The Windsock February 27, 2014

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Vol. 72, No. 9

February 27, 2014

www.cherrypoint.marines.mil

2nd MAW Fwd stands down ‘until next time’ CPL. S. T. STEWART MCAS CHERRY POINT

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) formally deactivated during a ceremony at Cherry Point, Feb. 19. The unit activated Nov. 30, 2012, beginning deployments to Afghanistan January 2013. For more than a year, 2nd MAW (Fwd.) had aerial responsibility of southwestern Afghanistan. During that time they supported NATO’s International Security Assistance Force operations in partnership with Afghan National Security Forces. For more than a year, the wing provided all manner of aviation support to troops on the ground. They provided close-air-support, troop transport, assault transport and medical evacuations. 2nd MAW (Fwd.) was at the forefront of a transitional period to Afghan control, the beginning of See DEACTIVATION page A7

Sun’s out, guns out CMC sends letter to NCOs, ‘Corps is going sleeves up’ CPL. S. T. STEWART MCAS CHERRY POINT

PHOTO BY CPL. S. T. STEWART

Col. Scott S. Jensen, commanding officer of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and Sgt. Maj. Thomas W. Foster, 2nd MAW (Fwd.), case the unit’s colors during a deactivation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Feb. 19.

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos announced Tuesday, the Corps is going sleeves up March 9. Amos released a letter to Marine noncommissioned officers stating his intent. Marine Administrative Message 078/14 regarding the uniform policy change was released Wednesday morning. The decision was made by the Corps’ top leaders after their tour around the Corps to speak to the NCOs. See SLEEVES page A7

Cherry Point essential personnel maintain station readiness year round LANCE CPL. GRACE L. WALADKEWICS MCAS CHERRY POINT

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point essential personnel are Marines, Sailors and civilian workers who report to work during all weather conditions. Essential personnel report for duty during inclement weather to ensure station necessities like utilities, emergency services and food services `remain available for air station personnel and residents. Designated workers from the Mission Assurance branch stand watch in the station’s Emergency Operations Center, maintaining contact with the essential personnel on duty and local agencies moni-

toring on and off base conditions. “The Emergency Operations Center is the coordination hub during an emergency situation,” said Grant DeHaven, program manager for Mission Assurance. “The EOC provides support to all departments that remain operational during an emergency.” Security and Emergency Services work alongside facilities maintenance to ensure all utilities are functioning, roads, parking lots and runways are cleared, and emergency personnel can be contacted and easily navigate the station when needed. From the EOC, the Crisis Action Team maintains contact with installation ser-

vices and talks to outside agencies, like the National Weather Service and county emergency services, to plan an appropriate course of action, said DeHaven. Cherry Point has a memorandum of agreement with community agencies, like police and emergency services, to assist and support each other during emergencies. The Meteorology and Oceanography Center remains open 24-hours a day to update station employees of current and upcoming weather conditions and to respond to further weather developments. “It is important to ensure base operations are functioning even when some

missions temporarily stop operating,” said DeHaven. “Our mission is to restore operations as quickly as possible and, in the mean time, maintain crucial things like utilities and emergency services.” While Marine Corps Community Service employees remain at work on a caseby-case basis to operate restaurants and other station facilities, like convenience stores and gyms, Marine supply staff members are vital because they must maintain dining facilities. “It is important that designated emergency service personnel step up and conSee PERSONNEL page A7

NMCRS fund drive kicks off LANCE CPL. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA MCAS CHERRY POINT

The Navy Marine Corps Relief Society’s annual active duty fund drive kicks off Saturday and runs through the end of March aboard Cherry Point. The purpose of the fund drive is to educate Marines and Sailors about the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and to gain essential working capital for its operations through donations. The NMCRS is a nonprofit organization established to help active duty service members, retirees and family members by offering financial assistance. In an emergency, the society can provide assistance for funeral expenses, disaster relief assistance or medical co-pays. Additionally, the society offers budget counseling, financial management and loans.

“We all realize we have needs and fall into bad times,” said Cmdr. Alejandro Alvarado, the fund drive manager for 2014. “These kinds of things happen so we do this drive to help the Marines and Sailors.” Last year, 65,358 Marines, Sailors and families throughout the Department of the Navy received more than $49 million in financial assistance. Nearly 2,000 Marines, Sailors and families throughout Cherry Point received more than $700 thousand in financial assistance. Donations supported various needs including airfare and travel expenses during emergency leave and essential vehicle repairs. “Our main goal is to help all those under financial stress,” said See NMCRS page A7

LANCE CPL. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA

Lt. Col. Troy M. Pehrson signs an allotment form for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society’s annual active duty fund drive at Cherry Point Tuesday. The fund drive kicks off Saturday and runs through the end of March. Pehrson is the executive officer of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.

Marines, Sailors show support at family fun day LANCE CPL. JOSHUA R. HEINS MCAS CHERRY POINT

More than 100 Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Marines and Sailors volunteered their time to assist in A Dog’s Dream Dreamer’s Foundation’s third annual family fun day at the New Bern Convention Center, Saturday. “We are doing this event to raise awareness about animal rescue,” said Dan Spangler, promoter of the event. “The Dreamer’s Foundation is non-profit organization with two goals: foster and taking care of animals, and helping out other rescues with donations and support.” The amount of volunteers from Cherry Point was awesome, according to Spangler. Volunteers supported the event last year and came through again See FUN page A7

News Briefs

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MOUT Training

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CPR Course

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Menus

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449th TAB

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Announcements

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LANCE CPL. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA

Service members dress up as Mario and Luigi characters to take turns in the dunk tank during A Dog’s Dream Dreamer’s Foundation’s third annual family fun day at the New Bern Convention Center Saturday.

Content can also be found online All stories and photos can be found at: • www.cherrypoint.marines.mil • www.dvidshub.net/unit/MCAS-CP Read the Windsock online at: • www.issuu.com/mcascherrypoint Like us on Facebook: • www.facebook.com/mcascherrypoint • www.facebook.com/TheAirShow Follow us on Twitter: • www.twitter.com/mcascherrypoint More photos can be found on Flickr: • www.flickr.com/photos/mcas_cherry_point

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