Stories

Sgt. Fatimah Butler accepts the first place medal from Lt. Col. Ginger E. Beals, commanding officer of MWSS-271 for the Chef of the Quarter Competition at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., mess hall, March 17, 2016. Three Marines competed this quarter, and Butler was named the winner. Butler will move on to the Chef of the Year Competition and compete with the other Chef of the Quarter winners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mackenzie Gibson/Released) - Sgt. Fatimah Butler accepts the first place medal from Lt. Col. Ginger E. Beals, commanding officer of MWSS-271 for the Chef of the Quarter Competition at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., mess hall, March 17, 2016. Three Marines competed this quarter, and Butler was named the winner. Butler will move on to the Chef of the Year Competition and compete with the other Chef of the Quarter winners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mackenzie Gibson/Released)

Dustin J. Schneider conducts a routine check of fire and safety gear at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Schneider earned the Marine Corps Civilian Firefighter of the Year Award for excellence in his job performance. Schneider was chosen from firefighters in fire departments across the Marine Corps. Schneider serves with Cherry Point Fire and Emergency Services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mackenzie Gibson/Released) - Dustin J. Schneider conducts a routine check of fire and safety gear at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Schneider earned the Marine Corps Civilian Firefighter of the Year Award for excellence in his job performance. Schneider was chosen from firefighters in fire departments across the Marine Corps. Schneider serves with Cherry Point Fire and Emergency Services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mackenzie Gibson/Released)

Master Gunnery Sgt. George E. Otey Jr. participates in a team paintball match during the Devil Dog Dare Challenge Course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 10, 2016. The Devil Dog Dare Challenge Course was designed for Marines and Sailors to get engaged in Operation Adrenaline Rush. OAR is a training tool designed to introduce Marines to activities that serve as alternatives to uncharacteristic behaviors often associated with incidents involving recently deployed Marines. Otey is a communications chief with G-6, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Nicholas P. Baird/Release) - Master Gunnery Sgt. George E. Otey Jr. participates in a team paintball match during the Devil Dog Dare Challenge Course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 10, 2016. The Devil Dog Dare Challenge Course was designed for Marines and Sailors to get engaged in Operation Adrenaline Rush. OAR is a training tool designed to introduce Marines to activities that serve as alternatives to uncharacteristic behaviors often associated with incidents involving recently deployed Marines. Otey is a communications chief with G-6, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Nicholas P. Baird/Release)

A Marine with Company B, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 stands guard during a communications field exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 3, 2016. MWCS-28 incorporates numerous systems ranging from single-channel radios to systems with an emphasis on interoperability and beyond line-of-sight communications for a broad spectrum of information services. During the exercise, Bravo Company provided their own Tactical Air Operations Center, Tactical Air Command Center and simulated unmanned aerial vehicle squadron requests, giving the Marines a broader understanding on what roles requesting agencies play during operations within a communications squadron. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released) - A Marine with Company B, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 stands guard during a communications field exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 3, 2016. MWCS-28 incorporates numerous systems ranging from single-channel radios to systems with an emphasis on interoperability and beyond line-of-sight communications for a broad spectrum of information services. During the exercise, Bravo Company provided their own Tactical Air Operations Center, Tactical Air Command Center and simulated unmanned aerial vehicle squadron requests, giving the Marines a broader understanding on what roles requesting agencies play during operations within a communications squadron. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released)

Lance Cpl. Kevin S. Millican stands security during casualty evacuation drills at Fort Stewart, S.C., Feb. 25, 2016. During the exercise, Marines trained in events such as casualty evacuation, assault support missions and aerial refueling, proving the Marine Air-Ground Task Force is a highly effective combat force. Millican is a rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released) - Lance Cpl. Kevin S. Millican stands security during casualty evacuation drills at Fort Stewart, S.C., Feb. 25, 2016. During the exercise, Marines trained in events such as casualty evacuation, assault support missions and aerial refueling, proving the Marine Air-Ground Task Force is a highly effective combat force. Millican is a rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. (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) - 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)

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)

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)