News and Announcements

This week’s News and announcements include:

^NEW Prescribed Burn, March 21
^NEW OMPF Application Outage
Cunningham Gate Access
Security Advisory
Barracks Town Hall Meeting
Budget for Baby Class
NMCRS Crochet Class
Visiting Nurse Services
Chapel Service Offerings
Alternate Tax-Filing Services
Advisory | Crime Prevention Safety Tips
Office Closures and Services Nonavailability
^NEW Approved Outages and Closures
^NEW MCCS Weekly Happenings
Extra Opportunities*

Upcoming Prescribed Burn

Personnel from the Environmental Affairs Department and the Cherry Point Fire Department will be conducting prescribed burns on 165 acres near Roosevelt Boulevard and Access Road on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Ignition will begin around 10 a.m. and will cease by 4 p.m. Smoke may linger through the evening. Fire engines and suppression equipment will be on site during the burns. All actions are being conducted as part of MCAS Cherry Point Forest Management efforts to maintain a healthy, sustainable forest.

Outage Affecting OMPF Photo Records

A temporary outage affecting the Office of Manpower and Reserve Affairs application, which is used to receive and process USMC Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) photos for upload to Marine official records. Currently, ORMA is down and unable to accept or process photo submissions. As a result, any OMPF photos taken this week at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point will not be uploaded to individual Marine records until the system is restored. We are actively monitoring the situation and will provide an update as soon as ORMA is back online and normal processing resumes. Once service is restored, all pending photos will be uploaded as quickly as possible.

Cunningham Blvd., Gate Access Modification

Construction to install new security features at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point along Cunningham Boulevard will restrict access through the Cunningham Gate and necessitate changes to the Main Gate traffic pattern during morning commutes from March 6 to approximately May 1, 2026. Drivers and patrons using Cunningham Gate on weekday mornings should note that from 4:30-8 a.m., only vehicles bound for buildings in the Mary Lou Road complex will be permitted entry. Anyone who does not work at the complex will be redirected to the Main Gate.

Security Advisory | Reduce Detectable Presence

U.S. Northern Command has directed the forces to take action to minimize the detectable presence or signature of Department of War affiliation in off-installation commercial and residential areas by taking actions such as closing blinds or curtains, restricting uniform wear in transit, removing signs, and relocating government vehicles. Guidance for Slocum Village Residents: As directed by the Marine Corps Air Station Commanding Officer, all uniformed personnel are directed to not wear uniforms within Slocum Village or while transiting to and from MCAS Cherry Point. All residents within Slocum Village are advised to close blinds/curtains to the maximum extent possible. In all situations, personnel and family members are advised to stay vigilant and to report suspicious activity to law enforcement and security professionals. Watch. Report. Protect.

Barracks Town Hall, April 1

The Unaccompanied Housing Department will hold a Barracks Town Hall from 2-4:30 p.m., April 1 at the Two Rivers Theater for all tenant commands and personnel residing in unaccompanied housing. The town hall is being held to identify gaps in services and possible improvement areas for the department.  Discussion topics will include updates to Barracks 2030, maintenance updates, and future plans and projects. The UHD is requesting all commands’ officers, staff noncommissioned officers, and junior enlisted (E-1 to E-5) to attend.

Budget for Baby Class

The next Budget for Baby® classes with open spots is 10 a.m., April 10, 2026. The class focuses on the financial impact of adding a new family member. Use the link to register for an upcoming 2025 class: https://forms.office.com/r/5NNRZTYfr7 or call 252-466-2031 or email cherrypoint@nmcrs.org. Participants will receive a $50 gift card and handmade blanket at the end of the class. Eligible to those expecting or who have had a child within the past six months. The class is open to all ranks.

NMCRS Crochet Class for Volunteers

Navy Marine Corps Relief Society is seeking individuals to volunteer to crochet blanks for its Budget for Babies class. If you’re wanting to give back to your Cherry Point Community and learn how to crochet — this class is for you. May 29 is the next open crochet class. Volunteers would be entered into the organization’s volunteer database and receive 30 hours of community service for each completed blanket. Volunteer Miriam Mellema will teach the class from 1-2 p.m., on select Friday during 2026. Active-duty military volunteers will also receive a letter of appreciation after completion. Open to everyone. Click the link to sign up: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Crochet Class Sign Up Form – Fill out form.

Visiting Nurse Services

Navy Marine Corps Relief Society offers the services of a free Visiting Nurse, who would be more than available to schedule appointments with expecting parents to do a range of services including home safety assessments and prenatal and postpartum feeding and care. Expecting parents who wish to be seen by the visiting nurse, should contact the NMCRS Office at 252-466-2031 for a referral form.

Alternate Tax-Filing Services for Cherry Point

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Law Center will not be offering tax services this year. Individual requiring help making tax filings are encouraged to use the tax centers at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River. MCB Camp Lejeune Tax Center, 910-451-3296, Trailer 64B on Molly Pitcher Drive, opens Jan. 26, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday for Unit and Individual Appointments; and from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday for E-5 and below for Basic Tax Returns. More information: https://www.mcieast.marines.mil/Staff-Offices/Regional-Legal-Services-East/Legal-Services-Support-Team-Camp-Lejeune/Tax-Center. MCAS New River Tax Center, 910-449-6169, Bldg. AS-216 on Bancroft St. (1st Floor), opens Feb. 2, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, for Individual Appointments. More information: https://www.newriver.marines.mil/Staff-Judge-Advocate/Tax-Center.

