Jet Stream The
Friday, August 21, 2015 Vol. 50, No. 33 Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.
“The noise you hear is the sound of freedom.” 2 3 facebook.com/MCASBeaufort 3 Beaufort.Marines.mil
twitter.com/MCASBeaufortSC
Fightertown feeds families Page 5
15th MEU Aircraft Support Operation Inherent Resolve - Page 7
SPMAGTF-CR-AF serves a different purpose - Page 7
Lt. Gen. Bogdan visits MCAS Beaufort, F-35 Story by: Cpl. Brendan Roethel Press Chief
Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan visited Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Aug. 19 to see how the F-35 program is progressing and developing in the Marine Corps. Bogdan, the program executive officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office in Arlington, Va., visited Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 and Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501. “Bogdan is visiting for an update on the progress of the F-35’s progression here in Beaufort,” said Col. Peter D. Buck, the commanding officer of MCAS Beaufort. “This is an opportunity for Marine Aircraft Group 31 and VMFAT-501 to have face time with him, and discuss any issues they might have.” Bogdan interacted with the air station’s senior leadership, as well as Marines throughout the ranks. He discussed the development of the F-35, its capabilities, and issues they face from maintaining to operating the fifth generation aircraft. “This was an opportunity for us to get information directly from the maintainers to the higher ups,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jerimiah Williams, the airframes maintenance chief for VMFAT-501. “It allowed us to skip the middle man and communicate with Lt. Gen. Bogdan about things that will make our jobs easier. We discussed topics like gear and protocols.” Speaking with the Marines gave Bogdan the opportunity to answer their questions and receive their feedback one-on-one. This helps Bogdan accomplish his mission of overseeing the development and acquisition of the F-35 for the Marines, Navy, Air Force, and the nation’s allies. see
Photos by Lance Cpl. Jonah Lovy
Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan steps off a C-12 Huron to begin his visit aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Aug 19. Bogdan visited the air station to assess the progress of the F-35 program and to get some face time with pilots, maintainers and the command. Bogdan is the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office in Arlington, Va.
BOGDAN, page 6
Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan, left, speaks to F-35B Lightning II maintainers during a tour of the facilities aboard Marine Corps Air station Beaufort, Aug 19. Bogdan’s tour of the air station allowed him to answer questions directly from the Marines who fly and maintain the F-35B. Bogdan is the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office in Arlington, Va. The Marines are with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31.
Construction underway Up in the morning on latest F-35 hangar with the Beaufort sun
Photo by Lance Cpl. Jonah Lovy
Construction is underway on an F-35B Lightning II hangar aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The project began Aug. 2014 and the facility is scheduled to be completed in Oct. of 2016. The hanger will be used by future F-35 squadronsonce completed. Story by: Lance Cpl. Jonah Lovy Staff Writer
Construction is underway on an F-35B Lightning II hangar aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. Slated to be completed next year, the new hangar will be utilized by future F-35 squadrons in the coming years.
Until future aircraft arrive, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 is the only F-35 squadron aboard the air station training pilots and mechanics from across the Marine Corps and around the world. The facility is designed to be an aircraft maintenance hangar able to accommodate F-35 aircraft that will consist of high see
HANGAR, page 6
Photos by Lance Cpl. Jonah Lovy
Marines execute a ten mile hike aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Aug. 14. The Marines hiked in order to build dexterity and prepare for future exercises carrying heavy loads. The Marines are with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273, Marine Aircraft Group 31.
