By Dave Marriott
Fleet Readiness Center East

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, CHERRY POINT, N.C. – Fleet Readiness Center (FRC) East unfurled its flag for the first time in a ceremony here, Oct. 30.

FRC East is the fifth of six FRCs to be stood up, and is the only FRC located on a Marine Corps facility and commanded by a Marine Corps officer, Col. J. Mark Reed.

“It’s only fitting we are here at Cherry Point to stand up FRC East at the home of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing and in the same area where much of not only our naval aviation history, but much of our aviation history has taken place,” said Rear Adm. H. Denby Starling, commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. “The Wright brothers on the North Carolina license plate remind everyone of the honor of being first in flight as well as the name of the airfield here honoring Lieutenant Colonel (Alfred A.) Cunningham, the first Marine Corps aviator.”

Starling reminded the audience the U.S. was a nation at war and credited much of the Navy/Marine Corps team’s success to the talent, inspiration, sweat and ideas of the Marines, Sailors, artisans and contractors seated before him.

“We’re (Navy/Marine Corps forces) supporting combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, maritime security operations in the Horn of Africa, encountering piracy in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, flying counter-narcotics missions in South America, and performing humanitarian operations in other countries and our own,” Starling said. “The global effects of our operations are made possible by the work being done right here. As the 911 force, our services are required right now, that’s why the efforts going on at Cherry Point are so important.”

The mission of the new FRCs is to produce quality airframes, engines, components and services which will meet the Naval Aviation Enterprise’s needs, while simultaneously improving efficiency and reducing costs. The structure of the FRCs will shift aviation maintenance from three to two levels and position active duty military working alongside depot-level civilians. FRC East Marines, Sailors and artisans will work together at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons here and on Marine Corps Air Stations New River, N.C. and Beaufort, S.C., and in units on Marine Corps Air Facility, Quantico, Va., and McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.

“It’s been said that this is just about a name change, but I can tell you it’s more than that,” said Rear Adm. Michael Hardee, commander, Fleet Readiness Centers. “The name Fleet Readiness Center is much more descriptive than the word depot to the Navy and to the nation. The name Fleet Readiness Center is an affirmation, a validation, a confirmation of what this industrial and maintenance execution powerhouse actually performs – it generates readiness for the Fleet.

“I predict the FRCs will become the next generation of support technology in a maintenance repair and overhaul environment,” the admiral said. “Partnering up our military and civilian maintainers creates that all-star team that naval aviation needs for greater efficiency, agility and velocity in our operations.

“With the creation of the FRCs, naval aviation maintenance is embarking on what may be the most significant change in decades.”

Others commands which stood up in October include FRC Mid-Atlantic (Virginia Beach, Va.), FRC Southeast (Jacksonville, Fla.), FRC Southwest (North Island, Calif.) and FRC West ( Fallon, Nev.). FRC Northwest (Whidbey Island, Wash.) will stand up in early November.