By Lance Cpl. Wil Acosta
Staff Correspondent, MCAS, Cherry Point, NC.

On April 26, members of the Naval Aviation Readiness Integrated Improvement program (NAVRIIP) leadership team visited Cherry Point to tour and evaluate the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW).

NAVRIIP evaluates the total end-to-end readiness support process that begins when an aircraft returns from deployment until the aircraft is deployed again.

Maj. Gen. John G. Castellaw, 2nd MAW commander, opened the NAVRIIP leadership visit by addressing military readiness of the 2nd MAW.

During his presentation, Castellaw explained the importance of the visit. “It is important to me because it has to do with readiness now,” said Maj. Gen. Castellaw. “I get a phone call every other day asking me to deploy (aircraft and troops). So, I need to have all of the aircraft I have left right now ready to deploy to places like Iraq, the Horn of Africa, or Haiti.”

NAVRIIP leadership flew to Marine Corps Air Station New River via CH-46E Sea Knight for a “boots-on-the-ground” tour of the facilities, which provided them with the chance to speak candidly with Marines regarding the local supply, maintenance and operations in support of cost-wise readiness and Marine aviation requirements.

After the tour at New River, the group was escorted to Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue for hot chow and a demonstration of Marine expeditionary flight line capabilities.

During the demonstration Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 displayed their ability to establish, maintain, and defend an expeditionary landing field.

From a Harrier fly-by to an aircraft rescue fire fighting unit extinguishing a blaze after a planned blast set off by explosive ordinance disposal, members of NAVRIIP witnessed Marines reenact several flight-line scenarios.

The purpose of the NAVRIIP flag-level visit and the demonstration was to exhibit the Marine’s unique operational environment that is distinctly different from the Navy’s aviation deployment support environment.

For more information call 301.757.1487, or link to http://www.airpac.navy.mil/navriip/.

Photo by: Lance Cpl. Wil Acosta
Photo Caption: As part of the capabilities display, NAVRIIP leaders traveled to 2nd MAW units via CH-46E training flights.