Marine Corps to Retire Last F/A-18 Hornets by 2030 as F-35 Transition Completes

U.S. Marine Corps plans to phase out enlisted jobs tied to the F/A-18 Hornet as it transitions to an all-F-35 tactical aircraft fleet. According to a Marine Administrative Message, or MARADMIN, issued on Tuesday, the Corps will deactivate all remaining Hornet squadrons by 2030 and eliminate the maintenance specialties associated with the aging fighter jet.

There are six affected enlisted specialties tied to the F/A-18 Hornet, including mechanic, avionics and technician roles. Marines currently serving in one of those six specialties will have the opportunity to retrain for F-35 jobs, move into another specialty or leave the service once their enlistment contracts end.

U.S. Marine Corps highly encourages Marines to laterally move from F/A-18 to F-35 specialties. Those who do not transition voluntarily may be reassigned based solely on the needs of the Marine Corps, regardless of how much time remains on their contracts. The transition will occur regionally, with Hornet operations ending at different installations over the next several years.

The Corps plans to end Hornet operations at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, by Aug. 1, 2028, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, by Aug. 1, 2029, and at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, by Aug.

1, 2030. The Marines have already replaced Hornet squadrons with F-35 units at several bases in the United States and overseas. In 2018, the service deactivated its squadron for training F/A-18 pilots.

It has flown the aircraft extensively in conflicts including Libya, Iraq, Bosnia and Afghanistan. Defense News reported that once the transitions are complete, the F/A-18 maintenance occupations will effectively cease to exist.

According to the 2026 Marine Aviation Plan, the Marines plan to expand its F-35 fleet to 420 aircraft.