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.

The newest leadership development program in the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) enterprise is under way at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE). 

FRCE was selected as the beta test site for the NAVAIR Federal Wage System Leadership Development Program (FWSLDP), giving the command's participants the opportunity to be the first in the enterprise to complete this curriculum. The program kicked off April 22 with 10 participants.

The program's learning objectives are aligned with several U.S. Office of Personnel Management Executive Core Qualifications:

• Merit and competence (agility and resilience, problem solving)
• Leading people (accountability, developing others), and
• Foundational competencies: communication, ethical behavior, decisiveness, influencing and team building

The program runs about six months and is designed to cultivate leadership potential among Wage Grade employees by offering comprehensive training and experiences to develop leadership, management and productivity skills. By the end of the program, participants should become stronger leaders and work toward their career aspirations by focusing on enhancing their skills and abilities; improve job performance and open doors to new opportunities by expanding current skill sets and learning new ones; establish and expand their network of peers and senior leaders across the command to make impactful connections; build confidence and personal job satisfaction by learning what the organization needs and how they can contribute to mission success; learn how to manage diverse teams and people effectively by earning their trust in the participant's abilities; and gain organizational knowledge of FRCE and feel more engaged in the mission by understanding where the command is going and how they can help the organization get there. 

The new Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at the North Carolina Global TransPark in Kinston hit another milestone April 15 when the Navy officially signed a lease agreement for the property.

The agreement with the state of North Carolina provides FRCE with 65 acres at the Global TransPark, paving the way for the command’s maintenance support of Navy and Marine Corps C/KC-130 Hercules/Super Hercules transport aircraft and Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II search and rescue helicopters, scheduled to begin in September.

“This historic initiative will increase the nation’s depot capacity for both the C-130 and HH-60W aircraft, significantly enhancing fleet readiness, while simultaneously creating hundreds of highly skilled technical jobs, providing a major economic boost to eastern North Carolina,” said FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. Randy J. Berti.

“We’re also anticipating that our team – working in this new, state-of-the-art facility – will provide unprecedented efficiency due to the thoughtful flow and design,” Berti continued.

The partnership between the Navy and the state of North Carolina is the first of its kind within the Department of War and represents an innovative collaboration. The idea for the project originated more than six years ago to address both the need for a C-130 maintenance facility on the east coast, and the lack of adequate space for such a facility.

In 2023, state lawmakers approved $350 million in funding for Global TransPark to conduct site improvements to accommodate the 750,000-square-foot FRCE facility. The Navy will operate the depot under a long-term lease executed by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC). The arrangement resulted in an estimated $700 million cost avoidance for the U.S. government and cut the construction timeline by more than 50%.

“The acquisition strategy we executed in partnership with the State of North Carolina is just one example of how NAVFAC is delivering warfighting infrastructure in new and innovative ways while saving millions of dollars and shaving years off the delivery schedule,” said NAVFAC Commander Rear Adm. Jeff Kilian.  “We know that traditional military construction isn’t always the best solution.  At FRCE, we addressed a critical C-130 infrastructure gap on the east coast by combining unique authorities made available by Congress for real estate leases and intergovernmental support agreements.” 

The Navy-North Carolina partnership is pioneering in its approach, Berti noted.

“This collaboration could serve as a repeatable, scalable model for future infrastructure projects across the Department of War, demonstrating how federal and state entities can partner to deliver critical capabilities faster and more cost-effectively,” he explained. “This groundbreaking solution could be a true game changer in the way the organic industrial base provides support to the warfighter.”

Along with enhanced aviation readiness for the nation’s warfighters, leaders anticipate the facility will bring growth to eastern North Carolina in the form of jobs and economic impact.

“The long-term agreement will bring economic prosperity to eastern North Carolina and support our nation’s military readiness,” North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said in an official release. “North Carolina’s strong defense and aviation tradition and world-class workforce make this announcement a perfect partnership.”

FRCE is North Carolina's largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 3,600 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $865 million. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.