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The Jet Stream
Games and Entertainment
Friday, August 21, 2015
MCAS Beaufort Movie Schedule
Saturday 4:30 p.m. PG-13 (1:57)
Saturday 2 p.m. PG (1:31)
Mess Hall Menu
Saturday 7:00 p.m. PG-13 (2:02)
MCRD Parris Island Movie Schedule
Monday - Friday Saturday, Sunday Breakfast: 6 - 7:30 a.m. and holidays Lunch: 11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Brunch: 8:30 - 11 a.m. Dinner: 4 - 6 p.m. Dinner: 4 - 6 p.m. Midrats Sunday - Thursday 11:30 p.m. - 1 a.m. Takeout window hours Breakfast - Mon. - Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. Lunch - Mon. - Fri. 12:45 p.m. - 4 p.m. Dinner - Mon. - Fri. 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday Lunch Bayou jerk pork loin and rice Lunch Salmon with cucumber relish
Dinner Shrimp cocktail, fried chicken, steak
Sunday
Dinner Baked ziti with italian sausage
Monday - Friday Breakfast Hot farina, hot hominy grits and oven-fried bacon Monday Dinner Lunch Spicy shrimp with Baked smoked ham cheesy grits and sweet potatoes Tuesday Dinner Lunch Herbed roast pork Chicken and dumploin with pan gravy lings and rice Wednesday Dinner Lunch Manhattan clam Roast turkey and chowder green beans Thursday Dinner Lunch Apple glazed corn Arroz con pollo and beef and squash garlic bread Friday Dinner Lunch Chili macaroni and Herbed baked green beans chicken and carrots
Chapel Services Roman Catholic • 9:30 a.m. - Sunday Mass • Confession takes place before Mass • Confession Monday - Thursday at noon Protestant • 9:45 a.m. - Protestant Church School (Sunday School) • 11 a.m. - Protestant Sunday Worship Service (Children’s church is also available at this time) • 5 p.m. - Wednesday Protestant Bible Study • 5 p.m. - Saturday Worship Service at Laurel Bay Youth Center Buddhist • 11 a.m. - Saturday Worship Service in the Chapel Fellowship Hall Labyrinth Walk • 8 a.m - 4 p.m. - Monday in the Chapel Fellowship Hall Other Faith Groups • For Jewish, Mormon and Islamic support, contact the Chaplain’s Office at 228-7775
Sunday 2 p.m. PG (1:31)
Sunday 7 p.m. PG-13 (1:57)
Sunday 4:30 p.m. PG-13 (1:49)
Name:________________________________
WeatherWeather
Date:_____________
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Word Bank Word List: CLOUDY FREEZE PRESSURE THUNDERSTORM TORNADO
CLOUDY COLD COLD FOG HAIL FORECAST RAIN FREEZE HAIL SUNNY WIND
Sudoku
HUMIDITY HURRICANE FOG PRESSURE HUMIDITY RAIN SEASON SEASON SNOWSTORM TEMPERATURE
THUNDERSTORM SUNNY FORECAST TEMPERATURE HURRICANE TSUNAMI SNOWSTORM TORNADO WIND TSUNAMI
Aug 14th solution
Hotlines
MCAS Beaufort Station Inspector Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Force Protection information and concerns PMO Dispatch Severe Weather and Force Protection
228-7789 228-6904
Aug 14th solution
228-6924 228-6710 1-800-343-0639
Sexual Assault The contact number for a Uniformed Victim Advocate is 592-0646. This number can get you in contact with a UVA 24 hours a day.
Fraud, Waste and Abuse
If you know of or suspect any fraud, waste or abuse aboard MCAS Beaufort, call 228-7777. If you know of or suspect any fraud, waste or abuse within MAG-31, call (252) 466-5038. The automated answering service on these lines is available 24 hours a day.
Answer to this week’s puzzles will be available in next week’s edition of The Jet Stream.
Command Information
The Jet Stream
Fightertown deployed: VMFA-312 Checkerboards
VMFA-251 Thunderbolts
are currently deployed to the Western Pacific as part of the Unit Deployment Program.
are currently deployed aboard the USS Roosevelt as part of the U.S. Fifth Fleet.
MALS-31 Stingers have detachments currently deployed to the Western Pacific supporting VMFA-251, VMFA-312, and VMFA(AW)-224.
Friday, August 21, 2015
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Did you know... August 21, 1968: PFC James Anderson, Jr., was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by Secretary of the Navy, Paul R. Ignatius, for heroism in Vietnam while serving as a rifleman with Company F, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines in February 1967. This was the first Medal of Honor presented to an AfricanAmerican Marine. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Anderson, Sr., received the award during ceremonies at Marine Barracks, 8th and I.
