Official VMM-363 Red Lions MRF-D V-22 Crock Shoulder Patch

Official VMM-363 Red Lions MRF-D V-22 Crock Shoulder Patch — Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 Embroidered Patch

The Lucky Red Lions deploy Down Under—VMM-363 brings the MV-22 Osprey to the Marine Rotational Force–Darwin, strengthening the alliance with Australia in the Indo-Pacific.

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 (VMM-363), the "Lucky Red Lions," is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay. Operating the Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey with the tail code "YZ," the Red Lions provide assault support transport capability across the Indo-Pacific theater. This "MRF-D V-22 Crock" shoulder patch commemorates VMM-363's deployment as part of the Marine Rotational Force–Darwin (MRF-D)—the annual rotation of U.S. Marines to northern Australia that began in 2012 as a cornerstone of the U.S.-Australia alliance.

The Marine Rotational Force–Darwin represents one of the most significant U.S. military posture initiatives in the Indo-Pacific, with approximately 2,500 Marines rotating through Darwin and northern Australia each year for combined training with the Australian Defence Force. The "Crock" design—referencing the saltwater crocodiles that inhabit northern Australia's rivers and coastlines—captures the distinctly Australian character of this deployment, where Marines train alongside their Australian counterparts in the tropical savanna environment of the Northern Territory.

VMM-363's participation in MRF-D brings the MV-22 Osprey's unique tiltrotor capabilities to combined operations with the Australian Defence Force, demonstrating interoperability and building the partnership that underpins regional security across Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific. The Red Lions' MRF-D deployment includes joint exercises, bilateral training events, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness, and community engagement throughout the Northern Territory and across the region.

Perfect For: VMM-363 Red Lions members and veterans, MRF-D rotation participants, MAG-24 and 1st MAW personnel, MCB Hawaii Marines, MV-22 Osprey community members, U.S.-Australia alliance supporters, and Indo-Pacific deployment patch collectors.

The Lucky Red Lions of VMM-363—from the shores of Hawaii to the Top End of Australia, building the partnership that secures the Indo-Pacific one Osprey mission at a time.