# VMAT-203

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Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 VMAT-203 Insignia Active 1 July 1947 – 29 October 2021 Country United States Allegiance United States of America Branch United States Marine Corps Type Attack Role Fleet Replacement Squadron Size Battalion Part of Marine Aircraft Group 14 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Garrison/HQ Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Nickname "Hawks" Tail Code KD Commanders Current commander N/A Insignia Call sign "MARS"

Military unit

**Marine Attack Training Squadron 203** (VMAT-203) was a squadron in the [United States Marine Corps](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps) that trained [naval aviators](/source/Naval_aviator) to fly the [AV-8B Harrier](/source/Harrier_II). Also known as the Hawks, the squadron was based at [Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point](/source/Marine_Corps_Air_Station_Cherry_Point) and fell under the command of [Marine Aircraft Group 14](/source/Marine_Aircraft_Group_14) and the [2nd Marine Aircraft Wing](/source/2nd_Marine_Aircraft_Wing). Their former radio callsign was "Mars". The squadron was decommissioned on 29 October 2021.[1]

## History

TAV-8A from VMAT-203 at Cherry Point in 1978.

Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 and its predecessors date back to 1947. **VMT-1** began the evolution in 1947 as an independent squadron and shortly thereafter became part of Marine Training Group 20. Subsequent evolutions were as a unit of Force Aviation Headquarters Group until 1958, at which time VMT-1 again became a separate squadron of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Equipped with the TF-9J "Cougar", and the [T-33 Shooting Star](/source/T-33_Shooting_Star), and conducted training in swept-wing refresher/ transition, instrument procedures, and instrument ground school.

On 2 July 1967, VMT-1 received its first [A-4 Skyhawk](/source/A-4_Skyhawk) and began its transition to the new aircraft. The last F-9 was transferred in December of that year.

In May 1972, the squadron was re-designated VMAT-203. With a new mix of aircraft, the A-4M, and TA-4J, the squadron was tasked to train replacement aircrews to [Fleet Marine Force](/source/Fleet_Marine_Force) duty.

A two-seater TAV-8B Harrier II from VMAT-203 in flight.

The arrival of [V/STOL](/source/V%2FSTOL) aviation instituted another era for VMAT-203. The squadron's A-4 SkyHawks were retired and VMAT-203 became the [AV-8A/C](/source/AV-8_Harrier) training squadron as part of [Marine Aircraft Group 32](/source/Marine_Aircraft_Group_32). In December 1983, the first [AV-8B Harrier II](/source/Harrier_II) was delivered, and until March 1985, VMAT-203 was assigned the dual missions of training both AV-8A/C pilot and AV-8B replacement aircrews. Having trained its last AV-8A/C pilot in March 1985, VMAT-203's exclusive mission then became the training of AV-8B aircrews and maintenance personnel.

An aircraft from the squadron [crashed](/source/Aviation_accidents_and_incidents) on 29 December 2008 near [Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point](/source/Marine_Corps_Air_Station_Cherry_Point). The pilot was killed in the crash.[2]

On 29 October 2021, the squadron was decommissioned, but reformed as the AV-8B Fleet Replacement Detachment (FRD); using aircraft from [VMA-223](/source/VMA-223)—the last AV-8B squadron.[3]

## See also

- [List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons](/source/List_of_active_United_States_Marine_Corps_aircraft_squadrons)

- [United States Marine Corps Aviation](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps_Aviation)

## References

**Notes**
- This article incorporates [public domain material](/source/Copyright_status_of_works_by_the_federal_government_of_the_United_States) from websites or documents of the [United States Marine Corps](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** GySgt Rakes, David A. (3 November 2021). ["A Farewell to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMAT) 203"](https://www.2ndmaw.marines.mil/News/Article-View/Article/2832665/a-farewell-to-marine-fighter-attack-training-squadron-vmat-203/). *Marines.mil*. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 6 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press), "[Caution light rerouted Marine in jet crash](http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_marinejetcrash_123108/)", *[Military Times](/source/Military_Times)*, 4 January 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["The USMC's AV-8B Harrier II Fleet Replacement Detachment at NAF El Centro"](https://www.key.aero/article/usmcs-av-8b-harrier-ii-fleet-replacement-detachment-naf-el-centro). *key.aero*. Retrieved 8 July 2025.

**Bibliography**

## External links

- [VMAT-203's official website](https://www.mag14.marines.mil/Units/VMAT-203/)

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v t e 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 2nd MAW Band MAG-14 MALS-14 VMUT-2 VMA-223 VMA-231 VMGR-252 VMFA-542 MAG-26 MALS-26 MWSS-272 VMM-162 VMMT-204 VMM-261 VMM-263 VMM-266 VMM-365 MAG-29 MALS-29 HMLA-167 HMLA-269 HMHT-302 HMH-366 HMH-461 HMH-464 MAG-31 MALS-31 VMFA-115 VMFA(AW)-224 VMFA-251 VMFA-312 VMFAT-501 VMFA(AW)-533 MACG-28 MTACS-28 MWCS-28 MASS-1 MACS-2 2nd LAAD MWSS-271 MWSS-272 MWSS-273 MWSS-274

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [VMAT-203](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMAT-203) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMAT-203?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.