Marines of Marine Attack Squadron 225 go over the manuals concerning the new A-4D Skyhawk on the flight line of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in 1962. Jets proved themselves to be more reliable, more survivable and much faster than their propeller-driven predecessors. This led to the Marine Corps replacing all propeller-driven fighter aircraft with jets prior to American involvement in the Vietnam War. - Marines of Marine Attack Squadron 225 go over the manuals concerning the new A-4D Skyhawk on the flight line of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in 1962. Jets proved themselves to be more reliable, more survivable and much faster than their propeller-driven predecessors. This led to the Marine Corps replacing all propeller-driven fighter aircraft with jets prior to American involvement in the Vietnam War.

Sgt. Marissa L. Stuart, an intelligence analyst with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal by Brig. Gen. Glenn M. Walters at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 4. Stuart, a native of Klamath Falls, Ore., supported coalition troops by gathering and disseminating information obtained by the ScanEagle UAV on more than 250 combat missions and was directly responsible for positively indentifying and providing the location of enemy forces on dozens of occasions, according to the citation of the award presented to her. - Sgt. Marissa L. Stuart, an intelligence analyst with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal by Brig. Gen. Glenn M. Walters at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 4. Stuart, a native of Klamath Falls, Ore., supported coalition troops by gathering and disseminating information obtained by the ScanEagle UAV on more than 250 combat missions and was directly responsible for positively indentifying and providing the location of enemy forces on dozens of occasions, according to the citation of the award presented to her.

A sandstorm moves in while CH-53D Sea Stallions from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 return from an aerial interdiction mission, in southwestern Afghanistan, May 4. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 supplied two CH-53D Sea Stallions to support Marines from RCT-1 while they performed searches of vehicles traveling near Afghanistan’s southwestern border with Pakistan. - A sandstorm moves in while CH-53D Sea Stallions from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 return from an aerial interdiction mission, in southwestern Afghanistan, May 4. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 supplied two CH-53D Sea Stallions to support Marines from RCT-1 while they performed searches of vehicles traveling near Afghanistan’s southwestern border with Pakistan.

Pfc. Aaron W. Mossor launches his bowling ball down the lane during the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Bowling Tournament at the Stars N’ Strikes Bowling Alley April 29. The NMCRS fund drive ran throughout the month of April and Cherry Point raised more than $4,000 between donations and the two fund drive events. Mossor is a motor-transport operator with Marine Air Control Squadron 2. - Pfc. Aaron W. Mossor launches his bowling ball down the lane during the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Bowling Tournament at the Stars N’ Strikes Bowling Alley April 29. The NMCRS fund drive ran throughout the month of April and Cherry Point raised more than $4,000 between donations and the two fund drive events. Mossor is a motor-transport operator with Marine Air Control Squadron 2.

Gunners with Battery A, 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion fire a Stinger missile dummy round during the battery’s Stinger launch simulator training April 21. More than 50 gunners from 2nd LAAD fired the Stinger to maintain their proficiency with the missile. “This training benefits the gunners of the unit,” said Gunnery Sgt. James P. Ulery, operations chief for Battery A, 2nd LAAD Bn. “This training gives them a chance to gain confidence in their ability to fire a live Stinger missile.” - Gunners with Battery A, 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion fire a Stinger missile dummy round during the battery’s Stinger launch simulator training April 21. More than 50 gunners from 2nd LAAD fired the Stinger to maintain their proficiency with the missile. “This training benefits the gunners of the unit,” said Gunnery Sgt. James P. Ulery, operations chief for Battery A, 2nd LAAD Bn. “This training gives them a chance to gain confidence in their ability to fire a live Stinger missile.”

Staff Sgt. Billy Roth prepares a .50-caliber machine gun for use during a troop extraction mission in support of operations in southwestern Afghanistan, April 27. Roth, a native of Anthony, Kan., is a CH-53D crew chief and a weapons and tactics instructor with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463. - Staff Sgt. Billy Roth prepares a .50-caliber machine gun for use during a troop extraction mission in support of operations in southwestern Afghanistan, April 27. Roth, a native of Anthony, Kan., is a CH-53D crew chief and a weapons and tactics instructor with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463.

Lt. Col. Daniel T. Lathrop passes the squadron’s colors to Lt. Col. Mikel R. Huber, during the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 change of command ceremony at Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, April 30. The Marines and sailors said goodbye to Lt. Col. Daniel T. Lathrop who relinquished command to Lt. Col. Mikel R. Huber during a ceremony on the squadron’s runway. “I am excited to take command of VMU-2 and I am proud to call myself a Night Owl today,” said Huber. - Lt. Col. Daniel T. Lathrop passes the squadron’s colors to Lt. Col. Mikel R. Huber, during the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 change of command ceremony at Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, April 30. The Marines and sailors said goodbye to Lt. Col. Daniel T. Lathrop who relinquished command to Lt. Col. Mikel R. Huber during a ceremony on the squadron’s runway. “I am excited to take command of VMU-2 and I am proud to call myself a Night Owl today,” said Huber.

Lance Cpl. Brianna M. Register, an aviation supply specialist for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14, collects trash during a volunteer effort to clean up Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point April 20. Volunteers helped the Environmental Affairs Department take care of the clean up and beautify various portions of the air station during Earth Day volunteer opportunities from April 18 to April 22. - Lance Cpl. Brianna M. Register, an aviation supply specialist for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14, collects trash during a volunteer effort to clean up Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point April 20. Volunteers helped the Environmental Affairs Department take care of the clean up and beautify various portions of the air station during Earth Day volunteer opportunities from April 18 to April 22.

Cpl. Bruce D. Barner, a crew chief with Marine Transport Squadron 1, explains to teenagers how VMR-1 operates from its HH-46Es during the Teen All-Access Tour aboard Cherry Point April 14. VMR-1, or “Pedro,” is often called to conduct rescues off of the North Carolina coast. - Cpl. Bruce D. Barner, a crew chief with Marine Transport Squadron 1, explains to teenagers how VMR-1 operates from its HH-46Es during the Teen All-Access Tour aboard Cherry Point April 14. VMR-1, or “Pedro,” is often called to conduct rescues off of the North Carolina coast.