The U.S. Marine Corps is nearing the end of an era, with the graduation of the last two pilots trained to fly the AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft.
Marine Corps Aircraft Group (MAG) 14’s AV-8B Harrier II Fleet Replacement Detachment (FRD) at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, N.C., on Friday graduated the last two pilots to receive the 7509 Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), a designation reserved for pilots qualified to fly the AV-8B Harrier II.
Capt. Joshua Corbett and Capt. Sven Jorgensen completed their final FRD training flight to receive the 7509 MOS, which consisted of a low-altitude close air support training sortie. There will be no more USMC pilots graduating in this aircraft, as it will be decommissioned towards the end of 2026, being replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35B.
“The significance of the last replacement pilot training flight in the Harrier community is that it is the beginning of the end for us as a community.” said Corbett. “The Harrier, more than many aircraft than I have come across, elicits an emotional response. For members of the public, members of the aviation community, members of the Marine community, and especially members of the Harrier pilot community, it’s bittersweet. All good things have to come to an end, and it’s our turn soon, but not yet.”
The Harrier is a vertical/short takeoff and landing (VSTOL) tactical attack aircraft. The first AV-8B Harrier II arrived at MCAS Cherry Point in January 1984. In their 40-year presence in the eastern North Carolina region, 2nd MAW Harriers, and the 7509s that pilot them, have supported numerous operations across the globe, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Allied Force in 1999 in the former Yugoslavia, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
As the Harrier leaves the Marine Fleet, the F-35B Lightning II is taking its place. Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 will be the last Marine Corps Harrier squadron and is scheduled to continue operating the platform until September 2026. Until then, AV-8B Harrier IIs will continue to call MCAS Cherry Point «home» and will continue to execute designated operations in support of U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Units.
