The first international variant of the V-22 Osprey aircraft flew from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to the Kisarazu Air Field July 10, where the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will now operate, train with, and maintain the aircraft.
Since 2016, pilots, crew chiefs and maintainers with the JGSDF have been training with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron (VMMT) 204 and Navy Aviation Technical Training Unit at MCAS New River.
During a recent ceremony at Fleet Readiness Center East, a Marine MV-22 Osprey crew chief was named the depot’s Marine of the Year for their superior performance, outstanding military conduct, work ethic, perseverance and initiative.
Marine Sgt. Dylan W. Griffith, a 27-year-old native of Boone, North Carolina, received the award and high praise from the command.
“He’s an exemplary Marine,” said FRCE 1st Sgt. Nathaniel Eirich. “He’s hard working and does his very best at everything he does. He truly sets the example.”
The first Navy CMV-22B Osprey arrived at Patuxent River Feb. 2 after completing its ferry flight from Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center in Texas.
This is the first of two CMV-22B aircraft assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21, the squadron leading the developmental test efforts for the program.
A training program recently offered at Fleet Readiness Center East prepared service members to make aircraft and component repairs at the squadron level, which will increase flight-line readiness by reducing aircraft downtime.
