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US Marine Corps - Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401
VMFT-401 'Snipers'
 
vmft-401 snipers insignia crest patch badge marine fighter training squadron usmc adversary mcas yuma 02x vmft-401 snipers marine fighter training squadron usmc f-5n tiger ii adversary aggressor mcas yuma arizona 28x
11/23
STATUS:   established as VMFT-401 on March 18, 1986
 ACTIVE
 
Homebase: MCAS Yuma, Arizona
 AIRCRAFT:   IAI F-21A Kfir (1987-89)
Northrop F-5N Tiger II (1989- )
 DEPLOYMENTS:   none; adversary squadron
 
images 

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change of command ceremony at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - June 2023

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CO Lt.Col. Scherrers final flight at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - June 2023

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F-5F Tiger II at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - October 2022

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F-5F Tiger II at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - October 2022

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F-5F Tiger II at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - October 2022

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - September 2022

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - August 2020

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - August 2020

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - January 2018

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - August 2017

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - August 2017

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - August 2017

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Miramar, California - June 2017

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F-5N Tiger II's over MCAS Yuma, Arizona - March 2017

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Miramar, California - March 2017

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F-5N Tiger II over South Carolina - January 2017

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - January 2017

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - January 2017

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - May 2016

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - May 2016

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - May 2016

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - May 2016

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - December 2015

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - December 2015

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - December 2015

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - January 2015

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina - January 2015

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - August 2012

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Miramar, California - August 2009

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Miramar, California - August 2009

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F-5N Tiger II at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - July 2009

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F-5N Tiger II and IAI F-21A Kfir - October 1989

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IAI F-21A Kfir's - October 1988

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IAI F-21A Kfir's - October 1988

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IAI F-21A Kfir during exercise Gallant Eagle at Hill AFB, Utah - August 1988

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IAI F-21A Kfir - MCAS Yuma, Arizona - June 1987

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IAI F-21A Kfir - MCAS Yuma, Arizona - June 1987

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IAI F-21A Kfir - 1986
 
 
Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 (VMFT-401) is an adversary squadron of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, flying the F-5N Tiger II. Known as the "Snipers", the squadron is the only adversary squadron in the Marine Corps, also is the first and only reserve squadron in the Marine Corps tasked to act as the opposing force in simulated air combat. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and fall under the command of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Aircraft Group 41. VMFT-401 is a non-deployable unit.

Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 (VMFT-401) was commissioned on March 18, 1986 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. In June 1987 the squadron received a number of Israeli F-21A Kfirs and during that year logged more than 4,000 hours of flight time during 16 major exercises. In 1989, they transitioned to the F-5E Tiger II which they still use.

Following the inactivation of Marine Aircraft Group 46 in June 2009, VMFT-401 transitioned under Marine Aircraft Group 41.

The squadron was recognized by the Commandant of the Marine Corps for flying more than 50,000 mishap-free flight hours. They broke the 50,000 hour mark in early July 2010 having not had a mishap since October 1995. At an average of 45 minutes per flight, 50,000 hours equates to nearly 70,000 mishap free sorties.


Mission:
Provide instruction to active and reserve Fleet Marine Forces and Fleet squadrons through dissimilar air combat training (DACT).

The majority of VMFT-401's annual workload is their work-up and participation in the semiannual Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course conducted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) at MCAS Yuma, Arizona. They provide adversary work in Offensive Anti-Air Warfare and Anti Air Warfare exercises during this training evolution. They also help train new Marine F/A-18 Hornet pilots that are assigned to VMFAT-101 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
 
patches + more

vmft-401 snipers insignia crest patch badge marine fighter training squadron usmc adversary mcas yuma 02c
 
 
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