Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) hosted U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy Aug. 14 for a briefing and tour focused on the depot’s expanding workload and future capabilities, including enhanced support of the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter.

In industrial environments like those at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical to workforce safety. From basic PPE like safety glasses and earplugs to more advanced equipment like respirators, each piece helps minimize an employee’s exposure to potential hazards associated with the maintenance, repair and overhaul of military aircraft and their components. 

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) recently hosted a group of Craven County School teachers as part of an externship program focused on preparing students for careers in industry.

Five educators from local schools participated in the externship program that took place at FRCE with two sessions held in late June. The sessions each lasted four days and introduced teachers to FRCE’s workforce and operations

Since its establishment in 1943, Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) has grown and adapted to meet ever-changing national defense needs. Today, teams of expert artisans, engineers and logisticians support state-of-the-art maintenance, repair and overhaul of the military’s most advanced aircraft platforms, often in buildings that date back to the depot’s World War II beginnings.

A small team of mechanics at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) keeps the production lines rolling at the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility. FRCE’s Ground Support Branch repairs and maintains the vital ground support equipment used to move aircraft, transport parts, test systems and perform other critical functions that support aircraft production efforts at the depot.

Training developed and conducted at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) has made a real-world impact on flight line readiness. The training provides the Marine Corps with the capabilities to bolster the number of mission-capable AV-8B Harriers while ensuring aircraft safety, and is now being applied to next-generation aircraft including the F-35 Lightning II.

Fleet Readiness Center East’s (FRCE) UH-1N Huey production line is swapping out diesel-powered ground power units (GPU) for a sustainable alternative with the recent purchase of battery-powered GPUs, becoming the first adapter of this technology within the Naval Aviation community.

According to Allen Broadway, FRCE’s UH-1N branch head, the battery-powered GPUs minimize energy consumption, increase efficiency and enhance workplace safety.

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) has reached another milestone toward the drawing down of its AV-8B Harrier program, with the completion of its last TAV-8B trainer aircraft. The two-seater trainer was delivered May 11 to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223, located at Cherry Point.

The Marine Corps is moving to replace the Harrier with the short takeoff-vertical landing F-35B Lightning II by 2027, which means FRCE’s AV-8 program will soon transition to supporting other platforms.

Innovation, connection and speeding solutions to the warfighter were on the agenda as the Eastern North Carolina (ENC) Tech Bridge at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) hosted a site visit by the Naval X Director May 16.

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) welcomed leaders from Marine Depot Maintenance Command (MDMC) May 16-17 as the two organizations compared operations, discussed common challenges and shared best practices, with the common goal of improving support of the nation’s warfighters.