Vol. 72, No. 3
January 16, 2014
www.cherrypoint.marines.mil
MWSS-271 conducts semi-annual training exercise LANCE CPL. GRACE L. WALADKEWICS MCAS CHERRY POINT
Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 Marines went to the field for their semiannual aviation-ground support training operation at the Marine Corps Outlying Field Oak Grove Jan. 6. MWSS-271 provides essential aviation ground support to fixed-wing components of an Aviation Combat Element and all supporting or attached elements of a Marine Aircraft Group. During the training, the Marines practiced base security and reaction to outside attacks and cross trained between sections to improve overall squadron readiness and cohesion. “This training is really beneficial to the Marines because they are putting to use what they are being taught and trained to do,” said Master Sgt. Erik D. Holt, the squadron’s operations chief. “With this training they are becoming more proficient in their (military occupational specialties) and understanding the importance of this type of training which is significant because, as a Marine, you never know what situation you may find yourself in.” The squadron trained as if deployed in a contingency operation. During the base recovery mission, Marines from all sections of the squadron participated in a large-scale simulation of an
LANCE CPL. GRACE L.. WALADKEWICS
Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 motor transport company fight a jet fuel fire during a cross training exercise at Marine Corps Outlying Field Oak Grove Jan. 13. The annual cross training gave motor transport Marines a chance to learn the basics of emergency fire response.
attack where the Marines worked together to assess and repair damage to the base. They also used an Aviation Ground Support Operation Center to monitor all activity on the base. In addition to the base recovery mission, the squadron broke into sections to carry
out various training missions in combat scenarios throughout the week, said Holt. Motor transport Marines linked up with aircraft rescue firefighters to learn fire prevention and fire fighting. During the training, motor transport Marines, dressed in fire proximity suits, contained and extin-
VMGR-252 helps accomplish flight hour milestone
LANCE CPL. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA
Ray Fajay, left, Lt. Col. Walter Butler, center, and John Burdette, right, gather for a photo Jan. 8 after a ceremony recognizing Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252’s contribution to the C-130 Hercules’ million flight-hour mark Jan. 8. Butler is the commanding officer for VMGR-252 and Fajay and Burdette are representatives with Lockheed Martin.
LANCE CPL. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA MCAS CHERRY POINT
A Cherry Point squadron received recognition recently for its contribution to a one in a million milestone. Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 received a framed Commemorative coin from Lockheed Martin Corp. Jan. 8, recognizing the squadron’s role in the C130 Hercules’ recent millionth flight-hour. Representatives with Lockheed Martin Corp., a global security, aerospace and information technology com-
pany, presented the framed coin to Lt. Col. Walter Butler, commanding officer of VMGR-252, signifying the squadron’s role in the accomplishment. “This is a great honor for the squadron,” said Butler. “When I first got here, I had over two thousand hours on the legacy which was the previous aircraft. It was kind of hard to transition to something much newer but, after deploying with it, I have become a much stronger advocate for this aircraft because of what it can do.” Butler looks toward the future of the squadron and aircraft and hopes to see other accomplishments, he said. “As we continue down the path and do greater things with the C-130, this platform will continue to be here,” said Butler. “When you look at aircraft from the past and present, you realize that someday your children or grandchildren might be flying these.” The Marine Corps as a whole adopted the C-130 in the 1950s, flying roughly 290 aircraft in different variations in support of at least 13 major operations as part of its contribution to the million flight-hour mark, according to Ray Fajay, director of U.S. government air mobility development with Lockheed Martin Corp. “Going into spring of last year, the C-130 operation fleet literally soared into a new milestone,” said Fajay. “We reached one million flight hours in the operational fleet and VMGR-252 was a part of that.” The C-130 is a four-engine military transport aircraft capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings. VMGR-252 adopted the aircraft, which can hold up to 3,600 gallons of fuel, in October 1961 and uses it for aerial refueling purposes. “The C-130 is truly a proven aircraft without equal anywhere around the world,” said Fajay.
Junior Marines develop leadership skills
LANCE CPL. JOSHUA HINES
Erica Walderman, special Olympian, bowls a turkey during the Cherry Point Special Olympics at the commissary Jan 7. Walderman competed in several events including the turkey bowl, junk in the trunk and dizzy mummies.
LANCE CPL. JOSHUA R. HEINS MCAS CHERRY POINT
Cherry Point Marines, Sailors and civilians bundled up and braved the cold to support the 7th Annual Cherry Point Special Olympics at the station commissary Jan. 7. More than 160 volunteered at the event, a significant increase from previous years. Special Olympians teamed with service member and civilian volunteers to compete in several athletic events dur-
MCAS CHERRY POINT
More than 60 Marines with Cherry Point’s Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron attended the Junior Leadership Development Course at the Training and Education building Jan. 9. Lt. Col. Charles J. Basham, commanding officer of H&HS and Sgt. Maj. David Eldridge, sergeant major of H&HS, initiated the program to re-familiarize junior Marines with the Marine Corps’ leadership traits and principles, allowing them to define their meaning, and assisting them in applying these traits and principles in everyday life. The series of classes are scheduled to occur monthly for all junior Marines within the squadron. “90 percent of the Marine Corps are sergeants and below,” said Basham. “We are preparing junior Marines for leadership by putting tools in their tool bag to better lead and allowing them to take charge in more situations to exercise the leadership skills being taught.” The program compliments the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ “Reawakening” campaign, a Corps-wide effort to help Marines refocus on discipline, said Basham. H&HS leadership hopes to promote a lifelong pursuit of learning within the squadron and want Marines to know the standard they are being held to and what is expected of them, and to always remember that leadership requires making judgment calls, he said. The training helped steer Marines in the direction of leadership. The class-
The 2014 MCAS Cherry Point Air Show will take place May 16-18 aboard MCAS Cherry Point. The show was originally canceled in early December when budget uncertainty and sequestration made the air show unfeasible. The decision to reinstate the show was made after concerns for this year’s budget were addressed with the passing of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The Blue Angels U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Team will not perform at this year’s show as they rescheduled another show after Cherry Point canceled in December. We are expecting an exciting show featuring a number of new performers. More information will be published on the Cherry Point Air Show website at http://www.cherrypointairshow.com as it becomes available. The MCAS Cherry Point Air Show plan-
News Briefs
A2
Fast-rope training
A6
VMR-1 training
A3
Refresher training
B2
Fire chief retires
A5
Announcements
B3
See OLYMPICS page A7
2014 Cherry Point Air Show Rescheduled
MCAS CHERRY POINT
See LEADERSHIP page A7
See FIRE page A7
Cherry Point hosts 7th Annual Special Olympics
PRESS RELEASE
LANCE CPL. GRACE L. WALADKEWICS
guished jet fuel fires. “This training has brought together the aircraft rescue firefighters and the bulk and ground refuelers within the squadron to meet an annual requirement,” said Gun-
ning committee is hosting a theme competition, seeking recommendations from the general public. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The individual whose theme is selected by the commanding officer of MCAS Cherry Point will receive an assortment of air show related prizes, to include a ride in one of the featured aircraft! Submissions are limited to one per person, no more than six words and no art work is required. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 14. All theme ideas must be submitted using the online form located at the air show’s website. Be creative! Marine Corps aviation continues to build on an illustrious history of over 100 years of service, operating worldwide in support of Marine Air-Ground Task Forces. The winning theme for the 2012 air show was “Celebrate the Heritage.” Approximately 165,000 people attended that year’s show.
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