Guam - February 20, 2025 Above the Pacific Ocean, a gripping scene of aerial skill unfolded on February 20, 2025, as a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, part of Marine Aircraft Group 12 under the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, refueled F/A-18 Hornet jets of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, also with MAG-12, 1st MAW, during exercise Cope North 25. The high-stakes midair operation saw the lumbering Hercules seamlessly sustain the agile Hornets, a feat of precision painting the sky with Marine resolve. This refueling wasn’t merely logistical—it was a vital pulse in the veins of Cope North 25. VMFA-312, temporarily reinforcing MAG-12 via the Unit Deployment Program, brought stateside pilots to hone their craft in the Indo-Pacific’s crucible, while the exercise knit U.S. forces closer to regional allies. Through shared tactics, techniques, and procedures, the mission sharpened trilateral defense capabilities, ensuring interoperability for regional stability. As fuel lines linked aircraft amid the clouds, the Marines didn’t just refuel jets—they recharged a coalition’s strength.