Vol. 72, No. 12
March 20, 2014
www.cherrypoint.marines.mil
Sgt. Maj. Wright makes Marine Corps history at 24th MEU
Navy/Marine Corps Relief - a true story LANCE CPL. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA MCAS CHERRY POINT
spector General’s office, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, as the senior enlisted advisor. Her personal decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.
When a bank makes an error and is expecting payment, what do you do? What happens when you do not have the money and do not know where to go for help? Frank G. McKain Jr. was a sergeant stationed in Washington, D.C., when a bank error caused him to seek financial help in 2005. The bank made a mistake, he said, that resulted in two payments being due in the same month. “I didn’t really know what to do at the time but my staff noncommissioned officer at the time recommended that I seek help from the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society,” said McKain, now a chief warrant officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron’s Installation Personnel Administration Center. “I went to their location at the Navy Yard, told them about the situation, and they told me they would help me take care of everything.” With help from the society, McKain was able to make both payments on time and set up an allotment with them to repay the loan at zero percent interest. The NMCRS is a non-profit organization established to help service members in need by offering financial assistance and educating service members about financial management and planning. McKain is only one of thousands of the society’s success stories. More than 65,000 Marines and Sailors in 2013 throughout the Department of Defense received more than $49 million in financial assistance. McKain said the society’s volunteers are
See MEU page A7
See NMCRS page A7
CPL. JOSHUA W. GRANT
Sgt. Maj. Lanette N. Wright salutes Col. Scott F. Benedict as she prepares to assume the duties as command sergeant major for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in front of the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters at Camp Lejeune March 14.
CPL. JOSHUA W. GRANT MCB CAMP LEJEUNE
Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos Jr. relinquished the duties of sergeant major of 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit to Sgt. Maj. Lanette Wright at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune March 14. Wright became the first female MEU sergeant major in the history of the
Marine Corps. “Today is a chance for me to serve the Marine Corps at a higher level, I’m humbled and thankful to be able to take over this position,” said Wright. “Being a Marine leader, this is a great opportunity to be able to expand on my leadership.” Wright assumes duties for the 24th MEU after leaving the Command In-
MWSS-271 Marine named Chef of the Quarter LANCE CPL. UNIQUE B. ROBERTS MCAS CHERRY POINT
Three food service specialists with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron competed in the Cherry Point Chef of the Quarter competition at the station mess hall March 14. The competition tested the chefs’ abilities to prepare, present and serve meals that fuel the Corps. Pfc. Brandon Ruiz, a food service specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, earned the first place trophy with a dish featuring strawberry glazed salmon, citrus wild rice and roasted green beans. For dessert he presented the judges with gelato alla vaniglia affogato in café with bruscato. “Everyone that I’ve ever worked with in the chow hall inspired me to cook this meal in some way,” said Ruiz. “Since
I’ve been here I’ve been taught valuable lessons and I used those in preparing my meal.” As each Marine finished presenting their food, judges critiqued their performance and evaluated the overall quality of the dishes, according to Staff Sgt. William F. Taylor, the galley captain of the mess hall. The quality of the meals showed the Marines’ abilities in the kitchen, according to Taylor. “Today each dish was different,” said Taylor. “The Marines were able to cook anything from stuffed chicken to stuffed pork chops; we even saw a different type of glazed salmon. The Marines really stepped outside of their comfort zone during the competition. ” See CHEF page A7
LANCE CPL. UNIQUE B. ROBERTS
Pfc. Brandon Ruiz stands before a panel of judges during the annual Chef of the Quarter competition at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s mess hall March 14. Ruiz is a food service specialist with MWSS-271.
Montford Point Marine Cherry Point Chapter celebrates 6th anniversary
Main gate to close Sunday The Cherry Point main gate at Roosevelt Blvd. will close Sunday, March 23, for road maintenance. The closure is scheduled from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Cunningham Blvd. and Slocum Gates will remain open.
News can also be found online
LANCE CPL. UNIQUE B. ROBERTS
L. Shannon Sabsook, right, presents a commemorative coin to retired Marine Corps Master Sgt. Johnnie Thompkins Jr., left, during the Cherry Point Montford Point Marine Association’s sixth anniversary celebration at Miller’s Landing March 15. The Montford Point Marine Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of the 20,000 African American Marines that trained at Montford Point Camp from 1942-1949. Thompkins is an original Montford Point Marine who lives in New Bern. Sabsook is the president of the Cherry Point Montford Point Marine Association.
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