Fightertown Fun Facts
Geiger Blvd. – Paving the way of the Corps
Story by: Cpl. Brendan Roethel Press Chief
Thousands of Marines and civilian personnel drive on Geiger Boulevard to come arrive and depart Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort each day. The road was named after Gen. Roy S. Geiger, the fifth Marine aviator and first Marine to lead an Army. Geiger enlisted in the Marine Corps as a Private in November 1907 and attended basic training on Naval Station Norfolk, Va. After submitting his college degree with a request to become a Marine officer, Geiger was accepted, and earned his commission as a second lieutenant in February 1909. In the years following his commissioning, Geiger was stationed aboard two Navy battleships and in several foreign nations. Upon his return to the United States, Geiger became an aviator June 9, 1917. Geiger arrived in France approximately one year after graduating flight school, and served with the Royal Air Force at Dunkirk, France. He com-
manded a squadron of the First Marine Aviation Force attached to the Northern Bombing Group, consisting of Navy and Marine Corps squadrons tasked with scouting and bombing German submarine bases during World War I. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his distinguished leadership and service. Geiger attended various military courses and served in high roles within the Marine Corps aviation community after World War I. In 1931, he was assigned a four–year post as the officer in charge of Marine Corps aviation, known today as the deputy commandant for aviation. In April 1941, Geiger was attached to a British command and became the first U.S. military observer at the beginning of World War II. He then became the commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force, upon his arrival back to the U.S. One year after becoming the commanding general of 1st MAW, Geiger was stationed at Guadalcanal to lead the Cactus Air Force, an Allied Forces air power assigned to Guadalcanal, during the early part of the Campaign.
Brain Teaser
A train full of passengers goes through a tunnel. When the train comes out from the other end, there is no single person on the train. How did it happen? August 14th Brain Teaser solution: The answer is 9 hours. Since we know that the water becomes double in the quantity every passing hour and that it was filled completely in ten hours, we need to go back one-step. Take out one hour and divide the quantity by 2.
Geiger was the commander of the combined Army, Navy and Marine Air Forces stationed there during a portion of his time spent on Guadalcanal. He was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross for his leadership and service during the conflict. Geiger was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed as the Commanding General of Fleet Marine Force Pacific in July 1945. Three months later, Geiger was the only Marine Corps representative aboard the USS Missouri for the formal surrender of Japan Sept. 2, 1945. Upon his return back to the U.S., Geiger was transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps in November 1946. Months after his transfer, Geiger passed away from lung cancer Jan. 23, 1947. Geiger was posthumously promoted to General by the 80th Congress, Jan. 23, 1947. Geiger is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Geiger’s legacy in the Corps and aviation community is carried on to this day, not only as a road name but in the passages of history where he etched his name.
Happenings • Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held at the Station Chapel aboard MCAS Beaufort every Monday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 10 a.m. Meetings are open to all service members, veterans, and civilians within the Tri-Command.
• The 2015 Hunting Season aboard MCAS Beaufort will open Sept. 15. All service members, retirees, dependents, and civilian contractors who wish to hunt aboard MCAS Beaufort must attend a Hunter Safety Brief aboard MCAS Beaufort. Classes will be held every Wednesday in • The MCAS Beaufort Library will be the NREO/Game Warden Building closed for renovations for approxiclassroom until Sept. 30. For more mately two months beginning Aug. information call the game warden at 1. During this closure, please visit the 228-7017. MCRD Parris Island Library or other libraries in the surround• The photocopying of U.S. Governing area. The Parris Island Libraries ment identification cards is a violation hours of operation 9 a.m.-8 p.m. of Title 18, U.S. Code Part 1, Chapter Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-6p.m. on 33, Section 701 and punishable by Friday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday fine and imprisonment. and Sunday. For more information call 228-1672.
Tri-Command Weather 7 Day Forecast
Effective June 1, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort is in Tropical Cyclone Condition V for Hurricane season until Nov. 30. There are currently no threats. Due to El Nino conditions, it’s likely to be a below average tropical cyclone season for the Atlantic. NOAA is predicting 6-11 named storms, 3-6 hurricanes, and 0-2 major hurricanes. Monitor local weather sources to stay up to date and be prepared.
