MCAS Cherry Point News

Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hedelund presents the 3rd Annual Lt. Col. Earl “Pete” Ellis Essay Contest award to Maj. Jonathan Howard during an award ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Dec. 11, 2014. The contest was sponsored by the Marine Corps Association and Foundation and the Marine Corps Gazette. For his first place essay, “Force Optimization, Regional Alignment and Naval Integration, How the Marine Corps can implement the vision of Expeditionary Force 21 with fewer resources,” Howard earned $5,000, an engraved plaque and publication in the February 2015 issue of the Gazette. Hedelund is the commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and Howard is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force planner with 2nd MAW. - Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hedelund presents the 3rd Annual Lt. Col. Earl “Pete” Ellis Essay Contest award to Maj. Jonathan Howard during an award ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Dec. 11, 2014. The contest was sponsored by the Marine Corps Association and Foundation and the Marine Corps Gazette. For his first place essay, “Force Optimization, Regional Alignment and Naval Integration, How the Marine Corps can implement the vision of Expeditionary Force 21 with fewer resources,” Howard earned $5,000, an engraved plaque and publication in the February 2015 issue of the Gazette. Hedelund is the commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and Howard is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force planner with 2nd MAW.

Cpl. Christopher Robichaux observes the horizon from the rear of a CH-53E Super Stallion during training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 4, 2015. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 provided aerial support to the Expeditionary Operations Training Group during the training. HMH-366 conducts training often to maintain proficiency for support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Robichaux is a crewchief with the squadron and a native of New Orleans. - Cpl. Christopher Robichaux observes the horizon from the rear of a CH-53E Super Stallion during training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 4, 2015. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 provided aerial support to the Expeditionary Operations Training Group during the training. HMH-366 conducts training often to maintain proficiency for support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Robichaux is a crewchief with the squadron and a native of New Orleans.

Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Pangborn greets Maria Myers during the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Volunteer Appreciation Lunch at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 10, 2015. The ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of more than 60 Marine, Sailor and civilian NMCRS volunteers. Pangborn is the air station sergeant major and Myers is a volunteer with the NMCRS. - Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Pangborn greets Maria Myers during the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Volunteer Appreciation Lunch at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 10, 2015. The ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of more than 60 Marine, Sailor and civilian NMCRS volunteers. Pangborn is the air station sergeant major and Myers is a volunteer with the NMCRS.

Capt. William Mahoney received the Air Medal during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 12, 2015, for his actions during an aircraft malfunction of his front landing gear while flying missions in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to augment U.S. Crisis Response forces while serving as an AV-8B Harrier pilot assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, aboard the USS Bataan, at sea, June 2014. Mahoney is a native of Athens, Ga. - Capt. William Mahoney received the Air Medal during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 12, 2015, for his actions during an aircraft malfunction of his front landing gear while flying missions in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to augment U.S. Crisis Response forces while serving as an AV-8B Harrier pilot assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, aboard the USS Bataan, at sea, June 2014. Mahoney is a native of Athens, Ga.

Raymond Bane connects a Delsar Life Detector Listening Device to listen for survivors inside the rubble following a simulated vehicle borne IED explosion during the 2015 Crisis Response Drill at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 3, 2015. The annual exercise was designed to test Cherry Point’s emergency preparedness program and response procedures. Bane is a firefighter with Cherry Point’s Fire and Emergency Services Department. - Raymond Bane connects a Delsar Life Detector Listening Device to listen for survivors inside the rubble following a simulated vehicle borne IED explosion during the 2015 Crisis Response Drill at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 3, 2015. The annual exercise was designed to test Cherry Point’s emergency preparedness program and response procedures. Bane is a firefighter with Cherry Point’s Fire and Emergency Services Department.

Maj. Gen. Robert Hedelund, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, shakes hands with a participant in the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and 2nd MAW Sexual Assault Awareness Month Commemorative 5K, April 17, 2015.The event drew nearly 1,000 Marines, Sailors and Department of Defense employees who ran the 3.1 mile course along Rifle Range Road to show solidarity with sexual assault survivors and a shared commitment to eradicating sexual violence across the Marine Corps. - Maj. Gen. Robert Hedelund, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, shakes hands with a participant in the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and 2nd MAW Sexual Assault Awareness Month Commemorative 5K, April 17, 2015. The event drew nearly 1,000 Marines, Sailors and Department of Defense employees who ran the 3.1 mile course along Rifle Range Road to show solidarity with sexual assault survivors and a shared commitment to eradicating sexual violence across the Marine Corps.

Cpl. Joseph Kotara kneels in front of a headstone in the Chancellorsville family cemetery during a tour of the Chancellorsville Battlefield in Virginia April 23, 2015. Kotara is an administrative specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. - Cpl. Joseph Kotara kneels in front of a headstone in the Chancellorsville family cemetery during a tour of the Chancellorsville Battlefield in Virginia April 23, 2015. Kotara is an administrative specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.

A UH-1Y Huey flies with an AH-1W Super Cobra during a training exercise testing a digital interoperability system at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, July 24, 2015. Digital interoperability is the technology capable of increasing prowess on the battlefield. The exercise included Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467, Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, testing a LINK 16 conversion system for one of the first times within an explicitly rotary-wing exercise. - A UH-1Y Huey flies with an AH-1W Super Cobra during a training exercise testing a digital interoperability system at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, July 24, 2015. Digital interoperability is the technology capable of increasing prowess on the battlefield. The exercise included Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467, Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, testing a LINK 16 conversion system for one of the first times within an explicitly rotary-wing exercise.

Lt. Gen. Jon M. Davis observes a brief on some of the mechanics of a CH-53E Super Stallion during a “Boots on the Ground” event at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Sept. 17, 2015. The deputy commandant of Marine Corps Aviation visited the air station to discuss the future of naval aviation. Maintainers were given the opportunity to share suggestions for improvement on their training and aircraft. (U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. N.W. Huertas/ Released) - Lt. Gen. Jon M. Davis observes a brief on some of the mechanics of a CH-53E Super Stallion during a “Boots on the Ground” event at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Sept. 17, 2015. The deputy commandant of Marine Corps Aviation visited the air station to discuss the future of naval aviation. Maintainers were given the opportunity to share suggestions for improvement on their training and aircraft. (U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. N.W. Huertas/ Released)

Members of a construction crew make final adjustments near the end of the initial construction stage of a stream restoration project at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Only weeks before, this piece of ground was the site of a dysfunctional concrete culvert that did a very poor job of routing storm water runoff from an air station housing area to the Neuse River. The Cherry Point Environmental Affairs Department tackled this project in effort to clean up the inefficient site and to improve water quality in the Neuse. The project will soon move into its next stage with a series of plantings throughout the stream’s riparian zone. (Photo by Jessica Guilianelli) - Members of a construction crew make final adjustments near the end of the initial construction stage of a stream restoration project at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Only weeks before, this piece of ground was the site of a dysfunctional concrete culvert that did a very poor job of routing storm water runoff from an air station housing area to the Neuse River. The Cherry Point Environmental Affairs Department tackled this project in effort to clean up the inefficient site and to improve water quality in the Neuse. The project will soon move into its next stage with a series of plantings throughout the stream’s riparian zone. (Photo by Jessica Guilianelli)