www.cherrypoint.marines.mil
Vol. 72, No. 24
June 12, 2014
VMU-2 breaks ground on new home for Blackjack LANCE CPL. GRACE L. WALADKEWICS MCAS CHERRY POINT
LANCE CPL. UNIQUE B. ROBERTS
(From left) Lt. Col. Kristopher L. Faught, Lt. Col. Danny Howard, Col. Robert B. Sofge, Col. Chris Pappas III and Cmdr. Lance M. Flood use golden shovels to break ground officially marking the start of construction for two large area maintenance deployable shelters during a groundbreaking ceremony at Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 June 5. Faught is the commanding officer of VMU-2, Howard is the commanding officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, Sofge is the commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 14, Pappas is the air station commanding officer and Flood is public works officer.
Marines with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing broke ground here June 5 at the site of what will soon be the new home for Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2’s RQ-21 Blackjacks. The Blackjack is the newest addition to the squadron’s arsenal of unmanned aerial vehicles. “The large area maintenance deployable shelters will provide VMU-2 space to conduct maintenance and provide shelter for the new unmanned aerial system being fielded,” said Maj. Keith Warren, the logistics officer with MAG-14. “The project will cost approximately $600,000 and has an estimated completion date of Nov. 20.” The Marine Corps’ RQ-21 Blackjack will replace the current UAS, the RQ-7B Shadow. The Blackjack has the capability to supply intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and communications transitions to troops nonstop for up to 12 hours per day. The Blackjack operates on a completely independent launch and recovery system. The system allows the Blackjack to take off and be recovered from an expeditionary or urban environment, as well as from the deck of Navy ships. “Before the construction began of the (shelters), the RQ21 was being housed at VMU-2, with no designated hangar due to limited space,” according to Capt. Seth Ford, the supply and logistics officer with VMU-2. “The (shelters) will benefit VMU-2 because they are cost effective, easy to set up and will give an incredible amount of space for us to move the vast majority of aviation maintenance and personnel to the new location.” VMU-2 will house three RQ-21 Blackjacks upon completion of the shelters. “VMU-2 has been working closely with joint entities from several squadrons and departments since summer 2013,” said Ford. “Those involved have worked together in the development of VMU-2’s expansion, interim facilities project to increase hangar, maintenance workspace, and maintenance administration space to allow acceptance of nine new See VMU-2 page A7
VMAQT-1 welcomes new MTACS-28 conducts commanding officer first mobility exercise
LANCE CPL. UNIQUE B. ROBERTS MCAS CHERRY POINT
Lt. Col. William A. Schutz assumed command of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1 from Lt. Col. Joshua S. K. Gordon during a ceremony here, June 5. VMAQT-1’s mission is to train pilots and aircrews to operate the EA-6B Prowler. In addition, the squadron conducts airborne electronic warfare in support of the Fleet Marine Force operations. “I’m most proud of the squadron for transitioning from an operational squadron to a training squadron,” said Gordon. “We never stood down or took an operational pause; we continued to march forward and strive to accomplish our primary goal as an organization.” Gordon was previously assigned as the director of safety and standardization in 2009 with then VMAQ-1. He was reassigned in May 2010 as the executive officer for the squadron. In June 2012, Gordon assumed command of VMAQT-1, after a re-designation ceremony. “I’ve been with the squadron for five years,” said Gordon. “It is a bittersweet feeling – when you do anything for five years it becomes a part of you, and I feel a certain closeness or association with the squadron. I feel bittersweet about being excited for the future.” Gordon will continue his career as the executive officer of Marine Aircraft Group 14. Lt. Col. William A. Schutz VMAQT-1’s new commanding officer was previously assigned to the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Armed Forces Strategic Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., where he served as the deputy G-3 plans and operations officer. Schutz plans to continue in the path that Gordon has created during his tenure as commanding officer. “I’m looking forward to providing trained pilots and (electronic countermeasures officers) to the fleet squadrons,” said Schutz. “I’m also looking forward to serving the Marines and taking care of them especially in regards to the future of electronic warfare in the Marine Corps.”