Jet Stream The
Contact us: 228-7225 mcasbeaufort@gmail.com BFRT_JPAO@usmc.mil Commanding Officer MCAS Beaufort Col. Peter D. Buck
Public Affairs Officer Capt. Clayton Groover
Public Affairs Chief Sgt. Dengrier Baez
Press Chief
Cpl. Brendan Roethel
Community Relations/Staff Writers Lance Cpl. Samantha K. Torres Lance Cpl. Jonah V. Lovy
Beaufort.Marines.mil
facebook.com/MCASBeaufort
twitter.com/MCASBeaufortSC
youtube.com/MCASBeaufortsc1 Editor’s note: We at The Jet Stream care about our reader’s opinion. In reaching our goal to put out the best possible product, we understand the importance of your feedback. Please add a comment to the “How can we improve The Jet Stream?” topic on our www. facebook.com/MCASBeaufort discussion board on how we can better your base newspaper. Published by the Savannah Morning News, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of Defense, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, or Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., under exclusive written contract with the United States Marine Corps. This commercial-enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Marine Corps or the U.S. Navy and do not imply endorsement thereof. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD, the Marine Corps, the Navy, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., or the Savannah Morning News of the products or services advertised. Everything in this newspaper shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the contractor shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. Editorial content (i.e., all content other than paid advertisements) is edited, prepared and provided by the public affairs office of the installation. All queries concerning news and editorial content should be directed to: Jet Stream, Marine Corps Public Affairs Office, P.O. Box 55001, MCAS Beaufort, S.C., 29904 or (843) 228-7225. All queries concerning business matters or display ads should be directed to the Savannah Morning News at (843) 815-0800.
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The Jet Stream
Friday, August 21, 2015
Classifieds
In Other News
The Jet Stream
Friday, August 21, 2015
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Fightertown continues fight against hunger
Story and photo by: Cpl. Brendan Roethel Press Chief
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort is closing in on the end of its 7th Annual Feds Feed Families Campaign to support households in the surrounding communities, Aug. 28. The event comes at a time of year when donations traditionally decline and school aged children do not have access to school food programs, making donations especially important, according to the Department of Agriculture. The 7th annual Feds Feed Families campaign has collected approximately 900 pounds of non-perishable foods aboard the air station and Laurel Bay. Last year the installation donated approximately 4,000 pounds of food. “As we enter into the home stretch of this year’s drive please don’t quit,” said Cmdr. William Holiman, the com-
mand chaplain for MCAS Beaufort. “We need to keep dropping off cans and boxes of food at the mess hall or the Marine Corps exchanges on the air station and Laurel Bay.” The donations are sent to the Lowcountry Food Bank in Yemassee, S.C. From there the food is distributed to 52 local agencies in Beaufort, Hampton, Jasper, and Colleton counties, finding its way onto the tables of Americans in need. “When I go to the food bank to drop off the food you give, I never see anything left from the week before,” said Holiman. “Everything comes in and is gone by the next week. There are a lot of people, some from our own base, who depend on our donations to make ends meet. According to the USDA, an estimated 50 million people, or one in six Americans, struggle and face the realities of hunger. Since the campaign began seven years ago, federal workers have donated and collected approximately 39 million pounds of food and other non-perishable goods such as hygiene items to support
families across America. “Feds Feed Families is one of our biggest food drives of the year,” said Benton Williams, the regional food center manager for the Lowcountry Food Bank in Yemassee. “It’s a way for us to help act as a support for the times when kids aren’t being fed daily at school for lunch. When those children have that vital source of nutrition cut off during the summer months, Feds Feed Families helps bridge that gap.” The DoD broke records last year by donating over 3.1 million pounds of food to local food banks and charities to feed individuals who are food-insecure. “Giving is fundamental to a good life,” said Holiman. “If we only receive we become selfish and stagnant, but when we both give and receive it opens us up to all kinds of wonderful things in life. Every Marine and family member here has received much. When we pass that along to others it makes everyone better off. Please keep on giving.”
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The Jet Stream
More of the Story
Friday, August 21, 2015
Bogdan continued from page 1
Photo by Lance Cpl. Jonah Lovy
Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan, left, is greeted by Col. Peter D. Buck upon his arrival at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Aug 19. Bogdan’s tour of the air station included stops at Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31. Bogdan is the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office in Arlington, Va. Buck is the commanding officer of MCAS Beaufort.
