Vol. 71, No. 36
September 5, 2013
www.cherrypoint.marines.mil
VMR-1 throws gauntlet for CFC tug of war trophy PFC. CAYCE N. NEVERS MCAS CHERRY POINT
The gauntlet has been thrown for this year’s Cherry Point Area Combined Federal Campaign … and it will be settled by nothing less than war. That is if organizations here can muster up a tough-enough team to drag the prize from last year’s champions in a contest of tug of war. The tug of war tournament, officially known as the CFC Cup, will kick off the 2013 Cherry Point Area Combined Federal Campaign at the Roadhouse at 1 p.m., Sept. 20. The prize trophy, which is currently held by Marine Transport Squadron 1, will go to the strongest, or perhaps the savviest, 10-person team on the air station. Ten people – including at least one male and one female – will face their opponents over a seriously heavy rope, a short piece of real estate and a test of wills. “While most are dreaming of success, VMR-1 wakes up and continues to achieve it,” said Sgt. Maj. Larry J. Harrington. “Keep dreaming while we continue achieving, as we will for this year’s repeat. Joe Namath said, ‘If you’re not gonna go all the way, why go at all?’ VMR-1 will go
all the way, again, continuing to take it all. We recommend you stay at home.” Once the dust settles and a winner is named, the real challenge will begin for military and civilian personnel to ask themselves if there is a CFC charity they would like to support. The annual CFC fund drive gives federal employees, including military members, an easy opportunity to make donations to eligible non-profit organizations. The drive includes more than 2,500 charities ranging from charities that seek to cure a host of different medical conditions to those that benefit wounded warriors. “This campaign is the only authorized solicitation, other than the annual Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society fund drive, that helps raise money for charity,” said Bobbie Whitbeck, a CFC coordinator and human resource specialist with the air station’s Civilian Manpower Office. Over the next three months, personnel aboard the air station will have the opportunity to donate to charities of
VMU-2 tests joint flight procedures
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LANCE CPL. SAMANTHA H. ARRINGTON
Marines of VMR-1’s winning team compete in the Combined Federal Campaign Cup tug of war competition Sept. 13, 2012. VMR-1’s Sgt. Maj. Larry J. Harrington is predicting a repeat at this year’s competition.
State leaders meet new station commander
PFC. GRACE L WALADKEWICS MCAS CHERRY POINT
Eight members of the Civil Air Patrol and members of United States Northern Command visited Cherry Point Aug. 26 for joint departure and arrival testing with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2. The Civil Air Patrol is an official auxiliary unit for the Air Force that began in World War II as civilian pilots volunteering to guard the shores and border from enemy boats and submarines. USNORTHCOM partners to conduct homeland defense, civil support and security cooperation within its area of responsibility to defend, protect and secure the United States and its interests. Participants conducted the testing using two RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial vehicles. The UAVs were used to provide indepth information taken from their high-tech cameras and infrared equipment while relaying real-time video and images to a ground control station to help the ground control station assess situations and make important decisions quickly. During this testing the UAV’s provided surveillance while operators tested departure and approach procedures. Participants also evaluated the Shadows’ ability to track and follow larger aircraft like the Cessna 182 Skylane. “The intent of these tests is to simplify and prove that a standard procedure can and will work for the entire military,” said Maj. Joshua G. Boomer, the director of safety and standardization with VMU-2. The Civil Air Patrol departure and arrival testing is taking place within the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and the Federal
PFC. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA
Three North Carolina General Assembly senators met the commanding officer of Cherry Point Aug. 28 and toured Marine Transport Squadron 1 and the air traffic control tower. Back row from left to right: VMR-1 crew chief Cpl. Paul Petrella, Cherry Point commander Col. Chris Pappas III, rescue swimmer Staff Sgt. Guy Landis, state Sen. Norman Sanderson, state Sen. Harry Brown, maintenance officer Maj. Charles M. Nunally III, HH-46 pilot Capt. Gregory D. Weber and state Sen. Phil Berger. Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael S. Harris, a VMR-1 corpsman, is in the foreground.
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MACS-2 Marines return from operations in Spain
VMA-231 prepares to depart for El Centro
PFC. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA
PFC. CAYCE N. NEVERS
MCAS CHERRY POINT
MCAS CHERRY POINT
Eight Marines with Marine Air Control Squadron 2 returned to Cherry Point Friday after a fivemonth deployment to Spain. For the duration of the deployment, the Marines were attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 as a Marine air traffic control mobile team. The team’s mission was to provide air traffic control capabilities for expeditionary operations. As part of their mission, they had to detect and identify possible enemy combatants while providing continuous navigational assistance to friendly aircraft in an austere environment. “The Marines were awesome,” said 1st Lt. Matthew S. Jozaitis, the assistance operations officer with MACS-2. “They were ready to go, proficient at their jobs and did great things.” Marines got to enjoy Spanish culture and visited Italy for a short time while accomplishing their mission. “Getting to see areas like that was really cool,” said Cpl.Benjamin Thackrey, an air traffic controller with the squadron. “It was exciting because this was my first deployment.” Family members gathered at the MACS-2 headquarters building to meet their loved ones. “This was his first deployment but the fact that we got to email and make some phone calls made it easier while he was gone,” said Jennifer Donaldson, wife of Cpl. Tyson Donaldson, a
More than 120 Marines from Marine Attack Squadron 231 are preparing to depart Cherry Point next week to Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif., so pilots and Marines can train in low-altitude conditions. The Marines departing for El Centro will conduct air-to-surface heavy weapons training and routine maintenance for about one month. “It is imperative that VMA-231 be prepared to deploy at a moment’s notice and the training afforded at NAF El Centro allows the squadron to train and fly with live ordnance, just as it would during an Expeditionary Operation,” said Capt. Eric A. Scherrer, quality assurance officer with VMA-231. Capt. Andrew M. Thronberg, VMA-231 pilot and operations officer, said the Marines are prepared and enthusiastic for the evolution. “Every single Marine in the squadron will get (military occupational specialty)-specific training and proficiency out of this.” Said Thornberg. The training will allow the Marines to focus on low-altitude training in a desert environment. “It is important because we got back from Afghanistan about three months ago. We had a lot of personnel turn over and we were executing very specific missions out there which were medium and high-altitude support,” said Thornberg. “With that being said a lot of us are not current and proficient in low-altitude work and general purpose munitions.” Squadron Marines are already focused on making the most of the opportunity, according to Scherrer. “VMA-231 has been focusing on basic air-to-surface sorties as well as maintenance department qualifications to ensure that our
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Lt. Dan honored
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PFC. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA
Cpl. Tyson Donaldson embraces his 3-year-old son after returning from a five-month deployment to Spain Friday. While deployed Donaldson, a communications technician with Marine Air Control Squadron 2, and seven other Marines attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 served as a Marine air traffic control mobile team.
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