U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Steven Akridge (Right Center), from Virginia, a tactical air defense controller with Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) 2, was awarded with a cowbell from Maj. Gen. William H. Swan, from Wisconsin, commanding general, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), alongside his staff at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, March 13, 2025. Cpl. Akridge was awarded the 2nd MAW commanding general's cowbell award for his outstanding performance as a datalink coordinator with Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Gavin Kulczewski)
U.S. Marines with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) participate in Service Level Training Exercise (SLTE) 1-25 in various locations in southern California, Jan. 20 to Feb. 28, 2025. 2nd MAW units conducted unit-level training and supported Marine ground units during SLTE 1-25, a series of exercises designed to prepare Marines for operations around the globe. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. David Ornelas Baeza and Cpl. Anakin Smith)
Units with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) completed an exercise focused on distributed aviation operations (DAO) near the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) on Andros Island, Bahamas, Jan. 28 to Mar. 15.
The exercise encompassed establishing decentralized aviation ground-support operations across multiple sites. Led by Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 272 and supported by several units across 2nd MAW and 2nd Marine Logistics Group (MLG), the operations included constructing expeditionary landing zones, improving existing landing pads, improving and repairing infrastructure, and supporting medical and dental civic action programs in support of the local Bahamian community.
“The deployment...
03.14.2025 | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
Story by 1st Lt. John Graham