LANCE CPL. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA MCAS CHERRY POINT
Members of Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 28 participated in their first mobility exercise June 2 – 4 in Sunset Park here. The exercise, held in preparation for the upcoming Exercise Bold Alligator in October, tested the squadron’s ability to move a tactical air command center forward to support the ground scheme of maneuver. “This exercise is important because as we are getting back to our amphibious roots, we need to be able to move quickly,” said Gunnery Sgt. Cliff Brown, the TACC chief within the exercise. “A TACC normally supports Marine Expeditionary Brigades or Marine Expeditionary Forces and we don’t have the opportunity to train with that a lot, so we are just laying out the groundwork and fixing the bugs.” A TACC is capable of possessing the ability to provide data link infrastructures, radar pictures, satellites and maintain visibility of all aircraft within the operational area. Along with the TACC, the exercise also contains components such as Humvees and modular extendable rigid wall shelters, which contain the display board, the eyes and ears that allow the commander to see what is going on, said Staff Sgt. Tremaine C. McCallum, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the exercise.
“The MOBEX and TACC will provide the wing commanding general with the command and control which will provide the accurate information needed to get the mission done,” he said. The exercise allowed the Marines of MTACS-28 to brush up on perishable skills. “The MOBEX is a huge benefit to the squadron because when we train to support a MEF-level contingency, we don’t get to really work with motor transport, utilities or S-4 as much as we would like to,” said Brown. “It’s going to really work the skills that haven’t been worked in a long time because of the nature of the beast that we are normally going to support at a higher level echelon.” TACC’s are made up of coordinators and operators who work together for the exercise to run as smoothly as possible. “You’re coordinators are going to be your staff non-commissioned officers and your operators are going to be your junior Marines,” said McCallum. Cpl. Michael Allen, a TACC operator during the exercise, said he was one of many responsible for the coordination and movement of the TACC from one location to the other and believes the exercise is important for the squadron to grow. “This exercise is important so we do See MOBEX page A7
Cherry Point commissary director recognized for excellence LANCE CPL. GRACE L. WALADKEWICS MCAS CHERRY POINT
The Cherry Point commissary director was recently named one of the Top Women in Progressive Grocery by the supermarket industry’s leading magazine. Commissary director Phyllis Black was recognized by Progressive Grocer Magazine, a monthly publication that keeps readers up-to-date and knowledgeable about the grocery industry top trends and information, reaching nearly 38,000 readers per issue. Black earned the 2014 Progressive Grocer Top Women in Grocery Store Manager Award for her achievements as a store manager within the Defense Commissary Agency. The Top Women in Grocery Awards is the only
nationwide industry media awards program of its kind and recognizes women who are helping advance their businesses, the industry and the communities they serve. Retailers, suppliers and wholesalers are recognized in senior-level executive, rising star and store manager categories. “With a record number of 311 watch-worthy women, our 2014 judging panel poured over hundreds of applications in search of candidates who went above and beyond their core responsibilities to deliver exceptional results,” said Meg Major, chief content editor for Progressive Grocer Magazine. “The incredible achievements of our 2014 Top Women in Grocery honorees provide an enduring portrayal of our program’s founding
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Summer Safety Tips
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Ordnance Marines
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purpose: to celebrate the continuing progress the previously male-dominated grocery industry is making to close the historical gender gap while prominently recognizing the vital roles women serve in their companies, communities and the industry at large.” Those who were nominated were judged on their achievements between Jan. 1, 2013 – March 1, 2014. The nominees were critiqued based on their ability to illustrate innovative corporate initiatives, extraordinary financial and strategic accomplishments, astute problem-solving techniques, exceptional performance benchmarks, selfless charitable participation and an array of other attributes beyond their normal duties.
“I am overwhelmed to have won this award,” said Black. “Only three women in the Defense Commissary Agency have ever been selected for this award so this is truly an honor.” Black was chosen from a pool of hundreds of nominees who displayed the highest levels of teamwork, professionalism and innovation across the country in supermarkets and grocery stores at every level and every facet of operation including store managers, retailers, suppliers, wholesalers and senior level executives. “For winning this award, I owe a lot of credit to the people I have worked with,” said Black. See COMMISSARY page A7
Towers shine light on North Carolina Story and photos page B1