Two sure signs of the holidays at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) are Toys for Tots boxes posted throughout the facility and rows of toys and bicycles purchased by groups of FRCE employees to fill those boxes.

The Marine Corps Reserve sponsors the nationwide program, now in its 75^th year. Its mission is to collect and distribute new, unwrapped toys to disadvantaged children, who might not otherwise receive holiday gifts. Nationally, Toys for Tots estimates that the organization has given toys to more than 281 million children since it was founded in 1947.

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) recently opened a new chapter in the depot’s engine program with its first disassembly of the T408 engine, which powers the CH-53K King Stallion helicopter.

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) earned state recognition for its environmental efforts when North Carolina Secretary of the Environment Elizabeth Biser presented the depot with the P2 Award for pollution prevention. FRCE received the award during the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI) Conference, held October 24-25 in Raleigh.

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) was recognized by the North Carolina Department of Labor Safety Awards Program for its efforts in keeping the workforce safe this year. The depot received its fifth consecutive Gold Award and two Million Hour awards.

A state commission focused on supporting and expanding the role of North Carolina military installations recently honored a Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) Marine for his relentless pursuit of perfection in the military aviation industry.

In his role as head of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Logistics Department at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), Stephen Barrow leads a team that tackles some of the most complex current and future problems within the U.S. Navy Enterprise. His quest for innovative, nontraditional solutions to a variety of challenges helps FRCE support current fleet readiness while preparing the depot for fifth-generation weapons system requirements and the needs of future warfighters.

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) hosted an Oct. 11 visit from Edgar Apollo, the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) Product Support Management director. During the visit, FRCE leadership briefed Apollo and gave him a tour highlighting the depot’s support of the F-35 program.

The F-35 JPO Product Support Management team oversees F-35 supply chain logistics and sustainment for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, seven international partners, and foreign military sales customers.

The CH-53 Sea Stallion and MH-53 Sea Dragon helicopters have been mainstays of the Navy and Marine Corps for decades. On any day, these heavy lift helicopters can be seen around the world performing a wide variety of critical missions.

A pair of Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) artisans recently got a chance to step back in time while doing a good deed for the community.

Robert Waits and Thomas McKeel worked together for about a dozen years as sheet metal mechanics on the CH-46 helicopter line at FRCE, which ceased operations in 2012. When the two friends were asked to repair damage to the HH-46D “Pedro” search and rescue helicopter that serves as a local landmark in Havelock, they jumped at the chance.

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) had the opportunity to showcase the command’s commitment to environmental stewardship during a recent visit by North Carolina Secretary of the Environment Elizabeth Biser.

FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. James M. Belmont welcomed Biser to the depot Sept. 6 to learn more about the command’s operations and tour the facility, with an emphasis on the work FRCE does to protect the environment, the workforce and the surrounding community.