The Windsock April 17, 2014

Page 1

Vol. 72, No. 16

April 17, 2014

www.cherrypoint.marines.mil

2nd MAW squadrons earn MCAA awards

MWHS-2 bids Grade farewell, welcomes Foster LANCE CPL. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA MCAS CHERRY POINT

Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 welcomed a new sergeant major during a relief and appointment ceremony at Cherry Point, April 16. Sgt. Maj. Scott D. Grade relinquished his post as MWHS-2’s sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Thomas Foster. “Being MWHS-2’s sergeant major has probably been one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve had since I’ve been a sergeant major,” said Grade. “The Marines and Sailors are awesome, they do outstanding things everyday and they are the backbone of making (2nd Marine Aircraft Wing) fly. They are professionals all the time.” Grade, who served as the squadron’s senior enlisted advisor for 14 months and will assume his new post at Marine Air Control Group 28, but not before saying a few words about Foster. “MWHS-2 is going to get an outstanding sergeant major,” said Grade. “I’ve known him as the sergeant major for the communications squadron and I’m sure he will treat everyday like it is his last because there is always a new adventure with this squadron.” Foster was previously the sergeant major of Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 and looks forward to leading MWHS-2. “I’ve got big shoes to fill following sergeant major Grade, but I am extremely honored to take over at the squadron because of the caliber of the Marines who are here,” said Foster. “It’s an honor to be in the same squadron as the Marines who make MWHS-2 the way it is.”

LANCE CPL. ANDREA CLEOPATRA DICKERSON

KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 flies through the air conducting flight patterns during aerial refueling training May 22, 2013. The squadron was recently awarded the Commandant’s Aviation Trophy for outstanding performance of a Marine Aviation Squadron for their efforts in 2013.

LANCE CPL. ANDREA CLEOPATRA DICKERSON MCAS CHERRY POINT

Several squadrons with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing received Marine Corps Aviation Association Awards for their actions in 2013. The MCAA hosts the largest military aviation awards program, recognizing the most significant contributors in 27

categories, incorporating every facet of aviation from fixed-wing and rotor-wing assets to avionics and ordnance. The first Alfred A. Cunningham Award, named in honor of the “Father of Marine Corps Aviation,” was presented to the Marine Aviator of the Year, Retired Lt. Col. John H. Glenn Jr., in 1962. “It is a big deal when you win an MCAA

award,” said Col. Robert Sofge, the commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 14. “Everybody knows what they are. Everyone wants to win. It speaks volumes about the efforts on the line. Everyone is working hard, but to receive the recognition is particularly sweet.” See MCAA page A7

Cherry Point environmental team earns restoration award

COURTESY PHOTO

Cherry Point’s Tier 1 Environmental Partnering Team earned the Secretary of the Navy’s fiscal year 2013 Environmental Restoration Award March 31 for their work with the permeable reactive barrier and bio enhanced remediation. A permeable reactive barrier is used to create a treatment zone using neutralizing agents to treat contaminated water beneath ground level.

LANCE CPL. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA MCAS CHERRY POINT

Cherry Point’s Tier 1 Environmental Partnering Team earned the Secretary of the Navy’s Environmental Restoration Award for fiscal year 2013, March 31. Environmental restoration involves cleaning and managing contaminated lands located on current and former

military installations, according to the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. “Restoration is the cleanup of contaminated lands to levels deemed safe for human health and the environment,” said William Potter, an environmental engineer with Cherry Point’s Environmental Affairs Department. Cherry Point covers more than 13,000 acres with an

2nd MAW, Cherry Point volunteers recognized for contributions LANCE CPL. UNIQUE B. ROBERTS HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS

Marine Corps Community Services held the 2014 “Celebrate Service” Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony at Cherry Point April 11. As local volunteers filled the banquet room, representatives from each unit and organization aboard the air station gathered and awaited the presentation of certificates from Maj. Gen. Robert Hedelund, the commanding general for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, and Lt. Col. Charles Basham, the commanding officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. “Time is a precious thing; everybody knows that and you cannot get it back,” said Basham. All of the volunteers made a deliberate choice

News Briefs

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Motorcycle Safety

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HITT for Heroes

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Menus

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Corps News

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Announcements

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to volunteer their time to help somebody else, with either skills, advice or just being there for them to talk to, said Basham. They all made an impact on somebody. MCCS hosted the Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony to recognize volunteers from across 2nd MAW and Cherry Point for their hard work throughout the community last year, according to Kimberly Johnston, the Marine Corps Family Team Building director with Marine and Family Programs. “The purpose of the Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony is to thank our Marines, Sailors, families and civilian volunteers for sharing their See VOLUNTEER page A7

additional 15,890 acres in outlying support areas. The Neuse River watershed surrounds three sides of the air station. The land covered by Cherry Point, and the water surrounding it, serve as a habitat for many species of migratory birds and as a nursery for coastal shore birds and marine life. Potter and his team conducted two pilot studies during 2013 to help restore some of the land and groundwater at Cherry Point. A pilot study is a scaled down version of a large technology system to assess the feasibility of restoration technologies and concepts. If proven effective during a pilot study, the department can implement a fullscale project, said Jeff Christopher, the Restoration and Recycling Division supervisor with the department. “When we conduct these kinds of studies, it is a team process,” said Christopher. “We don’t move forward until the Navy, United States Environmental Protection Agency and State are all on the same page, and that works out better in the end.” During 2013, the Environmental Affairs Department conducted several pilot studies, including a Permeable Reactive Barrier and enhanced biological remediation studies. A ground water plume is ground water contaminated with solvents. To help solve the problem, Potter and his team used a permeable reactive barrier, or a large trench, containing neutralizing agents that react with contaminated water, removing pollutants. “We like to think of it as a filter, but instead of filtering See ENVIRONMENTAL page A7

News can also be found online All stories and photos can be found at: • www.cherrypoint.marines.mil • www.dvidshub.net/unit/MCAS-CP Read the Windsock online at: • www.issuu.com/mcascherrypoint Like us on Facebook: • www.facebook.com/mcascherrypoint • www.facebook.com/TheAirShow Follow us on Twitter: • www.twitter.com/mcascherrypoint More photos can be found on Flickr: • www.flickr.com/photos/mcas_cherry_point


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