Photo Gallery Summer 2001.html

MARFORPAC exercises control over two of the Marine Corps’ three MPS Squadrons – MPS-2 based at Diego Garcia and MPS-3 based on Guam. Both provide a quick-response sail time to Southwest Asia, Korea and a wide range of potential trouble spots. MPF operations are joint. The U.S. Navy is responsible for getting the ships to the area of operations and for providing security en route, the U.S. Merchant Marine mans the ships, and the U.S. Air Force flies in the Marines and sailors who link up with the ships.

Additionally, there are two aviation logistics ships with the capability to provide MAGTFs an intermediate aviation maintenance facility afloat. These ships are set aside to be rapidly loaded with the same aviation test equipment, mobile facilities, and spare parts used every day by the operating forces.

An “AAV” (Amphibious Assault Vehicle) is a basic Marine transport and weapon system for amphibious assault operations.

Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo

The Corps continues to improve its Maritime Prepositioning Force Program and is funding the Maritime Prepositioning Force Enhancement, which will add one ship to each of the MPS squadrons, and significantly increase engineer, aviation and medical support.

Other sustainment capabilities are being improved. Of particular note will be the full capability to repair or augment existing airfields or to construct an expeditionary airfield – a very significant capability in areas where access to air bases is problematic. Another improvement will be the capability to construct a full, 500-bed fleet hospital.

Core Combat Capabilities

U.S. Marines in the Pacific represent an awesome array of firepower and combat capabilities. From the “Marine’s Hymn,” the phrase “in the air, on land and sea” provides a framework to examine some of the recent and upcoming improvements in MARFORPAC’s combat capabilities.

In the Air.

In terms of total combat aircraft and aviation personnel assigned, the U.S. Marine Corps would rank among the ten largest air forces in the world. MARFORPAC aviation units fly a number of different fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

These aircraft include the F/A-18 Hornet, the Corps’ most potent fighter/ attack aircraft. This twin-engine, supersonic strike fighter fulfills both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, and can be operated from expeditionary airfields as well as aircraft carriers.

The AV-8B Harrier II is a superior vertical and short take-off and landing (VSTOL) jet that serves as our only light attack jet. Harrier IIs can be deployed with MEU-SOCs.

A reconnaissance Marine approaches and surveys a beach from offshore during a training exercise.

Photo by TSgt. Brian Snyder, USAF

The CH-53E Super Sea Stallion is the world’s most capable heavy-lift helicopter, able to carry up to 16 tons of cargo at speeds of up to 150 knots. It is a major enhancement to the Corps’ ship-to-shore movement abilities.

The CH-46E Sea Knight is the current medium-lift helicopter, slated for replacement by the MV-22 Osprey.

The AH-1W Super Cobra is the Corps’ versatile attack helicopter, capable of land or sea-based operations, both day and night and in all weather conditions.

The MV-22 remains the Marine Corps’ number one aviation priority. This revolutionary tilt-rotor aircraft is slated to be the replacement for the aging CH-46E and CH-53D medium-lift helicopters. The MV-22 will significantly improve the capability to project power from over the horizon and deep inland.

The Marine Corps supports continued development of the Joint Strike Fighter that will provide all services a common fighter platform in the next century. This Joint Strike Fighter will replace the Corps’ F/A-18 and AV-8B aircraft, as well as the Navy’s F-14, and the Air Force’s F-15E and F-16. The Corps needs an affordable, multimission stealth aircraft capable of short takeoff and vertical landing; day-and-night deep and close-air support missions and carrier operations. The Joint Strike Fighter will provide the Corps a single-type aircraft that complements its “Operational Maneuver From The Sea” flexible-basing strategy, allowing operations from sea-based platforms as well as fixed locations ashore.

On Land.

MARFORPAC provides more than half of the U. S. Pacific Command’s ground combat forces. Its single most combat-effective asset is its superbly led, highly-trained Marine rifleman, of which there are nearly 75,000 in the Asia-Pacific region.