thedrifter
10-11-05, 06:32 PM
October 17, 2005
Marine News Briefs
A pregame prank
Pranksters from the Naval Academy pulled off a coup just days before the Navy was to take on the Air Force Academy in football Oct. 8, according to the Gazette newspaper in Colorado Springs, Colo.
It seems midshipmen on an exchange program at the Air Force Academy painted a vintage F-4 Phantom in the Blue Angels’ colors.
According to the paper, the prank was discovered Oct. 4, and the paint, which could be washed off, was removed that day.
“The cadets here will get their just revenge when we beat Navy this weekend,” pledged academy spokesman Lt. Col. Laurent Fox.
Fox said academy bosses aren’t hunting down the miscreants because they took obvious pains not to damage the plane.
2nd MAW’s best honored
Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee and the sergeant major of the Marine Corps visited with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s recently recognized Marine and noncommissioned officer of the quarter during a trip to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, according to an Oct. 3 Marine Corps news release.
Lance Cpl. Andrew Pendracki, a combat cameraman with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, and Cpl. Deborah Myatt, administrative clerk for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764, were honored for their achievements by Sgt. Maj. John Estrada, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, in September.
Before earning their respective titles, Pendracki and Myatt had to compete for the distinctions under the scrutiny of senior staff noncommissioned officers at preliminary unit-level boards.
Both Marines expressed surprise at being selected by their boards, according to the release.
Pendracki is on his second tour of duty in Iraq and Myatt is on her first, the release said.
Searching for e-recruits
Marine recruiters on Long Island, N.Y., are selling the Corps through the popular Craig’s List Web site, according to an Oct. 3 report by WCBS News Radio.
“We’re an open site, available to anyone acting honestly,” said site founder Craig Newmark.
The advertisement reads, “The most elite and highly trained military organization in the world provides guaranteed skill training in over 400 specialties to include accounting, administration, computers, engineering, aviation, infantry, auto mechanics, legal specialist and many more.”
The ad seeks high school graduates between the ages of 17 and 28 living in the United States. It also promotes the availability of full-time and part-time positions and touts 30 days of paid vacation.
Freedom bird flies again
Marines stationed on Okinawa, Japan, will continue to look into the sky on Thursdays and see the plane that carries leathernecks off the island when their tours on “the rock” are up, according to a Sept. 28 Marine Corps news release.
U.S. Transportation Command brokered a one-year renewal of the contract that brings Patriot Express flights, known as the “Freedom Bird,” to and from Okinawa.
In February, officials decided to end the contract, which would have expired Oct. 1, and shop for a new one, citing high operating costs and limited passenger usage, according to the release.
However, according to Air Force Lt. Gen. Bruce Wright, commander of U.S. Forces Japan, it was determined after careful review that Patriot Express flights were vital to the quality of life of personnel stationed in Japan and to the mission there.
The long-term fate of Patriot Express flights to Okinawa and mainland Japan will be determined by passenger usage when it is re-evaluated next year, according to the release.
Every seat aboard a Patriot Express flight costs the government $951, even if the seats aren’t used.
According to Glen Downes, traffic manager for Camp Butler’s Traffic Management Office, 6,342 people flew aboard the Patriot Express in fiscal 2004 for permanent changes of station to Okinawa, far from filling the available passenger capacity of 19,200.
Corn maze honors military
A Temecula, Calif., family showed its appreciation for the military by planting an 8-acre corn maze that represents all the services in action when seen from above, according to an Oct. 6 Marine Corps news release.
The Corps is represented by the flag-raising at Iwo Jima; the Army with an M1A1 Abrams tank; the Navy with the Battleship Missouri; and the Air Force with an F-16 Fighting Falcon.
“It’s our little contribution,” said Rose Corona for the family owned and operated Corona Ranch and Big Horse Feed and Mercantile in Temecula.
“We really appreciate what our military does for our country. It affords me to have my business,” she said.
The Corona family has been making mazes in its corn crop since 1999, the release said.
Beaufort is golden
The secretary of the Navy’s office awarded a “Gold level of achievement” to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., in recognition of its efforts toward energy conservation, the Corps announced Sept. 30.
The air station received the award for putting an energy-savings performance contract in place, according to Neil Tisdale, the air station’s maintenance utilities director. The air station partnered with Trane Corp. in an $11.1 million contract to install geothermal technology.
Under the contract, the station installed a micro-turbine co-generation plant that produces 1.5 megawatts of electricity to power and heat barracks, medical facilities and the chow hall.
The station’s energy-conservation efforts are saving it about $1,170,000 annually, according to the release.
