Master Sgt. Robert Allen, a native of Pawnee, Okla., serves as the aircraft rescue firefighting chief for Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 in Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. An avid musician, Allen wrote a Christmas song for his wife, Carla, as he spends the holidays away from her and their three children.::r::::n:: - Master Sgt. Robert Allen, a native of Pawnee, Okla., serves as the aircraft rescue firefighting chief for Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 in Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. An avid musician, Allen wrote a Christmas song for his wife, Carla, as he spends the holidays away from her and their three children.::r::::n::

Kelly Narowski, a certified safety teacher, stresses the importance of safe driving habits during her presentation at the Cherry Point theater Nov. 17. Narowski became a paraplegic in her twenties as a result of drinking and driving, and not wearing a seatbelt. She used hers and others examples of what can go wrong if people follow poor habits. She stressed the importance of buckling up, not driving while distracted by calls, food or makeup and not driving while tired. One of the core tenets of her safety message was any distraction puts the driver at risk of making a deadly mistake. Narowski said that she understands the strain put on military personnel because she is married to a soldier. Even with this strain, though, service members still need to drive safely by eliminating bad habits and making good ones. - Kelly Narowski, a certified safety teacher, stresses the importance of safe driving habits during her presentation at the Cherry Point theater Nov. 17. Narowski became a paraplegic in her twenties as a result of drinking and driving, and not wearing a seatbelt. She used hers and others examples of what can go wrong if people follow poor habits. She stressed the importance of buckling up, not driving while distracted by calls, food or makeup and not driving while tired. One of the core tenets of her safety message was any distraction puts the driver at risk of making a deadly mistake. Narowski said that she understands the strain put on military personnel because she is married to a soldier. Even with this strain, though, service members still need to drive safely by eliminating bad habits and making good ones.

Lance Cpl. Joseph Sanchez, a reproduction specialist with 2nd MAW Combat Camera, practices a MCMAP hip throw on Lance Cpl. Nicholas Blackketter, an operations divisions training clerk with MWHS-2, during a MCMAP course. the course was led by Staff Sgt. Timothy Hopkins, a Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival at the Marine Corps Cherry Point Combat Pool, who taught the two-week course to 2nd MAW Marines to advance in their belts from gray to green or green to brown. ::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Lance Cpl. Joseph Sanchez, a reproduction specialist with 2nd MAW Combat Camera, practices a MCMAP hip throw on Lance Cpl. Nicholas Blackketter, an operations divisions training clerk with MWHS-2, during a MCMAP course. the course was led by Staff Sgt. Timothy Hopkins, a Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival at the Marine Corps Cherry Point Combat Pool, who taught the two-week course to 2nd MAW Marines to advance in their belts from gray to green or green to brown. ::r::::n::::r::::n::

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Robert Szabo, the band officer, with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, enthusiastically directs the band while they practice for the 2011 Christmas Concert, Nov. 29. The concert will be held at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Theater Dec. 9. - Chief Warrant Officer 4 Robert Szabo, the band officer, with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, enthusiastically directs the band while they practice for the 2011 Christmas Concert, Nov. 29. The concert will be held at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Theater Dec. 9.

Staff Sgt. Jeffery Quattlebaum works as an intelligence analyst for the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadrons deployed in support of NATO International Security Assistance Force operations in southwestern Afghanistan. Quattlebaum, a native of Philadelphia, gleans information from videos recorded by the Harvest HAWK equipped KC-130J, and provides assessments based on that intelligence to ground commanders. - Staff Sgt. Jeffery Quattlebaum works as an intelligence analyst for the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadrons deployed in support of NATO International Security Assistance Force operations in southwestern Afghanistan. Quattlebaum, a native of Philadelphia, gleans information from videos recorded by the Harvest HAWK equipped KC-130J, and provides assessments based on that intelligence to ground commanders.

The Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron color guard stands ready for the 2011 Morehead City Veterans Day Parade to start in Morehead City, N.C., Nov. 5, 2011. "This parade was hosted to help show our appreciation for the veterans of all the wars," said John Thompson, a parade official. - The Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron color guard stands ready for the 2011 Morehead City Veterans Day Parade to start in Morehead City, N.C., Nov. 5, 2011. "This parade was hosted to help show our appreciation for the veterans of all the wars," said John Thompson, a parade official.

Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 received its last KC-130J Hercules Nov. 2. “It is important that people understand how valuable this aircraft is to the Corps,” said Maj. Gen. Jon M. Davis, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. - Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 received its last KC-130J Hercules Nov. 2. “It is important that people understand how valuable this aircraft is to the Corps,” said Maj. Gen. Jon M. Davis, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Capt. Jon C. Banks, an EA-6B pilot, shares his first kiss in months with his wife, Deborah, in front of their children, Magnolia and Amalia, on the MCAS Cherry Point flightline when Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 returned from Afghanistan Nov. 16. - Capt. Jon C. Banks, an EA-6B pilot, shares his first kiss in months with his wife, Deborah, in front of their children, Magnolia and Amalia, on the MCAS Cherry Point flightline when Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 returned from Afghanistan Nov. 16.