“Programs like the F-35 are a process, and visits like this are a part of that process,” said Bogdan. “It’s a new program, that’s why we must make sure its development continues to run smoothly. Right now I can visit every base that has F-35s, but soon there will be too many and that won’t be the case. This is the time for us to find the issues and solve them early on.” Bogdan stated that he was impressed with the Marines of VMFAT-501 and looked forward to seeing the F-35’s development with the squadron. He also said that the F-35 program would not be where it is today without Fightertown’s involvement. “I would like to thank MCAS Beaufort for hosting me aboard the installation and showing me the hard work they are putting in to help us develop and shape the F-35 program,” said Bogdan. “We could not have asked a better branch to be our launch company. I am impressed with everything I saw. I wish I could visit Marines every day. I love the Marine Corps and everything they do.” The continued development of the F-35 program will allow the Marine Corps to efficiently provide the dominant, multi-role, fifthgeneration capabilities needed across the full spectrum of combat operations to deter potential adversaries and enable future naval aviation power projection.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan, center, speaks to Marines during a tour of the facilities aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Aug 19. Bogdan visited the air station to inspect all aspects of the F-35 program aboard Fightertown. Bogdan is the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office in Arlington, Va. The Marines are with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, Marine Aircraft Group 31.
Hangar continued from page 1
bay space, crew and equipment space, administrative space, data network areas and pilot brief and debrief rooms. “This hangar is the newest addition to the F-35 program,” said Pete Robson, the supervisory construction manager with public works aboard MCAS Beaufort. “It is the second F-35 hangar built aboard MCAS Beaufort to support the program and both hangars will operate simultaneously” The construction project includes aircraft parking near the building and an aircraft access apron. A three-level parking garage is being constructed adjacent to the brand new hangar. “This is a brand new, state-of-the-art facility with all the workings of a modern F-35 hangar,” said Robson. “It will have an updated electrical system to support the power needs of the mechanics.” The construction started with laying the foundation of the hangar last year. Now the frame of the finished product has begun to take shape on the flight line. “The contract was awarded in August 2014 and the hangar is scheduled to be completed in October of 2016,” said Robson. “We are currently about 50 percent of the way through construction.” According to Sgt. Maj. Daniel Moore, the sergeant major of VMFA-115, the F-35 program is growing every day and this new hangar will give Marines a chance to expand, learn and grow when their mission towards the F-35.. The F-35 Lightning II is referred to as a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth capabilities with fighter aircraft speed and agility, fully-fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, and advanced logistics and sustainment, according to Lockheed Martin, the company who designed the jet. “This hanger will help the F-35 program by supplying pilots and mechanics with a work space that suits the needs of the jet,” said Moore. “I have no doubt the hangar will be put to good use.” The new hangar will bring the air station one step closer to being entirely F-35 capable. “The F-35 is not only the future of MCAS Beaufort, but also best thing for Marine Corps aviation as a whole,” said Moore.
Courtesy Photo
A graphic illustration of the new F-35B Lightning II hangar slated to be completed Oct. 2016 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The construction project includes aircraft parking near the hangars and an aircraft access apron. A three-level parking garage is being constructed adjacent to the brand new facility.
Photos by Lance Cpl. Jonah Lovy
The structure of the new F-35B Lightning II hangar begins to appear aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The construction started with laying the foundation of the structure last year. Now the frame of the finished product has begun to take shape on the flight line.
