MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, OKINAWA, Japan -- Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-265 (VMM-265) was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Oct. 10.
The award distinguishes the Osprey squadron for having an outstanding safety record throughout calendar year 2013. The CNO Aviation Safety Award is the highest award available within US Naval Aviation.
Over the course of the year, the squadron, nicknamed “The Dragons,” participated in multiple exercises and operations, to include Exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand, Exercise Balikatan in the Republic of the Philippines and Exercise Ssang Yong in the Republic of Korea, as well as multiple flight missions in Australia, Singapore and Malaysia.
The true test of the squadron’s capabilities came during Operation Damayan, the humanitarian and disaster relief mission to the Philippines in Nov. 2013. Following Super Typhoon Haiyan, the Philippines experienced widespread devastation and, upon arrival, the detachment augmented the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB). The squadron successfully deployed a total of six MV-22s to assist in humanitarian aid and disaster relief. In a two-week period, the squadron carried 485 passengers and delivered more than 460,000 lbs. of relief supplies while flying 200 hours and 170 sorties.
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron’s Commander’s Safety Policy states “Safety is the by-product of professionalism, realistic training and dedicated teamwork that results in superior combat readiness.”
The squadron flew approximately 40,000 flight hours without a mishap during the last decade. Through a high operational tempo that included operating the MV-22B in multiple new environments, the squadron avoided serious injury or damage to personnel and aircraft.