Marine pilots are taking to the skies over Southern California to test their warfighting abilities and hone skills to fight future enemies more effectively, and people on the ground in some areas are likely to notice the training above.

As part of the Marine Corps’ modernization – which means a quicker and more agile force that works hand-in-hand with the Navy – pilots, crew chiefs and aircraft technicians from Miramar’s 3rd Marine Air Wing are working with Marines from Camp Pendleton’s Marine Expeditionary Force and the Navy’s 3rd Fleet based in San Diego to create realistic scenarios for more than two weeks of training exercises.

The training, happening on the ground and in the air, is part of the annual Winter Fury exercise that started Monday, Jan. 31 and continues through Feb. 18.

The exercises will make use of training ranges, geography, beaches and facilities at Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Airstation Miramar, San Clemente Island and Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. Pilots will fly some longer-range missions to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona and to Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

Aircraft likely visible to those on the ground include the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, AH-1Z Vipers, UH-1Y Venoms, F/A-18 Hornets, CH-53E Super Stallions, MV-22B Ospreys and KC-130J Hercules aircraft.

Residents in south Orange County can expect to see planes overhead, including flights over the Santa Ana Mountains and especially along the coastline. Other communities near Miramar in north San Diego County and near Twentynine Palms in the desert of San Bernardino County will likely see aircraft overhead.

Boaters near San Clemente Island can also expect to get an eyeful.

There may also be associated booms, loud mortars and artillery fire connected to the training. Communities near Camp Pendleton might hear lout artillery and mortar fire through Feb. 11.

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