Official VMM-163 (REIN) 11th MEU ACE Aircraft Shoulder Patches — Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced) Aviation Combat Element MV-22B / CH-53 / AH-1Z / UH-1Y / F-35B Patch Set
One MEU, one ACE — the Ridge Runners take the whole air wing to sea.
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (VMM-163), the "Ridge Runners," is a USMC MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor squadron based at MCAS Miramar, California, under MAG-16 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Originally commissioned as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 163 (HMR-163) on June 2, 1951, the unit fought in Korea as the first composite helicopter squadron and flew the UH-34D Seahorse extensively in Vietnam — Operation Shufly, Khe Sanh, and across I Corps — before transitioning through the CH-46E Sea Knight and ultimately to the MV-22B Osprey on March 28, 2014. When deployed as the Aviation Combat Element of a Marine Expeditionary Unit, VMM-163 is reinforced (REIN) with detachments from across MAG-16: CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift, AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom light attack and utility, KC-130J aerial refueling support, and F-35B Lightning II strike fighters. As the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's ACE, the squadron deploys aboard the amphibious ready group built around an LHA or LHD flagship — providing assault support, close air support, casualty evacuation, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel (TRAP), and forward arming and refueling point (FARP) operations across the I MEF area of operations from the Western Pacific to the Arabian Gulf. This shoulder patch set captures every aircraft type the ACE puts in the air over the boat.
Perfect For: VMM-163 Ridge Runners active-duty and veteran Marines, MV-22B Osprey pilots and maintainers, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) personnel, MCAS Miramar residents, MAG-16 and 3rd MAW Marines, I MEF amphibious ready group sailors, CH-53E and AH-1Z and UH-1Y community, and Pacific theater MEU deployment alumni.
Ridge Runners (REIN) — the 11th MEU ACE.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.
Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.
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Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.
Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.