The first of a dozen F/A-18 Hornet aircraft arrived this afternoon at Marine Corps Air Station at Kaneohe Bay to support infantry ground training on Hawaii island starting Monday, the Marine Corps said.

The jets are from Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121 based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., and are flying across the Pacific Ocean to Japan with a stop in Hawaii, officials said.

The Marine Corps said residents may notice an increase in noise levels between Sunday and Jan. 18 as pilots fly missions in support of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. The unit is conducting exercise Lava Viper at Pohakuloa Training Area as part of its pre-deployment training for Afghanistan.

The last time F/A-18 Hornets participated in training in Hawaii was in support of the Rim of the Pacific Exercise in the summer of 2010, the Marine Corps said. RIMPAC exercises are returning to Hawaii this summer.

Flight operations for the upcoming training are expected to be primarily during daylight and early evening hours, with some occasional late night training support flights, the Marine Corps said.