Маринский эскадрилья F-35 получила высшую награду ВВС США за операции в Ближнем Востоке

Gallant Unit Citation For Operations In The Middle East A Marine F-35 squadron received an Air Force award this month for actions in the Middle East last year. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542 received the Department of the Air Force’s Gallant Unit Citation for actions between March 15 and Oct. 7, 2025, according to a Marine Administrative Notice on new awards Stars & Stripes reported. The Marine service message did not cite specific actions that the squadron carried out to earn the Gallant Unit Citation but said that it was receiving the award as an “additional participating unit” to the Air Force’s 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, which also received the award. “During the deployment, VMFA-542 made a significant operational and strategic impact in the CENTCOM (area of responsibility),” the press release said. “The squadron conducted close air support, armed overwatch and defensive counter-air missions in support of Marine, Navy, Army, coalition, and partner nation forces. They advanced F-35 tactics, techniques and procedures while demonstrating the aircraft’s flexibility in real-world operations.” The Air Force Gallant Unit Citation was created in 2004 to recognize units engaged in military operations against an enemy force on or after Sept. 11, 2001, according to the Air Force Personnel Center. It honors active duty, reserve and guard units for extraordinary combat heroism equal to the individual Silver Star. The citation has only been awarded a handful of times. Past recipients include the 385th Air Expeditionary Group and the 621st Contingency Response Group, both of which received the award for their role in the evacuation of Kabul in August 2021. MFA-542, based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., deployed to the U.S. Central Command last spring for five months. Photo credit Ornelas Baeza U.S. Marine Corps.