Jet Stream The
Friday, January 8, 2016 Vol. 51, No. 1 Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.
India and Papa Company Graduates
“The noise you hear is the sound of freedom.”
Commandant visits Fightertown, speaks with Marines
Military Persons of the Year selected
Thunderbolts storm USS Roosevelt
See Page 09
4
5
8
beaufort.marines.mil | facebook.com/MCASBeaufort | youtube.com/MCASBeaufort | mcasbetwitter.com/MCASBeaufortSC
Year in Review
January Marine Division Tactics Course takes off February First international F-35B arrives aboard Fightertown March Thunderbolts storm to USS Roosevelt April MCAS Beaufort Air Show 2015 May Memorial Day: A day of remembrance June VMFAT-501 completes OT-1 on ship July VMFA-312 soars to Western Pacific
August VMFA-112 viit MCAS Beaufort in support of EWTGLANT misions September MCAS Beaufort hosts Hornet training squadron October Commandant visits Fightertown, speaks to Marines November Mission complete:VMFA-251 returns home December VMFT-401 arrives in Fightertown, trains with Warlords
Congratulations to Fightertown Congratulations to the marines, sailors, civilian marines, and families of MarineCorps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort as you commemorate your 61st year of dedicated service to our Corps on 1 January 2016! In 2015, MCAS Beaufort maintained a high operational tempo, deploying your six operational F/A-18 squadrons throughout the world. From the continental United States, to the Middle East, to the Western Pacific, you remained in constant support of the Marine Corps’ forward presence against terrorism while assisting in theater security cooperation exercises with our international partners all while maintaining a high state of readiness for your tenant commands. Despite the challenging deployment cycles
and high operational tempo, units and staff aboard MCAS Beaufort received top-level performance recognition as the winner of the FY14 Secretary of the Navy Environmental Planning Team award for the Townsend Bombing Range planning team. Additionally, MCAS Beaufort’s high level of commitment to safety led to the Secretary of the Navy Safety Excellence award for off-duty base safety. This past July marked the one-year anniversary of the arrival of the F-35B Lightning II to MCAS Beaufort. As the premiere location for F-35B training for the Marine Corps, the Department of Defense, and our international partners, your installation will continue to represent the future of Marine Aviation with the construction of new hangars and
support structures while you prepare to receive more F-35 squadrons for the Marine Corps’ continued position as the nation’s force in readiness. Especially during these times of heightened security and increased physical and cyber security threats, your dedication to excellence has been truly inspiring and essential to the overall success of the air station. The Marines, sailors, and civilian Marines of Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune join me in offering congratulations and best wishes for continued success. Semper Fidelis! Brig. Gen. Weidley sends.