MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Arizona -- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is scheduled to host a media day at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The media day is scheduled to include a tour of the squadron, an opportunity for footage of F-35B operations and a media panel including the commanding officer as well as other F-35B pilots and maintainers.

The U.S. Marine Corps’ F-35B Lightning II aircraft reached initial operating capability today with a squadron of 10 F-35Bs ready for worldwide deployment.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 is the first squadron in military history to become operational with an F-35 variant.

"I am extremely proud of the hard work and effort the Marines of VMFA-121 have done to achieve IOC for the Joint Strike Fighter,” said Maj. Gen. Mike Rocco, 3rd MAW commanding general. “It is a game changer on the battlefield and will provide the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and the Joint
Force Commander enhanced combat capabilities like no other."

A team of Marine Corps F-35 experts completed a final operational readiness inspection of VMFA- 121 on July 17.

During the ORI, VMFA-121's F-35B pilots passed a series of three written exams on immediate action procedures, general aircraft knowledge, and tactics. Additionally, over the course of four flights and three simulator events, the pilots’ ability to conduct specified missions was assessed.

For VMFA-121’s maintenance crews, a Marine Corps team of maintenance experts inspected VMFA-121’s maintenance and supply programs to ensure they met the requirement of keeping a 10-plane F-35B squadron operational.

"VMFA-121 has been focused for the past 24 months on achieving F-35B initial operating capability for the Marine Corps. The ‘Green Knights’ have worked extremely hard to ensure policy and procedures to sustain the F-35 are efficient and executable to support fleet operations,” said Lt. Col. Steve Gillette, VMFA-121 commanding officer. “We have made extraordinary gains over the past two years on how to maintain this airplane and tactically employ it. I am extremely proud of the men and women of VMFA-121 and all they have been able to accomplish."

As the future of Marine aviation, the F-35B will eventually replace all aircraft from three legacy Marine Corps platforms: the AV-8B Harrier, the F/A-18 Hornet, and the EA-6B Prowler.

Marine Attack Squadron 211 (VMA-211), an AV-8B Harrier unit in Yuma, is scheduled to transition to VMFA-211, an F-35B squadron, in fiscal year 2016. VMA-311, another Yuma-based Harrier squadron, is scheduled to follow suit in 2018.

Interested media must RSVP with the Miramar Public Affairs Office at miramarmedia@usmc.mil or 858-577-6000 by 4 p.m. Saturday.
All media are required to meet at the MCAS Yuma main gate by 8:20 a.m. Monday, where a uniformed public affairs representative will meet with all media organizations.

For additional information, please contact the MCAS Miramar Public Affairs Office at (858) 577-6000 or follow our Twitter feed @MCASMiramarCA.
For MCAS Miramar and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing press releases, please visit our Press Release Page.
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