101st Airborne Trains with Marines in Joint Exercise

In a move underscoring the growing emphasis on joint operations within the U.S. military, soldiers from the Army’s 101st Airborne Division recently collaborated with Marine Corps aviators during a field training exercise intended to simulate rapid air assault operations in austere environments. The operation, which took place earlier this month, saw the renowned “Screaming Eagles” boarding MV-22B Ospreys—aircraft typically associated with the Marine Corps—to test strategies for greater mobility and interoperability between service branches.

According to the original report, titled “101st Airborne Soldiers hitch rides aboard Marine Ospreys in exercise,” published by Military Times, elements of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team were flown from Kentucky’s Fort Campbell to a remote location in East Texas. From there, they were transported via Ospreys operated by Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, marking a rare opportunity for Army soldiers to train aboard the tiltrotor aircraft, which combines the vertical takeoff capabilities of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing plane.

This training mission was part of Joint Readiness Exercise Red Devil Thunder, designed to prepare the 3rd Brigade Combat Team for upcoming deployment cycles and possible contingency operations. Organizers say the use of the Osprey added a new dimension to the training scenario, offering Army forces the ability to deploy more rapidly over greater distances compared to traditional rotary-wing options.

The exercise reflects broader strategic aims outlined in the 2022 National Defense Strategy, which places a premium on the U.S. military’s ability to project force quickly and effectively across multiple theaters. The collaboration also signals an increased willingness to blur once-rigid lines between service-specific capabilities in the interest of joint mission effectiveness.

Marine aviators involved in the operation praised the opportunity to train alongside Army ground forces, citing the experience as a valuable step toward improving coordination in real-world settings. Lt. Col. April Beldo, commanding officer of VMM-163, described the mission as “an excellent example of mission-capable, integrated force projection,” emphasizing the evolving nature of joint readiness.

Army officers echoed these sentiments, emphasizing their brigade’s need to adapt to modern battlefield demands. Osprey involvement—though still uncommon for Army units—offered soldiers first-hand experience with aircraft they may encounter during overseas missions in support roles or under joint command structures.

The exercise also served as a demonstration of logistical reach. Departing from their home station in Kentucky, soldiers completed the complex air operation within 12 hours, including multiple legs of transport and simulated assault landings. Such rapid mobility is central to the military’s capacity to respond to crises and shape ground truths before adversaries can react.

While the MV-22B Osprey has had a checkered history, including safety concerns traced to mechanical shortcomings and past mishaps, its value as a fast troop transport platform has been increasingly recognized in Pentagon planning circles. Integrating this capability into Army tactical operations, even on an experimental basis, could suggest a future where joint air mobility becomes more normalized.

As combat commands anticipate the possibility of large-scale, contested operations—particularly in the Indo-Pacific and Eastern European theaters—the technical synergy between units like the 101st Airborne and VMM-163 may provide a critical edge. Exercises such as Red Devil Thunder signal a recognition that institutional barriers must be broken down in order to dominate increasingly complex operational environments.

Though still early days for this form of collaboration, Army and Marine Corps leaders say they’re committed to continuing—and potentially expanding—these joint drills, responding to the clear strategic directive to become more agile, integrated, and responsive in facing 21st-century threats.