MCAS Cherry Point News

The Sudden Crisis exercise is an annual training event to evaluate command and control, reporting, and collaboration with external organizations while also validating tactics, techniques, and procedures and improve the emergency response capabilities of the installation’s personnel through various scenarios to ensure the air station’s readiness to respond effectively during elevated force protection conditions. - U.S. Marines with the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Special Reaction Team clear the hallways of the Naval Health Clinic, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point during a Sudden Crisis exercise at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, Dec. 10, 2024. The Sudden Crisis exercise is an annual training event to evaluate command and control, reporting, and collaboration with external organizations while also validating tactics, techniques, and procedures and improve the emergency response capabilities of the installation’s personnel through various scenarios to ensure the air station’s readiness to respond effectively during elevated force protection conditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isabella Ramos)

The event announced the beginning of construction for a state-of-the-art 18,000 square-foot library to improve the quality of life for service members, civilian personnel and families. - Leaders and representatives from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Blue Rock Construction participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the P253 Cherry Point Library, MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, Dec. 4, 2024. The event announced the beginning of construction for a state-of-the-art 18,000 square-foot library to improve the quality of life for service members, civilian personnel and families. Pictured here (from left to right) are Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division construction manager Jonathan Robert, Blue Rock Construction representatives William Owens and Hunter Henry, Facilities Director U.S. Navy CMDR. Chris Over, MCAS Cherry Point Senior Enlisted Leader Sgt. Maj. Jay Heitink, Commanding Officer Col. Brendan Burks, Marine Corps Community Services Cherry Point Director Mike Largent, MCCS Cherry Point Chief Operations Officer Jonathan Mason, FEAD Construction Specialist Linda Clarke, MCCS Cherry Point Librarian Sarah Newton, and FEAD Design Manager Liera Peed (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lauralle Gavilanes)

The event, hosted by Marine Corps Community Services, kicked off a series of holiday activities aimed at boosting morale and spreading holiday cheer among service members, civilian personnel, and their families. Highlights included a holiday selfie station, a Letters to Santa station, a Santa Claus meet-and-greet, and complimentary cookies and hot cocoa. - The Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Christmas tree is lit outside the Marine Corps Exchange after the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Dec. 5, 2024. The event, hosted by Marine Corps Community Services, kicked off a series of holiday activities aimed at boosting morale and spreading holiday cheer among service members, civilian personnel, and their families. Highlights included a holiday selfie station, a Letters to Santa station, a Santa Claus meet-and-greet, and complimentary cookies and hot cocoa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lauralle Gavilanes)

Through utilization of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s authentic training environments, aircrews were able to refine tactical proficiency and adaptability in aerial gunnery, essential to maintaining unit combat readiness and lethality. - U.S. Soldiers attach a fuel pump to a CH-47 Chinook during a forward arming refueling point exercise at Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic, North Carolina, Nov. 15, 2024. Through utilization of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s authentic training environments, aircrews were able to refine tactical proficiency and adaptability in aerial gunnery, essential to maintaining unit combat readiness and lethality. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Marshall)

Units from across the Marine Corps and Department of Defense often utilize this unique Cherry Point asset due to BT-9's operational environment that can support various live-fire training exercises. - Explosives are detonated inside SEA DOG, a retired U.S. Navy vessel, during a sinking exercise at Bombing Target 9, North Carolina, Nov. 4, 2024. Units from across the Marine Corps and Department of Defense often utilize this unique Cherry Point asset due to BT-9's operational environment that can support various live-fire training exercises. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Williams)

This significant step forward underscores MCAS Cherry Point's commitment to supporting the physical and mental well-being of our service members - A sign and shovel are photographed before a groundbreaking ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Oct. 25, 2024. This event announced the newest addition to the air station’s rapidly expanding infrastructure, a state-of-the-art, 93,000-square-foot fitness center. This significant step forward underscores MCAS Cherry Point's commitment to supporting the physical and mental well-being of our service members. (U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matthew Williams)

The 621st Contingency Response Group conducted Exercise Diavoli Vale to show its interoperability with other forces as well as its self-sufficient capabilities which allow it to open, operate and/or close any airfield around the globe. - A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron-167 (HMLA-167) from Marine Corps Air Station New River sits on the airfield in front of a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III during Exercise Diavoli Vale, MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, Feb 26, 2024. The 621st Contingency Response Group conducted Exercise Diavoli Vale to show its interoperability with other forces as well as its self-sufficient capabilities which allow it to open, operate and/or close any airfield around the globe. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Matthew Williams)

Exercises such as Mjolnir Strike require multiple facets of coordination and planning to become whole. MCAS Cherry Point and its outlying ranges provide the support needed to effectively test and train, bringing out the full realization of Mjolnir Strike and more. - U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Cody Meggs, a helicopter crew chief assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, speaks into his headset during Exercise Mjolnir Strike 4-23, at Bombing Target 11 (BT-11), Piney Island, North Carolina, Aug. 17, 2023. Exercises such as Mjolnir Strike require multiple facets of coordination and planning to become whole. MCAS Cherry Point and its outlying ranges provide the support needed to effectively test and train, bringing out the full realization of Mjolnir Strike and more. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jade Farrington)

During this exercise, fighter jets, mobility aircraft, and contingency response assets from the Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force join forces to defend MCAS Cherry Point against simulated airborne threats. - U.S. Army MIM-104 Patriot Missile Systems are set up for Exercise Razor Talon on Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, July 25, 2023. During this exercise, fighter jets, mobility aircraft, and contingency response assets from the Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force join forces to defend MCAS Cherry Point against simulated airborne threats. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jade Farrington)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Alexis Sepulveda, an aviation ordnance systems technician assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, was recognized and celebrated as the Service Person of the Quarter by the New Bern Chamber of Commerce Military Alliance at the New Bern Golf and Country Club, New Bern, North Carolina, June 8, 2023. - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Alexis Sepulveda, an aviation ordnance systems technician assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, was recognized and celebrated as the Service Person of the Quarter by the New Bern Chamber of Commerce Military Alliance at the New Bern Golf and Country Club, New Bern, North Carolina, June 8, 2023.