The awards recognized 1st MAW Marines and squadrons for achievements in categories including safety, logistics, command and control, and flight.

“Tonight, we recognize the Marines and squadrons from the 1st MAW,” said Maj. Gen. William D. Beydler, commanding general of 1st MAW. “I could not be more proud of the MAW.”

The awards covered units at Marine Corps Air Stations Futenma, Iwakuni and Kanehoe Bay in Hawaii.

“We brought people down from MCAS Iwakuni, but sadly we could not bring any Marines from Hawaii,” said James P. VanEtten, the Naval Aviation Enterprise current readiness advisor for the wing. “We held a separate awards ceremony for them earlier this year with the assistant commander.”

Leaders emphasized the strategic importance of 1st MAW in a forward-deployed location.

“We are at a critical point in time and at a critical point in geography,” said Col. Leo A. Falcam Jr., a guest speaker for the event, longtime Naval aviator and deputy commander of Marine Corps Installations Pacific.

“There are many situations that allow you to exploit your skills to the fullest,” he added. “Those situations can be anything from humanitarian operations to the sanctioned use of violence against the enemies of our nation.”

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 won the MCAA award for the best safety record for a squadron in 1st MAW and also won the award at the national level.

In addition to HMM-262, many other Okinawa-based units and individuals won awards at both levels.

Events like this are designed to pull everyone together to gain a sense of camaraderie, Falcam said. Marines have to have fun doing what they do, and leaders have to make time to reward the many deserving Marines and units.

Safety is paramount to air operations, said Falcam. Marine air and ground crews are trained to operate in the safest way possible at all times.