The Jet Stream
Around The Corps
Friday, August 21, 2015
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15th MEU Aircraft Support Operation Inherent Resolve
Photos by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Bradley J. Gee
An AV-8B Harrier takes off from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex June 19. The Essex Amphibious Ready Group is currently operating in the 7th fleet area of responsibility in preparation for future exercises and operations. The Harrier is assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 Reinforced. Story by: Capt. Brian Block 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
An AV-8B Harrier takes off the flight deck of the USS Essex June 19. The Essex Amphibious Ready Group is currently operating in the 7th fleet area of responsibility. The Harrier is assigned to Marine Mediumt Tiltrotor Squadron 161 Reinforced, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
USS ESSEX, at sea — AV-8B Harriers assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 Reinforced, also known as the Greyhawks, began flying sorties from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex Aug. 16 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The Harriers were prepared to execute strike missions in Iraq to dismantle and ultimately defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as part of the multinational coalition participating in OIR in the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility VMM-161 Reinforced, is the aviation combat element of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is currently embarked with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and deployed to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. “We are proud and excited to be able to support missions against ISIL,” said Lt. Col. Andreas Lavato, the commanding officer of VMM-161 Reinforced. “It’s an honor to be leading the best trained and equipped Marines and Sailors in the Marine Corps as
we take the fight to the enemy. It is a clear testament to their skill and professionalism that we can support OIR, while simultaneously training and operating throughout the region, both ashore and embarked aboard ship.” In addition to providing sorties in support of OIR, the 15th MEU’s Marines and sailors are deployed to several other locations throughout the 5th Fleet AOR executing sustainment training and engaging with regional partners. “The MEU’s ability to source combat sorties from the Essex, while simultaneously supporting training and operations in four other countries on opposite sides of the theater, is a clear demonstration of the 15th MEU’s and Essex ARG’s ability to provide flexible, responsive options to the combatant commander and the coalition fighting ISIL,” said Col. Vance L. Cryer, the commanding officer of the 15th MEU. “This is a strong example of the value of forward deployed naval expeditionary forces. These aircraft would not be in a position to make a difference in al-Anbar without the combined efforts of the NavyMarine Corps team.”
SPMAGTF-CR-AF serves a different purpose Story and photos by: Cpl. Olivia McDonald U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa
NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy — Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa volunteered their time at the Giovanni XXIII Institute in Riposto, Italy Aug. 13. The service members spent the day cleaning up the property and making it safer for its residents. Specializing in assisting special-needs adults in and around the community, the Giovanni XXIII Institute has been operating for more than 40 years. “We went out and put up posts for a fence and filled it with concrete for support while others went out and weed-whacked the entire field and playground area,” said Lance Cpl. Jesse Cheadle, a combat engineer with SPMAGTF-CR-AF.
The monastery owns a lot of land consisting of open fields, gardens and chicken coops the residents tend to. There are large open spaces and greenery to enjoy, now made safer by the help of the Marines and sailors. “It is new for me to have American people helping us here,” said Alessandro Coco, the director of activities for the day, as he expressed his sentiments toward U.S. military members taking time out of their busy schedules to help the Sicilian community. The Marines and sailors didn’t waste any time after arriving. After Coco showed the volunteers his vision, they immediately went to work cutting grass, mixing cement and setting posts. In just a few hours, the Marines and sailors completed the work leaving time for them to eat lunch and view artwork the residents created. The fence will now allow more freedom of movement around the grounds of the Institute that had areas of un-
Marines mix cement during a volunteer opportunity at the Giovanni XXIII Institute in Riposto, Italy Aug. 13. The cement was used to put up a fence along the property for improved safety along the slopes of the yard. The Marines are with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa.
safe steep declines and overgrown fields. “I like getting my hands dirty and it makes me happy helping other people,” said Cheadle. “Any time I can help and assist the Sicilian community, I am here to help.” Coco was amazed at not just how fast the Marines and sailors completed the job, but at the quality of their work. He likes the idea that the Marines are always looking for opportunities to help the community outside the NAS Sigonella gates. He is looking forward to the opportunity to see the Marines again. While SPMAGTF-CR-AF is strategically positioned at NAS Sigonella to stage and prepare for theater security cooperation missions and crisis response in Africa, Marines and sailors continue to build on previous units’ efforts in Sicily to further solidify a strong partnership between the U.S. and its Italian friends.
Marines and sailors pose for a photo after volunteering at the Giovanni Institute XXIII in Riposto, Italy Aug. 13. They spent the day building a fence and clearing fields so the residents of the institute could enjoy the grounds more freely and safely. The service members are with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa.
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The Jet Stream
Friday, August 21, 2015
Classifieds
Graduates
The Jet Stream
Friday, August 21, 2015
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Classifieds
The Jet Stream
Friday, August 21, 2015
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