U.S. Marines Corps, Sgt. Maj. Michelle Hill, right, outgoing sergeant major of Marine Aircraft Group and Sgt. Maj. Cory Curtis, incoming sergeant major of Marine Aircraft Group 49 stand in formation preparing for the Marine Aircraft Group 49 relief and appointment ceremony, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana, Apr.13, 2023.The ceremony exemplifies customs and tradition by showcasing the transfer of leadership between the outgoing and incoming sergeants major.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ashley Corbo)

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 49 parade march as part of a change of command ceremony on July 16, 2022 at Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst. The change of command ceremony is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one officer to another. The mission of MAG 49 is to organize, train, and equip combat ready squadrons to augment and reinforce the active Marine forces in time of war, national emergency, or contingency operations, and to provide personnel and assault support capabilities to relieve operational tempo for active duty forces. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Matt Porter)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Lonnie Cobb, Marine Aircraft Group 49 commander, passes a flag to Marine Corps. Col. Russel Rybka during a change of command ceremony on July 16, 2022 at Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst. The change of command ceremony is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one officer to another. The mission of MAG 49 is to organize, train, and equip combat ready squadrons to augment and reinforce the active Marine forces in time of war, national emergency, or contingency operations, and to provide personnel and assault support capabilities to relieve operational tempo for active duty forces. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Matt Porter)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Anthonette Nadene Bemet, with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 773, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force UNITAS LXIII, receives a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, at Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro, during exercise UNITAS LXIII, Sept. 18, 2022. These awards were given to show superior performance in their duties during the execution of UNITAS. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise that focuses on enhancing interoperability among multiple nations and joint forces during littoral and amphibious operations in order to build on existing regional partnerships and create new enduring relationships that promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility. Bement is a native of Lorain, Ohio. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan L. Gonzalez)

Marines from Brazil, perform free fall parachute training from a UH-1Y Venom with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 773, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force UNITAS LXIII, as part of exercise UNITAS LXIII at Santa Cruz Air Force Base, Rio De Janeiro, Sept. 6, 2022. UNITAS is the world's longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise that brings together forces from 20 countries to include Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States. The exercise focuses on enhancing interoperability among multiple nations and joint forces during littoral and amphibious operations in order to build on existing regional partnerships and create new enduring relationships that promote peace, stability and prosperity in the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan L. Gonzalez)

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Keith Lohoeffer, a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 773, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force UNITAS LXIII, fires a GAU-17 minigun during close air support drills as part of exercise UNITAS LXIII at Santa Cruz Air Force Base, Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 9, 2022. HMLA 773 and 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company cross trained with the Brazilian Marine Corps by conducting close air support drills, which consists of locating targets from the ground and relaying coordinates to assets in the sky to destroy. UNITAS trains forces to conduct joint maritime operations through the execution of anti-surface, anti-submarine, anti-air, amphibious and electronic warfare operations that enhance warfighting proficiency and increase interoperability among participating naval and marine forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Colton K. Garrett)

A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom helicopter assigned to Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 773 hovers above the landing pad of the San Antonio class dock landing ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) in the North Atlantic Ocean, Aug. 16, 2022. HMLA 773 launched three UH-1Y Venom and two AH-1Z Viper helicopters from McGuire Air Force Base and embarked them aboard the USS Mesa Verde for transit to Brazil in support of exercise UNITAS LXIII hosted by the Brazilian Navy and Marine Corps. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 63rd iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise. Additionally, this year Brazil will celebrate its bicentennial, a historical milestone commemorating 200 years of the country’s independence. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Colton K. Garrett)

U.S. Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 773, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force UNITAS LXIII, conduct flight operations near the Christ the Redeemer statue at Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, during exercise UNITAS LXIII, Sept. 12, 2022. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 63rd iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise. Additionally, this year Brazil celebrated its bicentennial, a historical milestone commemorating 200 years of the country’s independence. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan L. Gonzalez)