Ellie
Marine News Briefs
A pregame prank
Pranksters from the Naval Academy pulled off a coup just days before the Navy was to take on the Air Force Academy in football Oct. 8, according to the Gazette newspaper in Colorado Springs, Colo.
It seems midshipmen on an exchange program at the Air Force Academy painted a vintage F-4 Phantom in the Blue Angels’ colors.
According to the paper, the prank was discovered Oct. 4, and the paint, which could be washed off, was removed that day.
“The cadets here will get their just revenge when we beat Navy this weekend,” pledged academy spokesman Lt. Col. Laurent Fox.
Fox said academy bosses aren’t hunting down the miscreants because they took obvious pains not to damage the plane.
2nd MAW’s best honored
Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee and the sergeant major of the Marine Corps visited with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s recently recognized Marine and noncommissioned officer of the quarter during a trip to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, according to an Oct. 3 Marine Corps news release.
Lance Cpl. Andrew Pendracki, a combat cameraman with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, and Cpl. Deborah Myatt, administrative clerk for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764, were honored for their achievements by Sgt. Maj. John Estrada, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, in September.
Before earning their respective titles, Pendracki and Myatt had to compete for the distinctions under the scrutiny of senior staff noncommissioned officers at preliminary unit-level boards.
Both Marines expressed surprise at being selected by their boards, according to the release.
Pendracki is on his second tour of duty in Iraq and Myatt is on her first, the release said.
Searching for e-recruits
Marine recruiters on Long Island, N.Y., are selling the Corps through the popular Craig’s List Web site, according to an Oct. 3 report by WCBS News Radio.
“We’re an open site, available to anyone acting honestly,” said site founder Craig Newmark.
The advertisement reads, “The most elite and highly trained military organization in the world provides guaranteed skill training in over 400 specialties to include accounting, administration, computers, engineering, aviation, infantry, auto mechanics, legal specialist and many more.”
The ad seeks high school graduates between the ages of 17 and 28 living in the United States. It also promotes the availability of full-time and part-time positions and touts 30 days of paid vacation.
Freedom bird flies again
Marines stationed on Okinawa, Japan, will continue to look into the sky on Thursdays and see the plane that carries leathernecks off the island when their tours on “the rock” are up, according to a Sept. 28 Marine Corps news release.
U.S. Transportation Command brokered a one-year renewal of the contract that brings Patriot Express flights, known as the “Freedom Bird,” to and from Okinawa.
In February, officials decided to end the contract, which would have expired Oct. 1, and shop for a new one, citing high operating costs and limited passenger usage, according to the release.
However, according to Air Force Lt. Gen. Bruce Wright, commander of U.S. Forces Japan, it was determined after careful review that Patriot Express flights were vital to the quality of life of personnel stationed in Japan and to the mission there.
The long-term fate of Patriot Express flights to Okinawa and mainland Japan will be determined by passenger usage when it is re-evaluated next year, according to the release.
Every seat aboard a Patriot Express flight costs the government $951, even if the seats aren’t used.
According to Glen Downes, traffic manager for Camp Butler’s Traffic Management Office, 6,342 people flew aboard the Patriot Express in fiscal 2004 for permanent changes of station to Okinawa, far from filling the available passenger capacity of 19,200.
Corn maze honors military
A Temecula, Calif., family showed its appreciation for the military by planting an 8-acre corn maze that represents all the services in action when seen from above, according to an Oct. 6 Marine Corps news release.
The Corps is represented by the flag-raising at Iwo Jima; the Army with an M1A1 Abrams tank; the Navy with the Battleship Missouri; and the Air Force with an F-16 Fighting Falcon.
“It’s our little contribution,” said Rose Corona for the family owned and operated Corona Ranch and Big Horse Feed and Mercantile in Temecula.
“We really appreciate what our military does for our country. It affords me to have my business,” she said.
The Corona family has been making mazes in its corn crop since 1999, the release said.
Beaufort is golden
The secretary of the Navy’s office awarded a “Gold level of achievement” to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., in recognition of its efforts toward energy conservation, the Corps announced Sept. 30.
The air station received the award for putting an energy-savings performance contract in place, according to Neil Tisdale, the air station’s maintenance utilities director. The air station partnered with Trane Corp. in an $11.1 million contract to install geothermal technology.
Under the contract, the station installed a micro-turbine co-generation plant that produces 1.5 megawatts of electricity to power and heat barracks, medical facilities and the chow hall.
The station’s energy-conservation efforts are saving it about $1,170,000 annually, according to the release.
Ellie