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Friday, May 15, 2015 Vol. 50, No. 19 Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.
India & Papa Co. graduates
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“The noise you hear is the sound of freedom.” 2 3 facebook.com/MCASBeaufort 3 Beaufort.Marines.mil
twitter.com/MCASBeaufortSC
Marines provide Naval security Page 8
CGI maintains Fightertown readiness Page 4
US, Spain EOD Marines finish joint exercise Page 9
Lance Cpl. Samantha Torres Staff Writer
Marines gathered into formation for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312’s change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, May 8. Lt. Col. Nathan M. Miller, the commanding officer of VMFA312, relinquished command to Lt. Col. Harry F. Thomas Jr. “Today is about gratitude and the Marine Corps,” said Miller. “No other organization in the world has warrior ethos like the Marine Corps. Where else can you look someone right in the eyes and say ooh-rah, and the response be kill. To the Marines of the squadron, stay passionate and stay hungry.” Miller took over VMFA-312 as the commanding officer in December 2013. He has conducted nearly 3,700 mishap-free flight hours in the F/A-18, and has completed 97 combat missions. Thomas reported to the Silver Eagles of VMFA-115 aboard MCAS Beaufort in March 2002 as a first lieutenant. He has deployed several times aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, including combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Thomas has been assigned
to several squadrons throughout his career including the Silver Eagles of VMFA-115, the Checkerboards of VMFA-312, the Thunderbolts of VMFA-251, Marine Aircraft Group 12 in Iwakuni, Japan, and the Bats of VMFA(AW)-242. In 2006, Thomas attended the Navy Fighter Weapons School, also known as Topgun, where he became an instructor pilot. He was the Navy and Marine Corps subject matter expert on close air support, armed reconnais-
sance, strike coordination and reconnaissance, and large force employment. While assigned to Topgun, served as the readiness officer, standardization officer, and executive officer and was qualified in the F/A-18 Hornet, F/ A18-E Super hornet, and F-16N Viper. “I was fortunate enough to come and observe the checkerboards for the last six weeks before taking command,” said see
VMFa-312 Page 7
May marks AAPI Heritage Month Lance Cpl. Jonah V. Lovy Staff Writer
Military Persons of the Year selected Lance Cpl. Jonah V. Lovy
dez from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Sgt Jessica Jack from Parris Island, and Petty Officer 1st Class Viviana Garcia from Beaufort The Beaufort Rotary Club honored service Naval Hospital. Marines and sailors are chosen for this members from around the Tri-Command with the Military Person of the Year award ceremo- award by their commands, said Greg Dyson, the head of the military affairs committee for ny, May 6. A person from each of the three bases was see MPOTY, Page 4 presented with the award. Sgt. Javier FernanStaff Writer
This May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is observed on Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The month is a celebration of the achievements reached by Asian Americans and everything they have given this country. The theme for this year’s AAPI Heritage Month is ‘Many Cultures, One Voice: Promote Equality and Inclusion. “This theme emphasizes the diversity of the AAPI members who come from over 30 ethnically distinct groups originating from the Asian and Pacific regions,” said Gunnery Sgt. Michele Tapia, the equal oppor-
Courtesy Photo
tunity representative aboard MCAS Beaufort. The AAPI Heritage Month is observed throughout the month of May and will be culminated with a celebration near the end of the month President Jimmy Carter was the first president to desigsee
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