An era has officially come to an end. Now that the Marine Corps has officially retired the AV-8B Harrier II, let’s look back at Fleet Readiness Center East’s 50-year legacy of supporting the platform that revolutionized military aviation.

It all began in 1973. Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) was assigned the AV-8A Harrier and F402 engine workload, and the depot inducted its first AV-8A Harrier in 1974. At the time, FRCE was the only rework center in the United States for the Marine Corps’ premier vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Because the platform was so new, much of the maintenance tooling and equipment was designed and manufactured here, and numerous rework and repair procedures for the platform were researched, planned and implemented at FRCE.

Generations of artisans spent their careers watching this platform evolve – from the original AV-8A to the highly advanced, radar-equipped AV-8B Harrier II Plus. Countless hours of hard work and unwavering dedication went into supporting the AV-8, all driven by a single mission: keeping the fleet ready.

After decades of providing world-class maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the legendary jump jet, our team delivered its final Harrier and F402 engine to the fleet in 2024. While bittersweet, this historic effort set the standard of excellence that now fuels the next generation of vertical-lift aircraft.

While their flying days have come to an end, their legacy lives on. We will never forget the incredible skill of the workforce who kept them flying, the roar of the engines on the flight line, and the pride of supporting the Marines who flew them.

What started as a routine inspection on a KC-130J Hercules at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) quickly turned into a coordinated, cross-functional team effort to repair and return the aircraft to the fleet on time.

While performing a scheduled maintenance inspection, called a minor depot inspection, on a KC-130J Hercules, the depot’s Minor Depot Inspection Team identified a corroded component in need of replacement. While discovering corrosion and hidden damage is common during these inspections, FRCE had to act fast as the aircraft was on a tight schedule and due back to the squadron for a modification.

Minor depot inspections are 30-day, depot-level maintenance evolutions focused on diagnosing and repairing discrepancies that fall beyond the scope of maintenance that can be done at the squadron or intermediate level. The goal of these inspections is to maintain the quality, safety and reliability of the aircraft between scheduled, depot-level maintenance events.

With the shortened timeline, FRCE called upon its In-Service Repair Team to complete the repair. Often referred to as the ISR Team, this specialized group of maintenance professionals, engineers and quality assurance specialists is equipped to rapidly tackle emergent, depot-level aircraft repairs for the fleet, worldwide. If the fleet is unable to bring the aircraft to the depot, the ISR Team brings the depot to the aircraft.

“The beauty of the In-Service Repair Team is we’re able to identify an issue and provide depot-level repairs on site, that way it’s a permanent fix,” said a planner on the In-Service Repair Team. “It’s not a temporary repair just to get them back in the air; it’s a repair that will last. Our team goes anywhere we need to go to get the job done. We’ve gone to places like Japan, Hawaii, San Diego, California, and Fort Worth, Texas. For this C-130, it was here on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and it was for a major structural component that often sees corrosion due to its location.”

The corrosion was found on a heavy-duty structural fitting that serves as a connection point between the aircraft’s main body and tail. Because this was the depot’s first time replacing this fitting, the ISR Team had to start from scratch, working alongside various teams within the facility to develop the tooling and techniques to accomplish the task, said the depot’s In-Service Repair Branch head.

“This was a comprehensive repair – not an easy job to do,” said the branch head. “Many man hours went into this across the different disciplines of everyone involved here at FRC East. We had help from our planners, engineers, quality assurance professionals, non-destructive inspectors, paint strippers, machinists in the machine shop, and sheet metal folk. It couldn’t have been done just anywhere; FRC East has all those disciplines here in house and because of that, we were able to staff and support this evolution.”

This cross-functional team effort is helping pave the way for future C-130 repairs at FRCE. Now that the depot has developed the required support equipment for this repair, it is ready to take on more of these repairs in the future.

“This major structural fitting is a zero-tolerance part, meaning it can’t have any bit of corrosion,” said a planner on In-Service Repair Team. “We got a replacement part from the squadron and developed the tooling and jigs to properly drill the holes in the fitting. Now, if we have to do another one of these repairs, we already have everything ready to go. They could drill one up in a matter of days.”

While this specific repair was a first for the team, it bridged the gap between the depot’s current and future support of the C-130 platform. The hands-on experience with a component that is typically addressed during in-depth maintenance evolutions, like those that will take place at the depot’s new aviation maintenance complex set to house FRCE’s incoming C-130 workload at the North Carolina Global TransPark in Kinston, will ensure a more seamless transition when the new facility opens its doors later this year.  

