While on the parade deck of the General Christian F. Schilt building, Col. Philip J. Zimmerman, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Cherry Point, welcomes the 31 members of the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce Executive Leadership Program aboard MCAS Cherry Point Feb. 29. “Hopefully as you experience different sites, you will gain more understanding of what it is that we do here at Cherry Point,” said Zimmerman. - While on the parade deck of the General Christian F. Schilt building, Col. Philip J. Zimmerman, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Cherry Point, welcomes the 31 members of the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce Executive Leadership Program aboard MCAS Cherry Point Feb. 29. “Hopefully as you experience different sites, you will gain more understanding of what it is that we do here at Cherry Point,” said Zimmerman.

Master Sgt. Jason Vernam, an aircraft maintenance chief with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, kisses his daughter Jaydin while also embracing his son Jansen outside the Training and Education building at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point after returning from a year-long deployment to Afghanistan. "Being able to talk to my family on Skype and over the phone made the deployment go very smoothly," he said. "Now that I'm back, we have to catch up on hugs, kisses and swimming." - Master Sgt. Jason Vernam, an aircraft maintenance chief with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, kisses his daughter Jaydin while also embracing his son Jansen outside the Training and Education building at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point after returning from a year-long deployment to Afghanistan. "Being able to talk to my family on Skype and over the phone made the deployment go very smoothly," he said. "Now that I'm back, we have to catch up on hugs, kisses and swimming."

Lt. Col. Ryan Rideout, Director of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Aviation Training Systems gives the opening speech at the celebration marking the first day of the now ready for training Prowler simulator aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 22, 2012. The 2F-185 Weapon System Trainer is a simulator for the EA-6B Prowler that the Marine Corps adopted from the Navy in 2006. - Lt. Col. Ryan Rideout, Director of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Aviation Training Systems gives the opening speech at the celebration marking the first day of the now ready for training Prowler simulator aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 22, 2012. The 2F-185 Weapon System Trainer is a simulator for the EA-6B Prowler that the Marine Corps adopted from the Navy in 2006.

Members of the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point community gathered for a celebration commemorating the Montford Point Marines, the first blacks allowed into the Marine Corps, at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Theater Friday. "In 1942 the black recruits weren't allowed to go to Parris Island or San Diego, because of segregation. Therefor, Montford Point Base, an all black recruit training camp was stood up outside of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejune, N.C," said Gunnery Sgt. Harsheen T. Eady, MCAS Cherry Point's Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron equal opportunity advisor. - Members of the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point community gathered for a celebration commemorating the Montford Point Marines, the first blacks allowed into the Marine Corps, at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Theater Friday. "In 1942 the black recruits weren't allowed to go to Parris Island or San Diego, because of segregation. Therefor, Montford Point Base, an all black recruit training camp was stood up outside of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejune, N.C," said Gunnery Sgt. Harsheen T. Eady, MCAS Cherry Point's Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron equal opportunity advisor.

EOD technicians place detonation cord into holes Feb. 16 at the Cherry Point EOD range. The technicians spent all day at the range preparing for the air show and detonated various explosives. - EOD technicians place detonation cord into holes Feb. 16 at the Cherry Point EOD range. The technicians spent all day at the range preparing for the air show and detonated various explosives.

Retired Col. Wayne Whitten holds a plaque commemorating the delivery of the first EA-6B Prowler to MCAS Cherry Point, which took place Feb. 17, 1977. Whitten was a member of the aircrew that delivered the aircraft here 35 years ago. The Prowler behind him is the same he delivered to Cherry Point and the only EA-6B to never serve in a Navy electronic warfare squadron. - Retired Col. Wayne Whitten holds a plaque commemorating the delivery of the first EA-6B Prowler to MCAS Cherry Point, which took place Feb. 17, 1977. Whitten was a member of the aircrew that delivered the aircraft here 35 years ago. The Prowler behind him is the same he delivered to Cherry Point and the only EA-6B to never serve in a Navy electronic warfare squadron.

Sgt. Jim-Paul Adams, a section leader with Battery B, 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, executes the “Swing, Stand and Jump,” obstacle of the confidence course aboard Virginia Army National Guard Installation Fort Pickett, V.A., Feb. 15. The LAAD Marines are conducting a two-week-long field operation dubbed South Bound Trooper through Feb. 26, and they ran this two-and-a-half mile course in the rain executing various obstacles to work on team building and camaraderie. - Sgt. Jim-Paul Adams, a section leader with Battery B, 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, executes the “Swing, Stand and Jump,” obstacle of the confidence course aboard Virginia Army National Guard Installation Fort Pickett, V.A., Feb. 15. The LAAD Marines are conducting a two-week-long field operation dubbed South Bound Trooper through Feb. 26, and they ran this two-and-a-half mile course in the rain executing various obstacles to work on team building and camaraderie.

Canadian Army Cpl. Stephane M. Hogue, left, a medic with 36th Canadian Brigade, and Lance Cpl. Chad M. Angeli, a team leader with Battery B, 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, patrol a road aboard Virginia Army National Guard Installation Fort Pickett, Va., Feb. 21. The two groups integrated to complete a scenario based humanitarian mission in support of exercise South Bound Trooper. "Working with the Canadians lets us see the bigger picture about tactics they use," said Cpl. Demingo Lara, a section leader with Battery B. "This event makes Bravo Battery a better team of Marines." - Canadian Army Cpl. Stephane M. Hogue, left, a medic with 36th Canadian Brigade, and Lance Cpl. Chad M. Angeli, a team leader with Battery B, 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, patrol a road aboard Virginia Army National Guard Installation Fort Pickett, Va., Feb. 21. The two groups integrated to complete a scenario based humanitarian mission in support of exercise South Bound Trooper. "Working with the Canadians lets us see the bigger picture about tactics they use," said Cpl. Demingo Lara, a section leader with Battery B. "This event makes Bravo Battery a better team of Marines."

Five Marines and a Navy corpsman raise the flag of the United States, during the Battle of Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945. The picture was widely reproduced and came to be regarded in the United States as one of the most significant and recognizable images of the war. “The photograph depicts the potential of victory about to be fulfilled,” said Daniel Kariko, an assistant professor of photography at East Carolina University. “The flag is taking air and is about to unfurl, and the pole is about to become vertical, symbolizing triumph.” - Five Marines and a Navy corpsman raise the flag of the United States, during the Battle of Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945. The picture was widely reproduced and came to be regarded in the United States as one of the most significant and recognizable images of the war. “The photograph depicts the potential of victory about to be fulfilled,” said Daniel Kariko, an assistant professor of photography at East Carolina University. “The flag is taking air and is about to unfurl, and the pole is about to become vertical, symbolizing triumph.”