MCAS Cherry Point News

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.

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.

The pilot of an AV-8B Harrier assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 223 flies above Boca Chica Field, Naval Air Station Key West, Fla., March 25, 2015. Marines with VMA-223 traveled to Key West to conduct air-to-air training March 18 – April 12.The squadron conducted the training to refine its ability to provide offensive air support, armed reconnaissance and aerial defense for the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. - The pilot of an AV-8B Harrier assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 223 flies above Boca Chica Field, Naval Air Station Key West, Fla., March 25, 2015. Marines with VMA-223 traveled to Key West to conduct air-to-air training March 18 – April 12. The squadron conducted the training to refine its ability to provide offensive air support, armed reconnaissance and aerial defense for the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

Staff Sgt. Troy Little takes-in a view of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., from inside a CH-53E Super Stallion belonging to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461, April 8, 2015. Little and several other Marines from HMH-461 provided a lift for members of the Civilian Military Community Council and Joint Land Use Study during an aerial tour of Cherry Point's outlying training facilities hosted by the air station. Pilots from Cherry Point and across 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing frequently train at the air station's outlying training facilities to prepare for expeditionary operations, sea-based force projection and aviation support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Little is a crew chief with HMH-461 and native of Kissimmee, Fla. - Staff Sgt. Troy Little takes-in a view of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., from inside a CH-53E Super Stallion belonging to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461, April 8, 2015. Little and several other Marines from HMH-461 provided a lift for members of the Civilian Military Community Council and Joint Land Use Study during an aerial tour of Cherry Point's outlying training facilities hosted by the air station. Pilots from Cherry Point and across 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing frequently train at the air station's outlying training facilities to prepare for expeditionary operations, sea-based force projection and aviation support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Little is a crew chief with HMH-461 and native of Kissimmee, Fla.

Marine Corps Community Services is sponsoring a 5K, April 17, to help raise awareness about sexual assault and encourage members of the Cherry Point community to help prevent it, and understand how to respond appropriately when sexual assaults occur. - Marine Corps Community Services is sponsoring a 5K, April 17, to help raise awareness about sexual assault and encourage members of the Cherry Point community to help prevent it, and understand how to respond appropriately when sexual assaults occur.

More than 100 Marines from across II Marine Expeditionary Force gathered for the fourth annual Vivian A. Holmes Female Marine Symposium at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., March 26, 2015. Female Marines received informational classes, participated in guided discussions and attended an education-station fair to learn about issues directly related to female Marines and their families. - More than 100 Marines from across II Marine Expeditionary Force gathered for the fourth annual Vivian A. Holmes Female Marine Symposium at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., March 26, 2015. Female Marines received informational classes, participated in guided discussions and attended an education-station fair to learn about issues directly related to female Marines and their families.

Lance Cpl. Sean Browning inputs information into a computer during Direct Air Support Center training inside a transient battle lab at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 30, 2015. Browning is an air support operations operator and a native of Scottsburg, Ind. - Lance Cpl. Sean Browning inputs information into a computer during Direct Air Support Center training inside a transient battle lab at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 30, 2015. Browning is an air support operations operator and a native of Scottsburg, Ind.

Best-selling author Dave Pelzer speaks to a crowd of Marines, Sailors and civilians during a visit to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., April 1, 2015. - Best-selling author Dave Pelzer speaks to a crowd of Marines, Sailors and civilians during a visit to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., April 1, 2015.

Lt. Col. Travis L. Powers, left, Mike Largent, center left, Col. Chris Pappas III, center right, and Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Pangborn, right, cut a ribbon at the grand opening of the Hancock Gym at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 24, 2015. The recently renovated facility features state of the art gym equipment and hydrating systems. The facility is open to all Cherry Point residents to include retirees and Department of Defense employees. The facility is one of three projects Marine Corps Community Service is working on to provide the authorized patrons with ways to become and stay physically fit. Powers is the airfield operations officer with Cherry Point. Mike Largent is the CEO of Marine Corps Community Services at Cherry Point. Pappas is the Cherry Point commanding officer, and Pangborn is the air station sergeant major. - Lt. Col. Travis L. Powers, left, Mike Largent, center left, Col. Chris Pappas III, center right, and Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Pangborn, right, cut a ribbon at the grand opening of the Hancock Gym at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 24, 2015. The recently renovated facility features state of the art gym equipment and hydrating systems. The facility is open to all Cherry Point residents to include retirees and Department of Defense employees. The facility is one of three projects Marine Corps Community Service is working on to provide the authorized patrons with ways to become and stay physically fit. Powers is the airfield operations officer with Cherry Point. Mike Largent is the CEO of Marine Corps Community Services at Cherry Point. Pappas is the Cherry Point commanding officer, and Pangborn is the air station sergeant major.