Ready for takeoff (photos)

Cpt. Gregory M. York climbs into the cockpit of an AV-8B Harrier after making his pre-flight safety check Monday morning at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.

Eight AV-8B Harriers and pilots departed from MCAS Yuma for a seven-to nine-month deployment to Japan and Southeast Asia. A pilot from the Marine Attack Squadron 211 carefully pulls his aircraft from the hangar in preparation to deploy to Japan on Monday morning.

Approximately 160 Marines from Marine Attack Squadron 211 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 are scheduled to depart Jan. 4-7 for a seven-to nine-month deployment. Upon arriving in Iwakuni, Japan, the squadron is scheduled to attach to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit sailing aboard the USS Essex.