Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Stevens gives a brief to Marines and Sailors with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and the Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 22, 2016. The MCPON discuss current trending and important topics, including: rating changes, deployment opportunities and the importance of senior leaders effectively communicating with their subordinates. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. U. Roberts/Released) - Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Stevens gives a brief to Marines and Sailors with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and the Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 22, 2016. The MCPON discuss current trending and important topics, including: rating changes, deployment opportunities and the importance of senior leaders effectively communicating with their subordinates. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. U. Roberts/Released)

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.

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)

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Marines initiate and assist with flight requests during Wing Exercise 15 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Oct.13, 2015. Performing defensive and offensive measures to counter both traditional and irregular threats based on today’s real world adversaries, the Marines and Sailors learned to work together to accomplish various missions by conducting Tactical Air Command Center operations during Wing Exercise 15, at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Oct. 13-16. - 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Marines initiate and assist with flight requests during Wing Exercise 15 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Oct.13, 2015. Performing defensive and offensive measures to counter both traditional and irregular threats based on today’s real world adversaries, the Marines and Sailors learned to work together to accomplish various missions by conducting Tactical Air Command Center operations during Wing Exercise 15, at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Oct. 13-16.

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.

Petty officer 3rd Class Joshua Myers watches students play a math game at Arthur W. Edwards Elementary School in Havelock, N.C., March 13, 2015. Myers accompanied Marines and Sailors with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., as they help the students learn to read, write and do math problems at the school. The service members visited the school to interact with the students on an academic level and show them a different side to the Marine Corps. Myers is a religious program specialist with MWSS-274. - Petty officer 3rd Class Joshua Myers watches students play a math game at Arthur W. Edwards Elementary School in Havelock, N.C., March 13, 2015. Myers accompanied Marines and Sailors with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., as they help the students learn to read, write and do math problems at the school. The service members visited the school to interact with the students on an academic level and show them a different side to the Marine Corps. Myers is a religious program specialist with MWSS-274.