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U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Jay D. Heitink, outgoing senior enlisted leader for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, relinquishes his duties to incoming senior enlisted leader Sgt. Maj. Nickie O. Bautista during a relief and appointment ceremony at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, April 24, 2025. The ceremony serves as the official transfer of responsibilities for the command’s senior enlisted leader, honoring the outgoing sergeant major’s contributions during his tenure, and introducing the new senior enlisted leader to the command and community. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Naimah Green)

Col. Mikel Huber, left, Marine Corps Air Station Commanding Officer, Maj. Gen. Karsten Heckl, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Commanding General, center, and Capt. Douglas Stephens, Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point Commanding Officer kickoff the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) Active Duty Fund Drive beginning 1 March, 2020. The NMCRS is able to provide a variety of services and programs all thanks to those who are able to contribute. These programs and services are provided to assist Marines, Sailors and their families if they were to encounter a personal or family financial crisis. Contributing to the Active Duty Fund Drive is an excellent way to help take care of those to your left and right, as well as their families. You never know what someone else may be going through. The Active Duty Fund Drive will go from 1 March, 2020 until 15 April, 2020.

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society was founded in 1904 and has been aiding service members and their families ever since. The society provides financial assistance and education, as well as other programs and services, to members of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, their eligible family members, widows, and survivors. The Society also receives and manages donated funds to administer these programs and services. Their main goal is to help each person who comes to them get support for their immediate needs. Their long-term mission is to help Sailors and Marines become financially self-sufficient by learning how to better manage their personal finances and prepare for unplanned expenses. The MCAS Cherry Point NMCRS provided over 1,000 clients with $569,035 in financial assistance in 2017. This assistance ranged from basic living expenses and transportation expenses to family emergency and funeral expenses, with much more in between. The relief society is comprised mostly of volunteers who work daily to give back to service members in need. Whether a Marine needs budget counseling or a Sailor needs a home visit from a nurse, the volunteers at MCAS Cherry Point NMCRS worked a tireless 14,878 hours in the past year providing assistance to our Marines and Sailors aboard the Cherry Point air station.

Marines assigned to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing support Hurricane Irma relief efforts at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sept. 11, 2017. Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 supported relief efforts by transporting supplies and Marines to St. Thomas. VMGR-252 is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd MAW. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Pfc. Cody Rowe/Released)

Barb Sheffer, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society’s director of volunteer support, highlights the mission of the society and its impact on the Marines and Sailors at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Mar. 21, 2017. The society provides, in partnership with the Navy and the Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other need based assistance to active-duty and retired Marines and Sailors, their eligible family members, and survivors. Music credited to Tobu – Candyland [NCS Release]. (Marine Corps video by Cpl. Jason Jimenez/ Released)

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society hosted its annual banquet to recognize volunteers for their hours spent taking care of Marines and Sailors aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 9, 2017. The mission of the society is to provide financial, educational and other need-based assistance to active-duty or retired Marines and Sailors, their eligible family members, and survivors. Volunteers are 90 percent of the society’s workforce. (Marine Corps video by Cpl. Jason Jimenez/Released)

Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher relinquishes his post as sergeant major of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing to Sgt. Maj. Howard Kreamer during a relief and appointment ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Dec. 8, 2016. The relief and appointment ceremony is a tradition that pays homage to the transitioning of the senior enlisted advisor. Kreamer has been appointed as the sergeant major for 2nd MAW and Thresher’s next assignment is to be the sergeant major of II Marine Expeditionary Force. (Marine Corps video by Cpl. Jason Jimenez/Released)

Col. Chris Pappas III and Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Pangborn reach out to Marines and Sailors to provide an update on fundraising for the active-duty fund drive for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 17, 2016. The society provides, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other need-based assistance to active-duty and retired Sailors and Marines, their eligible family members and survivors.

Maj. Gen. Gary L. Thomas, Sgt. Maj. Richard D. Thresher and Master Chief Beth A. Nilson discuss the opportunities associated with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Mar. 7, 2016. The society provides, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other need based assistance to active-duty and retired Sailors and Marines, their eligible family members, and survivors. Music credited to Yusuke Tsutsumi’s “Only way out.”

Members and volunteers of the Cherry Point Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society discuss volunteering during their time with the society at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 22, 2016. The society provides, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other need based assistance to active-duty and retired Sailors and Marines, their eligible family members, and survivors.