Marines with the two fixed-wing Marine Aircraft Groups launched a series of cross-MAG Large Force Exercises in the skies of Southern California from Jan. 9-16.
These were the first of their kind in duration and scale with involvement from all 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing fighter squadrons.
The series featured defensive counter-air and strike missions, critical components of modern aerial warfare.
The primary training objective of the LFEs were to prepare F-35 Lightning II and F/A-18 Hornet pilots for the Marine Corps’ prestigious Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, a rigorous seven-week course that certifies instructors to ensure aviation units maintain cutting-edge training and readiness. Before pilots can attend the advanced course, they must achieve the critical milestone of air mission commander qualification.
“The mission commander is the individual delegated responsibility for planning and executing with all available assets and capabilities to achieve the assigned mission,” said Maj. Jason Garden, pilot training officer with MAG-13. “Mission commanders are qualified and designated to manage the overall blue force formation which typically consists of a minimum of three divisions of aircraft, aerial refueling assets and other joint or coalition forces assigned to the mission.”