Announcement | Chapel Services

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Chapel reminds the community of the Catholic Mass and Protestant Liturgical Services offered at the Cherry Point Chapel that start at 9 a.m. Find more information at https://www.cherrypoint.marines.mil/Offices/Chapel.

Fire Warden Training Announcement

According to ASO 11320.1C, “commanding officers and officers-in-charge shall appoint a Fire Safety Officer for their organization." The appointed officers will act as liaison with the Fire Protection Division on matters of fire safety. Active-duty units should appoint an officer with the rank of lieutenant or higher for this assignment. Fire safety officers organize a Fire Safety system appointing a Fire Safety Warden and an alternate for each facility and area under their jurisdiction. The Fleet Readiness Center East Safety department oversees its own program. Personnel who are designated as a Fire Warden or Assistant Fire Warden are required to attend the applicable training class. The Fire Warden Class will be offered from 9-11 a.m., on the following dates: April 8, July 8 and Oct. 7. Supervisor should sign up their employees for the class by emailing chpt.fire.prevention@usmc.mil. Contact Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention Brandee Ridgway at 252-466-4008 for more information.

Advisory | Crime Prevention Safety Tips:  Safety While Walking or Shopping

The Crime Prevention Coordinator offers the following safety tips to the community while walking or shopping:

1. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid areas that increase your chances of being assaulted.

2. Always plan your route. Walk confidently and when possible, with a companion. 

3. Avoid walking alone at night. Be accompanied in high-risk areas, even during the daytime. Shop in pairs or in a group. There is strength in numbers.

4. If you are attacked on the street, make as much noise as possible by calling for help or blowing a whistle. Do not pursue your attacker. Call 9-1-1 and report the crime as soon as possible. 

5. Mind your distance to buildings and doorways, walking in well-lit areas. Walk in the center of the sidewalk, away from roadways, alleys, and doorways.

6. When approaching your front door, have your keys ready. 

7. Try to avoid carrying large, bulky shoulder bags; carry only what you need. 

8. Keep purses and bags secure close to your body. More than 10% of crimes against the elderly are purse snatchings and street robberies. 

9. Beware of display large sums of money when in public. Don’t make yourself a target.

    

Office Closures and Service Nonavailability

• DEERS/RAPIDS will be relocating to Trailer 6054, along C Street and near the Provost Marshal's Office trailers, on April 16-17, 2026. Limited services may be available April 16 at its current location, Trailer 6044. Customers are advised that service interruptions are likely during the transition period. Full service will resume in the new location April 17.

• Cherry Point Legal Assistance will be offering limited services for the month of March due to the attorney being out of office most of the month. Response times for requests will also be longer than usual. Patrons should be advised that Camp Lejeune Legal Assistance is the next closest office and is also experiencing high volumes for requests and is limiting services.

   

Approved Outages and Closures

Power

From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., March 21, a power outage is required in relation to Military Construction Project 197 to tie in permanent power for the parking garage.

HVAC Outage

• From 7 a.m., March 16 to 4 p.m. March 20, the Cherry point Public House, Building 1281, will have an outage of its heating and ventilation system. The outage is necessary to demolish and replace the ductwork that serves the building.

Parking Lot Closure

• From 7 a.m., March 25 to 5 p.m., April 3, the driveway of the parking lot for Building 3673 will be closed/inaccessible to facilitate the cutting and digging operations for installing a communications infrastructure.

• From 7 a.m., March 16 to 5 p.m., March 27, contractors will install direct push technology monitoring stations in the parking lots for soil monitoring in the parking lots of Buildings 250, 1016 and 4613. A number of parking spaces will not be available for use during the period. 

Ongoing Outages/Closures:

• Through March 31, 2026, the jogging path at the entrance to the new fire station for P142B. The alternate path is still accessible.

• Through April 28, 2028, a parking lot closure at Building 1669 will be in effect to supplement the demolition and reconstruction the facility.

• Utility Outage:  From 7 a.m., Sept. 15, to April 28, a full utility outage is required at Buildings 3992 and 4522 for demolition operations regarding military construction Project 226.

• Road Closure:  From 7 a.m., Sept. 15 to April 28, 2026, a partial road closure will be in effect along F Street from Building 4031 to 7th Avenue, and from 7th Avenue from Building 6042 to F Street to demolish Buildings 3992 and 4522 to complete work on military construction Project 226. the road will only be open to essential personnel during the timeframe.

MCCS Weekly Happenings

Follow MCCS at (https://www.facebook.com/mccschpt/) for more information and updates and to stay connected. Also find more information at https://cherrypoint.usmc-mccs.org/calendar-of-events. CRE Wrestling, March 19; SMP Night Out, March 20; Intramural Softball Season Start, March 23; Easter Eggs with EFMP, March 24; Budweiser Clydesdales Visit Cherry Point, March 25; Run Club; New Movies; Bunny Block Party, April 2; and more. 

*Disclaimer:  Items included below are from non-DoD sources and individuals can participate at their own discretion. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement by the DoD or the Marine Corps.

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