“This was a great learning experience for our team,” said the Field Team Shop supervisor, who oversees the In-Service Repair Team. “For most of our experienced mechanics out on the floor, these kinds of jobs are the ones they strive for because it’s a challenge that tests their abilities. And once they’ve completed the job and overcome that challenge, it puts them in an advantageous position. They now have that specific experience under their belt that nobody else has, which will be helpful for when we transition to Kinston.”

The facility in Kinston will provide more than 700,000 square feet of space to support FRCE’s work on the Navy and Marine Corps C/KC-130J Super Hercules and C/KC-130T Hercules and Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II.

Meeting this tight delivery window eliminated the risk of a missed modification and kept a vital military asset exactly where the fleet needed it: on schedule. This commitment to the fleet is the driving force behind FRCE’s work; by tackling complex repairs with urgency and precision, the depot ensures the warfighter remains ready to respond to any mission.

A Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) Marine’s dedication to service and meticulous attention to detail recently earned recognition as the Marine of the Year for the Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers enterprise. 

In his position as FRCE’s maintenance controller, tiltrotor aircraft mechanic Staff Sgt. Jarrett Reynolds plays an instrumental role in the maintenance, repair and overhaul of four different types of aircraft. He ensures each aircraft receives the appropriate inspections upon induction and required post-maintenance inspections prior to its return to the fleet. 

In the maintenance controller role, Reynolds’ impact on mission accomplishment is significant and tangible, said FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. Randy J. Berti.

“Staff Sergeant Reynolds’ tireless work ethic, keen eye for detail and extensive experience are vital to guaranteeing aircraft are unequivocally safe for flight before returning them to their respective commands,” Berti said. “His diligence ensures that mission-capable aircraft are sent back to the fleet without delay, directly enhancing the operational readiness of the Marine Corps.

“It’s no surprise that Staff Sergeant Reynolds was selected as the COMFRC Marine of the Year,” Berti continued. “Expertise and dedication are hallmarks of his service to our nation, and we couldn’t be prouder of the example that he sets for Marines at FRC East and across the COMFRC enterprise.” 

Retired First Sgt. Linda Scott, the command’s previous senior enlisted leader who departed in May, said Reynolds has further distinguished himself through his commitment to the professional development of junior Marines, his enthusiasm for raising the bar during physical training sessions, and his selfless volunteerism in support of FRCE and the surrounding Cherry Point community, she said.  

“Staff Sergeant Reynolds has established himself as a cornerstone of leadership within FRC East and actively develops his junior Marines into a cohesive team through weekly professional military education and challenging physical training events,” she said. “He leads from the front with infectious enthusiasm and motivation, and fosters a sense of unity and cohesion between the depot’s military and civilian personnel. Staff Sergeant Reynolds’ career is a testament to his dedication, skill and unwavering commitment to the Corps, and will leave a lasting positive impact on the command.” 

For Reynolds, who enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2016 and reported to FRCE in 2023 following tours with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 (VMM-364) and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (VMM-164) at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendelton, California, the award reflects more than his efforts; it reflects the strength of the team.

“It’s not an award for me – it’s an organizational success,” he explained. “I would never claim it as my own. I look good because of the junior Marines I have under me that work hard every day. Through them, and through the guidance of the senior leadership I have, I’m better able to lead, better able to guide those junior Marines to the best of their ability.”

While his work as the command’s maintenance controller has a direct impact on the flightline readiness of operational squadrons, Reynolds said it is also another way to help take care of his fellow Marines. 

“The importance of the work we do here is, ultimately, that FRC East is a force multiplier that provides a good product back to the fleet,” he said. “When we’re conducting those induction inspections and post-maintenance inspections, we’re making sure that all the T’s are crossed and I’s are dotted. We’re ensuring the aircraft complies with any technical directives that have come out while it was at FRC East during its maintenance evolution, or that there is paperwork to document that those directives will be complied with when the plane is back in the fleet.

“It really boils down to just holding people accountable for their specific job when it comes to that plane,” Reynolds continued. “We, as Marines … we’re here to support the grunts. And the best way we can do that is produce the most outstanding product back to the fleet. That way those fleet squadrons can have an upgraded aircraft, an aircraft that is reliable, and they can go forth and do good things.”

A native of Beaufort, South Carolina, who grew up in San Diego, California, and graduated from Mission Vista High School, Reynolds comes from a family with a proud tradition of service. His father, a retired Marine, raised him to believe that a good leader is “firm but just,” and that’s the ethos Reynolds applies to his personal brand of leadership.  

