Vol. 71, No. 33
August 15, 2013
www.cherrypoint.marines.mil
VMM-264 returns from Afghanistan LANCE CPL. JORDEN WELLS MCAS NEW RIVER
After more than seven months in the arid desert of Afghanistan, Marines of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 made their triumphant return to their awaiting families in the early morning hours of Saturday, inside their hangar aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River. Just after 3 a.m., three buses packed with the Black Knights arrived at their hangar. After a brief formation, the Marines were released to greet their not-so-patiently waiting families. “I have been so excited and anxious for my husband to finally get home,” said Annette Rall, wife of Cpl. Ethan Rall, VMM-264 MV-22B Osprey crew chief. “While my husband was on deployment, I gave birth to our second child and I am just excited for him to finally be able to meet his daddy.” While deployed, VMM-264 performed all of the duties requested of them to the highest of Marine Corps standards and completed their mission. “One of our main responsibilities while deployed is general mission support,” said Maj. Aaron Bonds, VMM-264 executive officer. “We also perform tactical insertions and extractions, medical evacuations and casualty evacuations.” The flight crews of VMM-264 flew more than 2,000 hours, carried more than 19,000 passengers and transported more
LANCE CPL. JORDEN WELLS
See VMM page A3
Friends and family members greet the arrival of Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 after a more than seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.
Seahawks return from UDP in Japan
PFC. UNIQUE B. ROBERTS
Cpl. Nicholas Carr, an ejection seat mechanic with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, embraces his family Aug. 7 after returning from a six-month deployment to Iwakuni, Japan.
Semper Fit earns Blue H Award PFC. GRACE L. WALADKEWICS
PFC. UNIQUE B. ROBERTS
MCAS CHERRY POINT
MCAS CHERRY POINT
More than 220 members of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 returned Aug. 7 from a sixmonth deployment to Iwakuni as part of the Unit Deployment Program. VMAQ-4 was the first squadron of its kind in nine years to participate in a UDP. The program aims to reincorporate and reintroduce tactical electronic warfare squadrons’ capabilities to the program and its participants. The purpose of the deployment was to support Marine Aircraft Group 12’s mission and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing’s requirements in U.S. Pacific Command. The squadron provides support to the Marine Air Ground Task Force by conducting airborne electronic warfare support during all weather conditions for any joint or expeditionary operation. VMAQ-4 spent most of its time working alongside MAG-12 units and
The Cherry Point Semper Fit Health and Fitness staff received a 2012 Gold Star Level Navy Surgeon General’s Health Promotion and Wellness Award from the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center Aug. 1. The Navy Surgeon General’s Health Promotion and Wellness Blue H Award is an annual award given to applicants based upon their adherence to set criteria. Topic areas that must be covered by applicants include alcohol and drug abuse prevention, injury prevention, nutrition, physical fitness, sexual health, psychological health, tobacco cessation and weight management. “Every year a set of criteria is in place and is sent out to each installation participating,” said Kristen G. Theuerkauf, the training education outreach specialist for the Exceptional Family Member Program with the Semper Fit Department. “Criteria for the award include campaigns, partnerships, surveys, observance of monthly and national topics and many others.” The award winners are broken into three categories based on how well they performed in the topic areas covered. The three award category levels are Bronze Anchor, Silver Eagle and the Gold Star, said Annette Williams, the director of health and fitness with Marine Corps Community Services. Theuerkauf said the Semper Fit team works together to make sure that the Blue H requirements are being fulfilled and observed throughout the year so they are in the best possible standing to achieve the Gold Star by the end of the year.
See RETURN page A3
See BLUE page A3
Bowling center to remain closed CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE
Marines, Sailors volunteer, beautify local school
MCAS CHERRY POINT
The Cherry Point Bowling Center, closed now for more than nine months for roof repairs, will not reopen in the near future, if at all. Col. Philip Zimmerman, the air station commanding officer, was compelled to make that decision due to forecasted reductions in the budget and a need to support those services that most benefit service members and their families here – while meeting federal requirements of operating businesses in a cost-effective manner. Marine Corps leadership has directed that current programs and support functions be reviewed to develop sustainable programs and services that are aligned with the strategic goals of the Marine Corps and needs of today’s Marines and their families. This review is being conducted by Marine Corps Community Services at Headquarters Marine Corps. Similarly here at Cherry Point, MCCS programs are reviewed annually by the air station and are constantly watched to ensure they meet the needs of service members and their families. Marine Corps Community Services businesses are operated to generate minimal profits, but those that operate at a loss only hurt the air station’s ability to provide important services – a principle that weighed heavily in the air station commander’s recent decision. The Bowling Center, which has operated at a loss since 2008, still requires costly equipment upgrades to the aging pinsetters. “It would be an effort in futility to reopen the Bowling Center at this time until further guidance is available as a result of the HQMC analysis of MCCS programs,” said Zimmerman. If not reopened in the future, the building will be re-purposed to provide other MCCS services that support service members and their families. Other services aboard the air station will also be affected by the local review, but at less severe levels. Plans are underway to adjust the hours of operation and prices of other services but, due to the wide scope of areas being reviewed under the HQMC-level review, it is too early to tell if or how that review will ultimately affect MCCS programs here at Cherry
PFC. GRACE L. WALADKEWICS
PFC. GRACE L. WALADKEWICS MCAS CHERRY POINT
More than 15 Marines and Sailors with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing gathered at Graham A. Barden Elementary School in Havelock Friday as volunteers to prepare the school grounds for the students’ return from summer break as part of the H&HS’s adopt-aschool program. The volunteers grabbed rakes, wheel barrels, hedge clippers, leaf blowers and power washers and got to work on a variety of cleanup and beautification projects.
Chief Petty Officer Michael P. Larson (left), a supply chief with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, local volunteer Frank Butin (center) and Chief Petty Officer Rich W. Hubbard (right), an air medical safety corpsman with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, cleans a concrete pathway at Graham A. Barden Elementary School Friday.
“The purpose of this volunteer opportunity is to beautify our campus,” said Marilyn M. Brown, the school’s principal. “Appearance is everything, and the outside of the school determines what the inside is like in the eyes of the community. “Having a beautiful and welcoming school is something the students take pride in,” said Chief Petty Officer Michael P. Larson, a supply chief with H&HS. “When they take pride in their school, they take pride in themselves,” he said. See SCHOOL page A3
See BOWL page A3
What’s Inside News Briefs
A2
Beaufort Pirate Invasion B1
Golf tournament
A5
Blood Drive
B2
Station ComCam
A7
Announcements
B3
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