{"product_id":"official-vmm-163-rein-11th-meu-ace-aircraft-shoulder-patch","title":"Official VMM-163 REIN 11th MEU ACE Aircraft Shoulder Patches","description":"\u003cp\u003eOfficial 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\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne MEU, one ACE — the Ridge Runners take the whole air wing to sea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMarine 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRidge Runners (REIN) — the 11th MEU ACE.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Military, Law Enforcement and Custom Patches by USMCinsignia.com","offers":[{"title":"MV-22 Opsrey","offer_id":44961921171565,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"F-35B","offer_id":44961921204333,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"AH-1Z","offer_id":44961921237101,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"UH-1Y","offer_id":44961921269869,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CH-53","offer_id":44961921302637,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/9831\/files\/PRODUCTIMAGES_97_03a18249-e4cd-4c80-8b83-1e59a1c9b656.png?v=1775070977","url":"https:\/\/marinepatches.com\/products\/official-vmm-163-rein-11th-meu-ace-aircraft-shoulder-patch","provider":"MarinePatches.com - Custom Patches, Military and Law Enforcement","version":"1.0","type":"link"}