MCAS Cherry Point News

Abbey Whitford, principal of Creekside Elementary School in New Bern, N.C., and Lt. Col. Chris S. Richie, commanding officer of Marine Air Control Squadron 2, sign an agreement to adopt Creekside Elementary School as part of a volunteer program, May 3. - Abbey Whitford, principal of Creekside Elementary School in New Bern, N.C., and Lt. Col. Chris S. Richie, commanding officer of Marine Air Control Squadron 2, sign an agreement to adopt Creekside Elementary School as part of a volunteer program, May 3.

A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, II Marine Expeditionary Force stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was injured in a single automobile accident on Catfish Lake Road near Havelock, April 23. Catfish Lake Road now has signs restricting the road, stating its limited use. II MEF and Marine Corps Installations East joint order, 5100.3, signed March 19, prohibits Marines from using Catfish Lake Road as a cut-through between Jacksonville and Cherry Point, unless used for recreation. The order is punitive in nature, and service members found in violation are punishable under Article 92 of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. ::r::::n::According to the order, use of Catfish Lake Road, located between U.S. Highway 70 in Craven County and North Carolina Highway 58 in Jones County, has been limited in an effort to reduce the potential for vehicle-related fatalities, injuries and property damage. ::r::::n:: - A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, II Marine Expeditionary Force stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was injured in a single automobile accident on Catfish Lake Road near Havelock, April 23. Catfish Lake Road now has signs restricting the road, stating its limited use. II MEF and Marine Corps Installations East joint order, 5100.3, signed March 19, prohibits Marines from using Catfish Lake Road as a cut-through between Jacksonville and Cherry Point, unless used for recreation. The order is punitive in nature, and service members found in violation are punishable under Article 92 of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. ::r::::n::According to the order, use of Catfish Lake Road, located between U.S. Highway 70 in Craven County and North Carolina Highway 58 in Jones County, has been limited in an effort to reduce the potential for vehicle-related fatalities, injuries and property damage. ::r::::n::

Aircraft rescue firefighters defuse a fire and rescue a simulated injured person at the mass casualty exercise, May 5. The scenario consisted of a terrorist coming onto the air station posing as a vendor and boarded the static aircraft where he planted a bomb and detonated it. Marines and Sailors simulated the victims of the attack. There were eight simulated deaths and more than 20 simulated victims. - Aircraft rescue firefighters defuse a fire and rescue a simulated injured person at the mass casualty exercise, May 5. The scenario consisted of a terrorist coming onto the air station posing as a vendor and boarded the static aircraft where he planted a bomb and detonated it. Marines and Sailors simulated the victims of the attack. There were eight simulated deaths and more than 20 simulated victims.

Marines of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 salute the colors during the redesignation ceremony of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 451 to VMFAT-501 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., April 2. VMFAT-501 is the first training squadron for the new Joint Strike Fighter. - Marines of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 salute the colors during the redesignation ceremony of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 451 to VMFAT-501 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., April 2. VMFAT-501 is the first training squadron for the new Joint Strike Fighter.

Parents welcome home their children after a simulated deployment during a Dependant Deployment Day, May 1. The youth spent the day learning about equipment and training, giving them insight on what their parents went through during deployment. - Parents welcome home their children after a simulated deployment during a Dependant Deployment Day, May 1. The youth spent the day learning about equipment and training, giving them insight on what their parents went through during deployment.

Lt. Col. Scott E. Pierce, assistant chief of staff and director of safety and standardization with Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, Marine Aircraft Group 40, plays with his son at the air station’s chapel, April 15. ::r::::n::More than 100 Marines and Sailors returned home to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point from a 12-month deployment to Afghanistan. MAG-40, a Cherry Point based group comprised of seven squadrons, provided aviation support to MEB-Afghanistan during its deployment. The deployment was part of the 2009 troop build up in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.::r::::n:: - Lt. Col. Scott E. Pierce, assistant chief of staff and director of safety and standardization with Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, Marine Aircraft Group 40, plays with his son at the air station’s chapel, April 15. ::r::::n::More than 100 Marines and Sailors returned home to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point from a 12-month deployment to Afghanistan. MAG-40, a Cherry Point based group comprised of seven squadrons, provided aviation support to MEB-Afghanistan during its deployment. The deployment was part of the 2009 troop build up in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.::r::::n::

Lance Cpl. Jeremy R. George, a military policeman with Camp Lejeune’s special reaction team, participates in a demonstration for Military Police Company, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, during a field training exercise, May 4. Camp Lejeune’s SRT taught the Marines of MP Co. basic structure-clearing techniques. - Lance Cpl. Jeremy R. George, a military policeman with Camp Lejeune’s special reaction team, participates in a demonstration for Military Police Company, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, during a field training exercise, May 4. Camp Lejeune’s SRT taught the Marines of MP Co. basic structure-clearing techniques.

Lt. Col. James F. Harp relinquishes command of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366, May 7. Harp passes the squadron’s colors to the new commanding officer, Lt. Col. Halstead Meadows outside HMH-366’s hangar. ::r::::n::“A lot has been accomplished by these Marines’ hard work over the past 19 months, and I give them the credit,” said Harp.::r::::n:: - Lt. Col. James F. Harp relinquishes command of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366, May 7. Harp passes the squadron’s colors to the new commanding officer, Lt. Col. Halstead Meadows outside HMH-366’s hangar. ::r::::n::“A lot has been accomplished by these Marines’ hard work over the past 19 months, and I give them the credit,” said Harp.::r::::n::

Gunnery Sgt. Laura Stanislaw, the family readiness officer for Marine Aircraft Group 40, has been writing poetry for five years. Stanislaw’s first book of poetry titled, “One Heart, True Words,” will be published by the end of May. - Gunnery Sgt. Laura Stanislaw, the family readiness officer for Marine Aircraft Group 40, has been writing poetry for five years. Stanislaw’s first book of poetry titled, “One Heart, True Words,” will be published by the end of May.