The flight line footprint: ‘The first and finest’ Harrier squadron ramps up for Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Matthew T. Floyd, an ordnance technician with Marine Attack Squadron 231, mounts a gun and ammunition pack to the bottom of an AV-8B harrier inside the squadron’s hangar at Cherry Point, June 8. The VMA-231 Marines are preparing all of the squadron’s Harriers for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. The squadron heads to Twentynine Palms, Calif., next month for the deployment training exercise, Enhanced Mojave Viper.