MCAS New River News

The reactivation of HMLA-269 provides 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and II Marine Expeditionary Force with additional offensive air support, utility support, armed escort, and airborne supporting arms capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Theodore Bergan) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jens Gilbertson, left, from Washington, the commanding officer, and Sgt. Maj. Perry Bessant, from South Carolina, the command senior enlisted leader, both with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 269, uncase the organizational colors during a reactivation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, July 1, 2024. The reactivation of HMLA-269 provides 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and II Marine Expeditionary Force with additional offensive air support, utility support, armed escort, and airborne supporting arms capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Theodore Bergan)

HMLA-269 reactivates after 18-month hiatus

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 269, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), reactivated during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina, July 1. HMLA-269, known as “The Gunrunners,” previously deactivated on Dec. 9, 2022, in accordance with Force Design initiatives. Throughout the course of the squadron’s brief deactivation, the Marine Corps conducted analysis on force management in order to ensure that no operational commitments were left unfulfilled. This analysis identified the need for an additional HMLA squadron on the East Coast to provide sustained operational support to II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). This change within 2nd MAW represents incremental change to Force Design to meet the conditions described in recent national security and defense strategies. The reactivation ceremony featured remarks from Col. David Fitzsimmons, commanding officer, Marine Aircraft Group 29, who thanked the various advocates at 2nd MAW, II MEF, and Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, that made HMLA-269's reactivation possible. “It was a decidedly somber day when HMLA-269 deactivated,” said Fitzsimmons. “That was certainly reversed today.” Also present was Lt. Col. Jens Gilbertson, commanding officer, HMLA-269, who highlighted Marine Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMA) 269’s legacy as the Marine Corps’ first attack helicopter squadron and recounted the multiple pilots and aircrew within HMA and HMLA-269's history who received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He noted that HMA and HMLA-269 was recognized eight times by the Marine Corps Aviation Association as the Marine Corps’ Light Attack Helicopter Squadron of the Year, more so than any other Marine Corps light attack helicopter squadron in history. Gilbertson also recognized the Marines of HMLA-269 who enabled the squadron’s reactivation. “Ultimately, it was up to these Marines to get it done,” said Gilbertson. “They have discipline, and they have precision, and that’s the same discipline and precision they’re going to bring when they maintain and fly our aircraft.” The squadron will resume operating the AH-1Z “Viper” attack helicopter and the UH-1Y “Venom” utility helicopter. Both aircraft are manned, trained, and equipped to fight from the sea into austere environments and confined littoral spaces, and support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force by providing offensive air support, utility support, armed escort, and airborne supporting arms coordination.

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MARINE CORPS LAUNCHES BARRACKS DIGITAL MAINTENANCE REQUEST SYSTEM SERVICE-WIDE

The Marine Corps launched and has fully implemented QSRMax, which is the service’s main effort to upgrade its maintenance request system from analog to digital.QSRMax simplifies the process for submitting maintenance requests by empowering Marines with a convenient means to submit barracks maintenance support requests directly to the USMCMax system

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Vacation Bible School held at Protestant Chapel on MCB Camp Lejeune - A Vacation Bible School (VBS) student participates in a group prayer at the Protestant Chapel on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 29, 2023. VBS is the largest event for children that the United States Navy Chaplain Corps sponsors each year in support of military families. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jorge Borjas)

Camp Lejeune Vacation Bible School Begins Soon, Sign-up Today!

Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base (MCIEAST-MCB) Camp Lejeune Chaplains Office, invites children to attend Vacation Bible School, June 25-27 for Protestants, and non-Protestants, or Catholics, July 9-11 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily during these times at the Main Protestant Chapel on McHugh Blvd.Protestant Chapel VBS: Parents can sign

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2024 Carolina Breeze Exercise on MCAS New River - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Garth Burnett, right, commanding officer, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, speaks to shelter team members at the MCAS New River Fitness Center during a tour of shelter locations as part of the Carolina Breeze Destructive Weather Exercise (DWX) on MCAS New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, June 12, 2024. MCAS New River held the Carolina Breeze DWX to test the base’s emergency response capabilities in order to promote flexibility and readiness during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Leo Amaro)

Marine Corps Installations East prepare for active hurricane season

With an active hurricane season predicted, two Onslow County-based Marine Corps installations simultaneously exercised their response capabilities this week. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River annually conduct destructive weather exercises to prepare for the Atlantic Hurricane Season which runs June 1 to November

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Vietnam War Veteran Tour on MCAS New River - U.S. Marines with Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River and Vietnam War veterans, who served with Hotel Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, pose for a photo at the New River Aviation Memorial during a tour on MCAS New River, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, April 26, 2024. The tour included a visit to the New River Aviation Memorial, the Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 hanger and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alyssa J. DeCrane)

Vietnam War Veterans Tour MCAS New River

Vietnam War veterans from Hotel Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines (H/3/12) toured Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River during a recent visit to Jacksonville, North Carolina. The group, who tries to meet up at least once per year, included 11 veterans and their unit commanding officer during the war.During the tour the veterans visited the

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The First, First Responders: National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week 2024 - Amber Penland, 911 dispatcher, Security Emergency Services, poses for a photo during National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 9, 2024. During the month of April, National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is held to honor personnel in the public safety sector for their dedicated service to the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jennifer E. Douds)

The First, First Responders: National Public Safety Telecommunicator Appreciation Week 2024

During the month of April, National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is held to honor personnel in the public safety community for their dedicated service to our communities within Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, Stone Bay Rifle Range, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, and the Greater

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New child development center to open at New River in 2025 - Building AS-207 revamps to house a new Child Development Center (CDC) on Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, April 4, 2024. The new CDC will add 82 more childcare spaces to support service members and families assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Loriann Dauscher)

New child development center to open at New River in 2025

Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) Lejeune-New River is set to open a new child development center (CDC) on Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in spring of 2025. This will be the eighth CDC that MCCS Lejeune-New River operates, and the second CDC located on the air station.The new CDC will add 82 more childcare spaces to support service

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Marine Corps Forces Command Marine of the Year - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Michael J. Cervellera, an assistant noncommissioned officer in charge, Regional Personnel Administration Center with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, poses for a photo on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 21, 2024. Cervellera was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal along with the Marine of the Year award for 2023 and was also recognized as the MCAS New River Go Getter for the month of March. (U.S. Marine Corps photo illustration by Lance Cpl. Alyssa J. DeCrane)

Marine Corps Forces Command Marine of the Year

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Michael J. Cervellera, an assistant noncommissioned officer in charge (ANCOIC), Regional Personnel Administration Center with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was recognized as the Marine Corps Forces Command Marine of the Year for 2023 on March

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Exercise Nordic Response is an opportunity for the 2nd MAW to refine the DAO warfighting concept, which focuses on generating aviation combat power through the dispersion of aviation squadrons, command-and-control agencies, aviation logistics, and aviation ground-support units across the battlefield while integrating with allies and partners. Exercise Nordic Response 24 is designed to enhance military capabilities and allied cooperation in high-intensity warfighting scenarios under challenging arctic conditions, while providing U.S. Marines unique opportunities to train alongside NATO allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher Hernandez) - U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), stage in a U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet after landing in preparation for distributed aviation operations (DAO) during Exercise Nordic Response 24 at Oulu, Finland, March 9, 2024. Exercise Nordic Response is an opportunity for the 2nd MAW to refine the DAO warfighting concept, which focuses on generating aviation combat power through the dispersion of aviation squadrons, command-and-control agencies, aviation logistics, and aviation ground-support units across the battlefield while integrating with allies and partners. Exercise Nordic Response 24 is designed to enhance military capabilities and allied cooperation in high-intensity warfighting scenarios under challenging arctic conditions, while providing U.S. Marines unique opportunities to train alongside NATO allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher Hernandez)