“It’s always been the rule that I grew up with: There’s a time and a place for everything, knowing when to push and when not to,” Reynolds said. “I got a lot of guidance from my dad, coming up through the ranks, and that was one of the things that stuck with me, still to this day.”
Another idea that has stuck with Reynolds: The weight of being a Marine. He uses professional military education opportunities to share that importance with his junior Marines.

“Some of the training involved learning about outstanding Marines in history and the significance of why we’re here,” he said. “It’s a very, very special thing to be considered a Marine.” 

Tucked away from the roar of the flight line, Fleet Readiness Center East’s Cable Shop serves as the depot’s neurosurgeons, performing intricate surgery on the electrical “nerves” that bring aircraft to life. Whether they’re rewiring a five-mile-long wiring harness or manufacturing a new one from scratch, the team’s surgical focus ensures the fleet stays connected and mission-ready.

The Cable Shop provides the fleet with essential depot-level maintenance on aviation electrical components, cables and wire harnesses for the various weapons platforms maintained by FRCE. Wiring harnesses are bundles of electrical cables, wires and connectors that act as the nervous system, transmitting power, sensor data and signals throughout an aircraft.

Despite its small size, this three-person team repairs, overhauls and manufactures hundreds of wiring harnesses each year for the fleet. Serving as a specialized repair source for military aircraft wiring systems, the team performs repairs that go beyond standard fleet-level maintenance capabilities. By integrating these repairs with the facility’s manufacturing operations, FRCE’s Cable Shop provides military aviators with fully tested, ready-to-install hardware designed to minimize aircraft downtime and maximize mission operability.

These mission-critical assemblies are engineered to be modular, ruggedized systems that are capable of withstanding extreme environments, heavy vibration, and high G-forces. While the fleet can perform minor field repairs, such as terminal reconnections, the Cable Shop executes large-scale overhauls and intricate technical repairs required to maintain their structural and electrical integrity, according to the Cable Shop supervisor.

“These wiring harnesses are built to last, built to survive the hard missions,” the shop’s supervisor said. “Oftentimes, when harnesses are sent to us for repairs, it’s because of corrosion, water in the connectors, or repeat field repairs. While they are made with service loops so the fleet can fix a connection on the spot if needed, they can only be re-terminated so many times before they run out of slack. If the wire becomes too short, the whole thing needs to be replaced. That’s where we come in and redo the harness.”

The shop recently introduced an innovative repair solution that saves the fleet tens of thousands per instance on a wiring harness for the V-22 Osprey. This fix significantly extends the life of the harness by replacing a terminal lug with a more effective and durable version, eliminating the need to purchase a replacement. Terminal lugs are electrical connectors that attach to the end of a wire or cable to create a strong and secure connection between the wire and electrical terminals.

FRCE’s Cable Shop is also establishing the capability to test wiring harnesses for the F-35 Lightning II auxiliary power unit. Once established, this will be the first capability the Cable Shop has obtained for the F-35 platform, with plans to expand support in the future.

Repairing and manufacturing wiring harnesses requires expert precision as no two harnesses are identical, according to a Cable Shop electrical equipment repairer. Each wiring harness has unique requirements and technical standards the shop must follow, with varying levels of complexity.

“Wire is very important to keep aircraft flying. Every aircraft system has its own wiring system, each with its own wiring harness, all of which range from 26-gauge to 4-gauge wire,” said the electrical equipment repairer. “The H-53 right- and left-hand main wiring harnesses have over 25,000 feet of wire and coax cable in them, and those are only two of that aircraft’s wiring harnesses. There is also an electronics bay harness and aircraft flight control systems harness, and each contain about 10,000 feet of wire.”

“Attention to detail is critical because each wiring harness is different, and even the smallest deviation can have mission-critical consequences,” the electrical equipment repairer continued. “We have to remember which wire is terminated, where it runs, the size and kind of wire to use, how long it should be, and how and where to mark it – as well as whether it’s twisted or wrapped in a specific casing. It’s very important that we follow our technical drawings for the safety of our service members. Even something as easy as twisting it out of tolerance can cause it to fail.”

Beyond performing intricate repairs, the Cable Shop plays a vital role in the long-term sustainment of military aircraft. By repairing and manufacturing these complex systems with depot-level precision, FRCE ensures that mission-critical hardware is ready and available to meet the fleet’s needs. The shop’s ability to restore wiring harnesses to meet operational requirements not only extends the service life of various weapon platforms, but also provides the fleet with capable, combat-ready aircraft.