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Friday, June 27, 2014 Vol. 49, No. 25 Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.
“The noise you hear is the sound of freedom.”
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Infantrymen assist during Afghan election Page 10
Marines, Georgians promote interoperability Page 10
Cryogenics Marines: keepin’ it cool Page 12
Air Station Marine earns Maj. Megan McClung Leadership Award Cpl. Sarah Cherry Staff Writer
Staff Sgt. Melissa Johnson, operations chief with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, received the Major Megan McClung Leadership Award during the Sea Service Leadership Association’s Joint Leadership Symposium in Norfolk, Va., June 12. Brig. Gen. Lori Reynolds, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island commanding general, presented the award to Johnson which recognizes leaders who are mature, inspirational, innovative and imaginative. Johnson is currently the operations chief aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, but received the award for her leadership and actions as a drill instructor, senior drill instructor and chief drill instructor for 4th Recruit Training Battalion aboard Parris Island. “I’ve spoken with a number of people who told me that they knew Maj. Megan McClung or had served with her since I was selected to receive the award,” she said. “Learning about see
awarD, page 6
Options for Changing Health Care Providers Cpl. Brendan Roethel Staff Writer
Photo By Cpl. Sarah Cherry
Lieutenant Colonels Kevin O’Rourke (left) and Alvin Bryant (right) shake hands after a change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, June 19. O’Rourke relinquished command of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 to Bryant, who previously served as MCAS Beaufort’s Marine Aviation Training Systems Site officer in charge.
Changing health care providers during a permanent change of station is becoming less difficult through programs put into place by Tri-Care. Following the closure of Tri-Care Service Centers on April 1, Tri-Care Health Services released information informing Tri-Care beneficiaries about the several options to find new health care providers when moving to a new duty station or other residence. “We have a lot of folks to make sure the health care is there with good support for beneficiaries,” said Mary Kaye Justis, the assistant deputy director of Tri-Care Management Activity.“When you’re moving there are a lot of changes going on, and we want to make it as easy as possible through the multiple safety nets that exist in both our military treatment facilities and in our network.” The first step service members and families should take is to update their information with their new address and duty station in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, also see
tri-Care, page 13
Fightertown feeds families Cpl. Brendan Roethel
Staff Writer
The 6th Annual Feds Feed Families Campaign began June 18, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The campaign, which runs through August, is a voluntary effort undertaken by federal employees to bring nonperishable food items to their offices for distribution to local food banks. The food is used to support food insecure households in the surrounding communities. Donation boxes are located at the Marine Corps Exchanges on MCAS Beaufort and Laurel Bay and the Station Chapel. This year the Department of the Navy’s goal is to col-
lect one pound of food or goods per active duty service member. Last year, Fightertown service members and civilians collected and donated 559 pounds of food and other non-perishable items. The donated goods collected on the Air Station will be brought to the Lowcountry Food Bank in Yemassee. From there the food gets distributed to 52 local agencies in Beaufort, Hampton, Jasper and Colleton counties, finding its way into the homes of Americans in need. “The Marine Corps likes to work hand in hand with the local communities,” said see
Donate, page 6