Photo By Sgt. Grace L. Waladkewics | Second-grade students from Havelock’s Brinson Memorial Elementary School tour...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Students from Havelock’s Brinson Memorial Elementary School came aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point for a field trip Feb. 27, getting up close with several aircraft and meeting Marines stationed here.
Lt. Col. Walter Butler, commanding officer of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, visited Brinson Memorial the day prior to teach the second-graders about Marine Corps aviation and the importance of teamwork. During Butler’s visit to the school, the students watched “100 Years of Marine Corps Aviation,” and saw a slide show of the various aircraft they would see during their field trip.
Marine volunteers with VMGR-252, and several other Cherry Point-based squadrons, greeted the students when they arrived on the flight line. Butler quizzed the students on different aircraft and handed out coins for correct answers.
The Marines hoped to share with the students some of the keys to the squadrons’ successes, according to Butler.
“I drew a picture for the students by explaining the Marine Corps as a big team,” said Butler. “I explained that one player on a baseball team can’t pitch, hit and catch all at the same time. The whole team has to work together to make the play and get the job done.”
On the flight line, the students saw unmanned aerial vehicles, the AH-1W Super Cobra, the AV-8B Harrier and an EA-6B Prowler, and climbed in aircraft like the KC-130J, HH-46E Sea Knight and CH-53E Super Stallion.
Several students were fortunate enough to not only tour the base with their class, but also have their parents, who work on MCAS Cherry Point, take a break from work and tour the base alongside them.
Aside from getting up close with and learning about aircraft used at the air station, the students learned some of the basics about the Marine Corps. With a close connection to the Marine Corps at the school, many of the students have parents who work at MCAS Cherry Point. The Marines of VMGR-252 wanted to shed some light on the day-to-day operations aboard the air station, according to 1st Lt. Joshua Soltan, the adjutant for VMGR-252.
“This is a way for them to be able to feel part of the community and bring them closer to what we do here,” said Soltan. “This allows them to understand that we are here for them and it’s all in the service to the county.”
After leaving the VMGR-252 hangar, the students visited the military police and toured the Provost Marshal’s Office.
Students saw emergency services vehicles and got to tour the various sections of the office while at PMO.
Students used night vision, saw the police dispatch center and visited the Criminal Investigation Division where they tried to solve a mystery using fingerprints.
“We enjoy being around the kids and having all the bright minds come out and ask questions,” said Soltan. “It’s truly special and a blessing to continue to do the job for the country we love.”
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2014 11:30 |
| Story ID: | 121585 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | HAVELOCK, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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