PHOTO: US Marine Corps UH-1N at Atlantic Strike

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A Marine Corps UH-1 Iroquois helicopter searches for hostile ground targets during exercise Atlantic Strike at Avon Park, Fla, Sept. 13. (Photo/Casey Bain)

See the USAF's related story on Atlantic Strike

Marines could fly CTOL JSF

One of the options emerging from an in-depth review of the JSF program is that the US Marine Corps could make greater use the Air Force's F-35A variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, as delays and a major review cast more doubt on the F-35B short take-off, vertical landing variant meeting schedules.

PHOTO: CH-53E lands during the 31st MEU Air Combat Element fly-on

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100907-N-5215E-056 SEA OF JAPAN (Sept. 7, 2010) A CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter lands during the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) Air Combat Element fly-on aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is conducting a patrol in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew A. Ebarb/Released)

US Navy, Marines, Air Force prep for Valiant Shield exercises near Guam

19 ships and submarines and more than 14,000 US Navy personnel will mass in the skies and seas of the Pacific this month for a joint training exercise with Marine Corps and Air Force units dubbed Exercise Valiant Shield. A large number of Air Force and Marine Corps assets drawn from all over the Pacific will also be involved.

PHOTO: CH-46 Sea Knight on Pakistani flood relief mission

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A US Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter carrying Pakistani flood affected victims flies above Kallam, a town of Swat Valley, on September 2, 2010. (A. MAJEED/AFP/Getty Images via The Boston Globe)

Bengals arrive Down Under for Southern Frontier

The F/A-18D Hornets of Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, or VMFA(AW)-224, known as the Bengals, have arrived at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, in the Northern Territory, for Exercise Southern Frontier. The squadron is accompanied by 300 Marines and supported by Marine Air Group 12, Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12.

PHOTO: VMA-542 Harrier lands on USS Essex

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100902-N-9950J-323 SEA OF JAPAN (Sept. 2, 2010) An AV-8B Harrier jet aircraft lands aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during the fly-on of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) Aviation Combat Element. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson/Released)

Shape of MCAS Futenma's replacement still undecided

The joint US-Japan report on the base to replace MCAS Futenma in Okinawa was released yesterday, with both the US and Japan still obviously deadlocked on the future shape and details of the base.

PHOTO: C-17 loads CH-53 for Pakistan flood relief

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Airmen and Marines move a CH-53E Super Stallion onto a C-17 Globemaster III Aug. 20, 2010, at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. The helicopter is one of four that will be used to supplement U.S. military rescue and relief efforts in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kamaile O. Long)

Investigation finds Hercules, Cobra mid-air collision avoidable

An investigation into the mid air collision between a US Coast Guard HC-130 and a US Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra off California last year says that the incident which killed nine crew on both aircraft was "entirely preventable".

VMFA(AW)-224 Bengals arrive at Iwakuni on UDP

Marine All Weather Figher Attack Squadron 224, the Bengals, with 12 F/A-18D Hornets has arrived at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan for a 6 month rotation on the Unit Deployment Program. The unit arrived from its participation in RIMPAC and will also participate in various exercises around the Pacific Rim in the coming months.

USS Kearsarge and Ospreys to deploy for Pakistan flood relief

The US Navy has announced that USS Kearsarge is to deploy for flood relief operations in Pakistan. On board will be the V-22 Ospreys of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 266 (Reinforced) and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

Japan, US to announce decision of MCAS Futenma

Japan and the United States look set to announce the outcome of talks over the future of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma as early as the end of this month.

Yokota C-130 Adds to JPAC Mission

The C-130s of the 374th Airlift Wing have been supporting the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) in their search for missing US servicemen from the battle of Tarawa.

PHOTO: VMFA(AW)-242 Bats Boss Bird

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100727-M-0855M-099 Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242's flag plane is taxied in preparation for a sortie during exercise Invincible Spirit here July 27. Invincible Spirit was a joint combined exercise where the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Republic of Korea forces worked together to demonstrate solidarity and a commitment to work together. (US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Marianelli)

PHOTO: Marines board a CH-53E on the USS Peleliu

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100812-N-3729D-022 INDIAN OCEAN (Aug. 12, 2010) Marines assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU), embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) in the Indian Ocean, board a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter. The Marines are the first wave to go ashore in Pakistan to help maintain the heavy lift aircraft the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps are providing to deliver relief supplies to flood-stricken regions. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Andrew Dunlap/Released)

See related story: USS Peleliu to Provide Helos for Pakistan Relief

USMC UDP update

The Harriers of VMA-542 Tigers and F/A-18Ds of VMFA-224 Bengals are currently at Kadena Airbase, Okinawa and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan respectively as part of the Marines' Unit Deployment Program (UDP). They replace VMA-311 Tomcats and VFA-94 Mighty Shrikes.

PHOTO: VMFA-312 Boss bird

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100804-N-6362C-229 ARABIAN SEA (Aug. 4, 2010) An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Checkerboards of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, ignites afterburners during a launch from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Tyler Caswell/Released)

Kaneohe Bay to host more Marine Corps aircraft

The US Marine Corps is looking to base more Ospreys, Cobras and Hueys at MCAS Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii, starting in 2012.

PHOTO: VMFA-232 Boss bird

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A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet aircraft prepares to refuel over Afghanistan July 8, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Andy M. Kin/Released via The Boston Globe)