Vol. 72, No. 10
March 6, 2014
www.cherrypoint.marines.mil
MWSS-271 engineers prepare for IED detection, threat elimination LANCE CPL. UNIQUE B. ROBERTS MCAS CHERRY POINT
Marines with Engineer Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, trained to counter improvised explosive devices recently with a series of classes and practical application exercises at Cherry Point. The training prepared the Marines for enhanced training and field exercises scheduled later this month at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. The training at Cherry Point introduced the Marines to counter-IED tactics, focusing on mounted and dismounted route clearance to create a foundation of knowledge for possible future operations, according to Capt. Nicole A. Barbaree, the engineer company commanding officer. “The purpose of C-IED training is to ensure [MWSS-271] engineers receive the most current, up-to-date, defeat-thedevice training available,” said Barbaree. “Through the week-long course, engineers learned how to visually identify IED indicators and how to react to an IED, (received) instruction on radio controlled IED threats, robot training, homemade explosive training and metal detector training.” As an engineer company belonging to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the Marines with MWSS-271 train to secure land for airfield construction in deployed environments. Part of securing operations includes clearing future runways of explosive threats, including IEDs, according to Barbaree. The training helps not just the engineers of the company, but all the Marines and Sailors assigned to it. “It benefits not just combat engineers, but all my engineers. From the utilities Marines to the heavy equipment opertors,
LANCE CPL. GRACE L. WALADKEWICS
Second-grade students from Havelock’s Brinson Memorial Elementary School tour multiple aircraft at the Cherry Point flight line Feb. 27 during a school field trip. During the tour, the students learned about seven different aircraft that belong to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and Cherry Point.
LANCE CPL. GRACE L. WALADKEWICS MCAS CHERRY POINT
Students from Havelock’s Brinson Memorial Elementary School came aboard Cherry Point for a field trip Feb. 27, getting up close with several aircraft and meeting Marines stationed here. Lt. Col Walter Butler, commanding officer of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, visited Brinson Memorial the day prior to teach the second-graders
See CIED page A7
about Marine Corps aviation and the importance of teamwork. During Butler’s visit to the school, the students watched “100 Years of Marine Corps Aviation,” and saw a slide show of the various aircraft they would see during their field trip. Marine volunteers with VMGR-252, and several other Cherry Point-based squadrons, greeted the students when they arrived on the flight line. Butler quizzed
the students on different aircraft and handed out coins for correct answers. The Marines hoped to share with the students some of the keys to the squadrons’ successes, according to Butler. “I drew a picture for the students by explaining the Marine Corps as a big team,” said Butler. “I explained that one player on a baseball team can’t pitch, hit and See TOUR page A7
Marine recognized for volunteer service to community LANCE CPL. GRACE L. WALADKEWICS MCAS CHERRY POINT
Carteret County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee honored Cpl. Kyle A. James as the Service Person of the Quarter at a ceremonial luncheon in Morehead City, Feb. 27. James earned the recognition for his dedicated service in and out of uniform. Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Pangborn, sergeant major of Cherry Point, presented James with the award at the Carteret Community College Culinary Center. His desire to give back to the community through hundreds of volunteer service hours set James apart as a positive example for his peers and junior Marines to follow, said Pangborn. In addition to his normal duties as the commanding officers driver, James oversees morning colors at Cherry Point and assists the commanding officer’s protocol officer with administrative tasks and special events. “Cpl. James takes initiative and thinks outside of
the box,” said Pangborn. “He is a quality Marine and a quality citizen.” In his off time, James volunteers at the fire department in Newport. Spending more than 600 hours as a volunteer fire fighter with the Newport Fire Department, James plans to continue volunteering because it makes a difference in his community. “In my opinion, volunteering does more for the people who volunteer than the people they are helping,” said James. “When I volunteer, I get a great feeling from helping others without expecting anything in return.” James said he was surprised, excited and honored when he found out he was receiving the Service Person of the Quarter Award. “I volunteer to better the community I live in,” said James. “I absolutely recommend volunteering to everyone because there are so many opportunities out there, and if you find volunteer work in something you love it becomes fun and you will enjoy yourself while helping others.”
NHC celebrates Navy Medical Corps’ birthday
LANCE CPL. GRACE L. WALADKEWICS
Cpl. Kyle A. James, standing here with Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Pangborn, was honored as the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce Service Person of the Quarter during a luncheon in Morehead City, Feb. 27. Pangborn is Cherry Point’s sergeant major and James is the duty driver for Cherry Point’s commanding officer.
News can also be found online
LANCE CPL. JOSHUA R. HEINS
Navy Capt. Annie Maley (left) and Navy Lt. Paul Bower cut a cake during a ceremony at Cherry Point’s Naval Health Clinic ceremony commemorating the 143rd birthday of the Navy’s Medical Corps March 3. Maley is the executive officer for the NHC and Bower is a flight surgeon for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
News Briefs
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Corps News
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Polar Bear Plunge
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MASS-1 Reflects
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MCMAP
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Announcements
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