kierkegaard, 1st Marine Division Combat Camera/Released [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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