MCAS Cherry Point News

Sgt. Maj. Thomas E. Sherwood, former sergeant major of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, salutes H&HS commanding officer, Lt. Col. Samuel P. Mowery, after passing his duties off to Sgt. Maj. Holly C. Prafke during a relief and appointment ceremony on the MCAS Cherry Point parade field Jan. 20, 2012. Sherwood is moving on to assume responsibility as sergeant major of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29 of MCAS New River. "This squadron has its DNA on just about everything that happens on this station," said Sherwood. "We run this base, as well as the air space." - Sgt. Maj. Thomas E. Sherwood, former sergeant major of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, salutes H&HS commanding officer, Lt. Col. Samuel P. Mowery, after passing his duties off to Sgt. Maj. Holly C. Prafke during a relief and appointment ceremony on the MCAS Cherry Point parade field Jan. 20, 2012. Sherwood is moving on to assume responsibility as sergeant major of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29 of MCAS New River. "This squadron has its DNA on just about everything that happens on this station," said Sherwood. "We run this base, as well as the air space."

Sgt. Mark A. Matice plays his bagpipes in front of the headquarters building, Dec. 15. Matice has been playing since 2007 in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He plays the pipes because, according to him, they bring people together for a fun time. A head injury left him unable to play the pipes as often as he would like because playing now gives him migraines, but Matice hopes his injuries will heal and allow him to play often again. - Sgt. Mark A. Matice plays his bagpipes in front of the headquarters building, Dec. 15. Matice has been playing since 2007 in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He plays the pipes because, according to him, they bring people together for a fun time. A head injury left him unable to play the pipes as often as he would like because playing now gives him migraines, but Matice hopes his injuries will heal and allow him to play often again.

Staff Sgt. Mark Mattson, the radio chief with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28, kisses his 3-week-old daughter, Lydia, for the first time at the MWCS-28 barracks aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Dec. 28 after a six-month deployment to Afghanistan. MWCS-28 deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. - Staff Sgt. Mark Mattson, the radio chief with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28, kisses his 3-week-old daughter, Lydia, for the first time at the MWCS-28 barracks aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Dec. 28 after a six-month deployment to Afghanistan. MWCS-28 deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Wesley Jordan, an aircraft maintenance administration specialist with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366, works out his triceps on one of the new machines at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Devil Dog Gym equipment Jan. 5. The Devil Dog Gym received approximately 50 new pieces of equipment for the gym. - Pfc. Wesley Jordan, an aircraft maintenance administration specialist with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366, works out his triceps on one of the new machines at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Devil Dog Gym equipment Jan. 5. The Devil Dog Gym received approximately 50 new pieces of equipment for the gym.

Cpl. Jacob Grady, the intelligence chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 works at his desk during a typical work day Jan 10. - Cpl. Jacob Grady, the intelligence chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 works at his desk during a typical work day Jan 10.

An MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 performs a “dry plug” on a fuel line from a KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, off the coast of North Carolina Jan. 5. A “dry plug” is making a connection with another aircraft without taking on fuel and the training is conducted to improve confidence and muscle memory. - An MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 performs a “dry plug” on a fuel line from a KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, off the coast of North Carolina Jan. 5. A “dry plug” is making a connection with another aircraft without taking on fuel and the training is conducted to improve confidence and muscle memory.

LANCE CPL. JEREME E. JONES::r::::n::::r::::n::Job Title: Flight Line Mechanic::r::::n::Age: 20::r::::n::Unit: Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467::r::::n::Hometown: Hiawatha, Kansas::r::::n::DATE JOINED: JUNE 9, 2010::r::::n::::r::::n::Lance Cpl. Jereme E. Jones is a mechanic for Marine Light Attack Squadron 467. He is part of the “phase” shop, meaning every helicopter he works on is completely stripped down and rebuilt.::r::::n::This process can involve a lot of stress, considering all the nuts and bolts deep in the crevices of the machines that can barely be reached but still need to be replaced. ::r::::n::The other part of his job is that of “plane captain” for helicopters on takeoff. For the pilots, there has to be another set of eyes checking over the aircraft and certifying them safe to fly. His job is to check and double-check everything to make sure the flight is certified as safe. ::r::::n::With the maintenance provided by Jones and Marines like him, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing helicopters can stay in the fight.::r::::n:: - LANCE CPL. JEREME E. JONES::r::::n::::r::::n::Job Title: Flight Line Mechanic::r::::n::Age: 20::r::::n::Unit: Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467::r::::n::Hometown: Hiawatha, Kansas::r::::n::DATE JOINED: JUNE 9, 2010::r::::n::::r::::n::Lance Cpl. Jereme E. Jones is a mechanic for Marine Light Attack Squadron 467. He is part of the “phase” shop, meaning every helicopter he works on is completely stripped down and rebuilt.::r::::n::This process can involve a lot of stress, considering all the nuts and bolts deep in the crevices of the machines that can barely be reached but still need to be replaced. ::r::::n::The other part of his job is that of “plane captain” for helicopters on takeoff. For the pilots, there has to be another set of eyes checking over the aircraft and certifying them safe to fly. His job is to check and double-check everything to make sure the flight is certified as safe. ::r::::n::With the maintenance provided by Jones and Marines like him, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing helicopters can stay in the fight.::r::::n::

Marine veteran Anthony S. Woodfolk is a personal trainer here at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, where he helps residents keep physically fit and achieve their goals. Woodfolk feels his time served 1984-1990 helps him when he assists Marines. - Marine veteran Anthony S. Woodfolk is a personal trainer here at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, where he helps residents keep physically fit and achieve their goals. Woodfolk feels his time served 1984-1990 helps him when he assists Marines.

Lance Cpl. Mark Sabatino, a plane captain with the “Gunfighters” of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, and a native of Denver, performs maintenance on an AH-1W Super Cobra at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Jan. 19. The Gunfighters wield the only Marine Corps attack helicopters in Afghanistan and provide close air support for coalition forces operating in southwestern Afghanistan. - Lance Cpl. Mark Sabatino, a plane captain with the “Gunfighters” of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, and a native of Denver, performs maintenance on an AH-1W Super Cobra at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Jan. 19. The Gunfighters wield the only Marine Corps attack helicopters in Afghanistan and provide close air support for coalition forces operating in southwestern Afghanistan.