Pictured here with Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s commanding officer Col. Chris Pappas III and Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Pangborn are volunteers with the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society were recognized for their volunteer service during the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and Cherry Point Volunteer Awards and Recognition Ceremony at MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 22, 2016. The ceremony was held to honor the volunteers for their dedicated service and the countless hours they have contributed to the progression of Marines and Sailors with Cherry Point and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Last year, the organization was able to provide assistance to over 1,100 service members. The NMCRS provides financial, educational and other need-based assistance to service members needing assistance. Pappas is the Commanding officer and Pangborn is the sergeant major, both of MCAS Cherry Point. - Pictured here with Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s commanding officer Col. Chris Pappas III and Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Pangborn are volunteers with the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society were recognized for their volunteer service during the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and Cherry Point Volunteer Awards and Recognition Ceremony at MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 22, 2016. The ceremony was held to honor the volunteers for their dedicated service and the countless hours they have contributed to the progression of Marines and Sailors with Cherry Point and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Last year, the organization was able to provide assistance to over 1,100 service members. The NMCRS provides financial, educational and other need-based assistance to service members needing assistance. Pappas is the Commanding officer and Pangborn is the sergeant major, both of MCAS Cherry Point.

Corporal Erix Quinteros pulls himself up on a bar while maneuvering the obstacle course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 17, 2016. More than 85 noncommissioned officers with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 participated in the physical training exercise “Chaos,” which tested their warfighting abilities: strength, communication and dependability. During the training the Marines were put into fire teams where they had to navigate the obstacle course, trek through the combat pool and hike one-mile with a simulated casualty and assault load. The purpose of the event was to build on unit cohesion, esprit de corps and mental and physical resiliency. Quinteros is an automotive maintenance technician with MWCS-28. - Corporal Erix Quinteros pulls himself up on a bar while maneuvering the obstacle course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 17, 2016. More than 85 noncommissioned officers with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 participated in the physical training exercise “Chaos,” which tested their warfighting abilities: strength, communication and dependability. During the training the Marines were put into fire teams where they had to navigate the obstacle course, trek through the combat pool and hike one-mile with a simulated casualty and assault load. The purpose of the event was to build on unit cohesion, esprit de corps and mental and physical resiliency. Quinteros is an automotive maintenance technician with MWCS-28.

Senior leaders with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point watch a suicide scenario during the Suicide Prevention Leadership Symposium at Cherry Point, N.C. Jan. 28. The Marines were visited by suicide prevention specialist who spoke on topics including: the difference between suicide prevention; and post-vention, national trends and support for suicide; and Marine Corps initiatives and response to suicide. During the seminar senior leaders were able to ask questions and deliberate on ways to improve the Marine Corps approach to handle suicide. - Senior leaders with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point watch a suicide scenario during the Suicide Prevention Leadership Symposium at Cherry Point, N.C. Jan. 28. The Marines were visited by suicide prevention specialist who spoke on topics including: the difference between suicide prevention; and post-vention, national trends and support for suicide; and Marine Corps initiatives and response to suicide. During the seminar senior leaders were able to ask questions and deliberate on ways to improve the Marine Corps approach to handle suicide.

Lance Cpl. Rebecca A. Newton poses in front of a UC-35C/D Citation at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 8, 2016. Newton was awarded Station Marine of the Year for her hard work and dedication. She has served at MCAS Cherry Point for more than a year with Marine Transport Squadron 1 and is an aviation operations specialist. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released) - Lance Cpl. Rebecca A. Newton poses in front of a UC-35C/D Citation at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 8, 2016. Newton was awarded Station Marine of the Year for her hard work and dedication. She has served at MCAS Cherry Point for more than a year with Marine Transport Squadron 1 and is an aviation operations specialist. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released)

The Marine Corps has released new promotion criteria for lance corporals and corporals looking to rank up in Marine administrative message 055/16 Feb. 4. Effective April 1, lance corporals and corporals must have 12 months time-in-grade to be eligible for promotion to the next rank according to the MARADMIN. - The Marine Corps has released new promotion criteria for lance corporals and corporals looking to rank up in Marine administrative message 055/16 Feb. 4. Effective April 1, lance corporals and corporals must have 12 months time-in-grade to be eligible for promotion to the next rank according to the MARADMIN.

Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 load a CH-53E Super Stallion onto a C-5 Galaxy in preparation for Operation Cold Response 2016 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 3, 2016. The key purpose of Cold Response is to train and educate participants on how to conduct combat operations in a cold weather environment. Up to 2,000 Marines and 15,000 military personnel from 14 nations will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-level exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released) - Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 load a CH-53E Super Stallion onto a C-5 Galaxy in preparation for Operation Cold Response 2016 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 3, 2016. The key purpose of Cold Response is to train and educate participants on how to conduct combat operations in a cold weather environment. Up to 2,000 Marines and 15,000 military personnel from 14 nations will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-level exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released)

Cpl. Tyrone Little stirs pasta in a field expedient kitchen at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Jan. 20, 2016. Food service specialists with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 compete for the Maj. Gen. William Pendleton Thompson Hill Food Service Award. In a field-like environment, the Marines set up a field expedient kitchen and cooked various entrées in hopes of winning the title of Best Field Mess Award. The Marines were inspected on sanitation, preparation and meal production. Little is a food service specialist with MWSS-274. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Unique Roberts/ Released) - Cpl. Tyrone Little stirs pasta in a field expedient kitchen at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Jan. 20, 2016. Food service specialists with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 compete for the Maj. Gen. William Pendleton Thompson Hill Food Service Award. In a field-like environment, the Marines set up a field expedient kitchen and cooked various entrées in hopes of winning the title of Best Field Mess Award. The Marines were inspected on sanitation, preparation and meal production. Little is a food service specialist with MWSS-274. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Unique Roberts/ Released)

Lance Cpl. Joshua B. Gilmore sets his azimuth to the next point during a land navigation course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Jan. 13, 2016. During the 19-point course, 20 Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274’s Engineer Company, Heavy Equipment Platoon headed to the field to re-experience the basic land navigation process. The course was a refresher for most of the Marines, who have not used land navigation since Marine Combat Training. Gilmore is an engineer equipment operator with MWSS-274. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released) - Lance Cpl. Joshua B. Gilmore sets his azimuth to the next point during a land navigation course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Jan. 13, 2016. During the 19-point course, 20 Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274’s Engineer Company, Heavy Equipment Platoon headed to the field to re-experience the basic land navigation process. The course was a refresher for most of the Marines, who have not used land navigation since Marine Combat Training. Gilmore is an engineer equipment operator with MWSS-274. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released)

Sgt. Shawn H. Rose accepts a certificate of appreciation from George S. Liner to honor Rose for becoming the New Bern Military Alliance and Chamber of Commerce Service Person of the Quarter, Dec. 10, 2015, at the New Bern Country Club in New Bern, N.C. Rose arrived at the air station in June and was promptly assigned as the unit’s Single Marine Program representative, which has given him several opportunities to contribute to the community. Rose is an aircraft electrical systems technician with Marine Attack Squadron 542, and Liner is a Craven County Commissioner. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released) - Sgt. Shawn H. Rose accepts a certificate of appreciation from George S. Liner to honor Rose for becoming the New Bern Military Alliance and Chamber of Commerce Service Person of the Quarter, Dec. 10, 2015, at the New Bern Country Club in New Bern, N.C. Rose arrived at the air station in June and was promptly assigned as the unit’s Single Marine Program representative, which has given him several opportunities to contribute to the community. Rose is an aircraft electrical systems technician with Marine Attack Squadron 542, and Liner is a Craven County Commissioner. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released)

Lance Cpl. Quentin J. Stallings, left, and Lance Cpl. Kyle H. Clemens, right, configure the settings on a water pump and filter at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, N.C., Dec. 9, 2015. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271’s Engineer Company participated in a cantonment and capabilities field exercise to practice and improve their knowledge of their jobs while in a deployed environment. The weeklong exercise featured events such as airfield damage repair, water purification, medium and heavy lifting missions, with the construction of an expedient road for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft pad. Stallings and Clemens are both water support technicians with MWSS-271. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released) - Lance Cpl. Quentin J. Stallings, left, and Lance Cpl. Kyle H. Clemens, right, configure the settings on a water pump and filter at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, N.C., Dec. 9, 2015. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271’s Engineer Company participated in a cantonment and capabilities field exercise to practice and improve their knowledge of their jobs while in a deployed environment. The weeklong exercise featured events such as airfield damage repair, water purification, medium and heavy lifting missions, with the construction of an expedient road for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft pad. Stallings and Clemens are both water support technicians with MWSS-271. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released)