MCAS Cherry Point News

Cmdr. Erica Miller, the flight surgeon for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), pays her respects during an Oct. 3 memorial service for Capt. Ryan Iannelli, who died supporting combat operations in Afghanistan, Sept. 28. Miller serves as the top medical official for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), which provides the aviation capability for the southwestern regional command of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force.::r::::n:: - Cmdr. Erica Miller, the flight surgeon for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), pays her respects during an Oct. 3 memorial service for Capt. Ryan Iannelli, who died supporting combat operations in Afghanistan, Sept. 28. Miller serves as the top medical official for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), which provides the aviation capability for the southwestern regional command of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force.::r::::n::

Maj. Walter J. Butler pilots a Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules during a mission in Afghanistan, Oct. 3. Butler heads the detachment of Marine Corps KC-130Js for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), which provides the aviation capability for the southwestern regional command of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force. - Maj. Walter J. Butler pilots a Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules during a mission in Afghanistan, Oct. 3. Butler heads the detachment of Marine Corps KC-130Js for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), which provides the aviation capability for the southwestern regional command of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force.

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 salute during a ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Oct. 1. Marine Wing Support Squadron 272,relinquished command to Marine Wing Support Squadron 371, and is deploying back to Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. “It’s been a highly productive deployment,” said Lt. Col. Dale Kruse, the Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 commanding officer and a native of Morenci, Mich. “Not only have the Marines executed duties of aviation ground support functions, they’ve also been part of several large-scale building operations for vertical and horizontal construction.” - Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 salute during a ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Oct. 1. Marine Wing Support Squadron 272,relinquished command to Marine Wing Support Squadron 371, and is deploying back to Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. “It’s been a highly productive deployment,” said Lt. Col. Dale Kruse, the Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 commanding officer and a native of Morenci, Mich. “Not only have the Marines executed duties of aviation ground support functions, they’ve also been part of several large-scale building operations for vertical and horizontal construction.”

Marines representing Cherry Point’s Aircraft Rescue Firefighting team saw through a barrel during a saw cutting race at the East Coast ARFF Rodeo aboard Cherry Point Oct. 1, 2011. Cherry Point finished third overall. MCAS New River, the reigning champions, won for the third year in a row. - Marines representing Cherry Point’s Aircraft Rescue Firefighting team saw through a barrel during a saw cutting race at the East Coast ARFF Rodeo aboard Cherry Point Oct. 1, 2011. Cherry Point finished third overall. MCAS New River, the reigning champions, won for the third year in a row.

Capt. Daniel Fletcher, a Marine Attack Squadron 513 pilot, inspects an AV-8B Harrier he will pilot on the flightline at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Sept. 29. - Capt. Daniel Fletcher, a Marine Attack Squadron 513 pilot, inspects an AV-8B Harrier he will pilot on the flightline at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Sept. 29.

Col. James Parker, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) chief of staff, serves a meal to Afghan National Army Brig. Gen. Ghulam Farooq Parwani during the during a dinner for coalition leaders at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Sept. 28. Farooq, the deputy commanding general of the Afghan Army’s 215th Corps, and other Afghan soldiers reflected on their service with their British and Marine peers. - Col. James Parker, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) chief of staff, serves a meal to Afghan National Army Brig. Gen. Ghulam Farooq Parwani during the during a dinner for coalition leaders at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Sept. 28. Farooq, the deputy commanding general of the Afghan Army’s 215th Corps, and other Afghan soldiers reflected on their service with their British and Marine peers.

Marine Corps Sgt. Eric Rader and his sister, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Rebecca McHenry, serve together at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Rader and McHenry were raised in a military family, and have learned to rely on each other through tough times, including their current deployment. Rader is the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) air chief and McHenry is an aeromedical evacuation specialist with 651st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. - Marine Corps Sgt. Eric Rader and his sister, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Rebecca McHenry, serve together at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Rader and McHenry were raised in a military family, and have learned to rely on each other through tough times, including their current deployment. Rader is the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) air chief and McHenry is an aeromedical evacuation specialist with 651st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.

Maj. Gen. John Toolan, left, and Maj. Gen. Glenn Walters bow their heads in prayer at a memorial ceremony for Capt. Ryan Iannelli at the chapel on Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, Oct. 3. Iannelli, an AH-1W Super Cobra pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, and a native of East Greenwich Township, N.J., died Sept. 28 supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Toolan is the commanding general of the southwestern regional command of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and Walters is the commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). - Maj. Gen. John Toolan, left, and Maj. Gen. Glenn Walters bow their heads in prayer at a memorial ceremony for Capt. Ryan Iannelli at the chapel on Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, Oct. 3. Iannelli, an AH-1W Super Cobra pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, and a native of East Greenwich Township, N.J., died Sept. 28 supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Toolan is the commanding general of the southwestern regional command of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and Walters is the commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward).

Cpl. Joseph Aguon, a Marine Attack Squadron 513 ejection seat mechanic and Santa Rita, Guam, native, closes the hatch on an AV-8B Harrier at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Ejection seat mechanics support the squadron’s aviation life support systems division. - Cpl. Joseph Aguon, a Marine Attack Squadron 513 ejection seat mechanic and Santa Rita, Guam, native, closes the hatch on an AV-8B Harrier at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Ejection seat mechanics support the squadron’s aviation life support systems division.