During a recent ceremony at Fleet Readiness Center East, a Marine MV-22 Osprey crew chief was named the depot’s Marine of the Year for their superior performance, outstanding military conduct, work ethic, perseverance and initiative.

Marine Sgt. Dylan W. Griffith, a 27-year-old native of Boone, North Carolina, received the award and high praise from the command. 

“He’s an exemplary Marine,” said FRCE 1st Sgt. Nathaniel Eirich.  “He’s hard working and does his very best at everything he does.  He truly sets the example.”

Fleet Readiness Center East will begin accepting applications for the Naval Air Systems Command National Apprenticeship Program March 16.

“We’re excited to offer our community this opportunity to build a stable and meaningful career,” said FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. Mark Nieto. “The program benefits the community and allows FRCE to strategically plan our future workforce. This is a chance for people to learn a skilled trade, contribute to the defense of our country and get paid while they do it.”

For one Fleet Readiness Center East employee, mentorship is about more than helping a handful of individuals chart their career paths; instead, it’s an investment in the depot’s future, and a way to ensure the depot’s continued support of naval and Marine Corps aviation.

A project created by a group of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) materials engineers was selected one of seven winners of the Fiscal Year 2019 Defense Standardization Program (DSP) Achievement Awards.

The NAVAIR Composite Repair (NAVCORE) Working Group earned the award by establishing standardization initiatives within carbon epoxy repairs that proved beneficial to the Department of Defense.

The NAVCORE group gained cost savings estimated at more than $5 million, and its standardization initiatives will reduce turn-around time rates, capability costs and manhours.

Job shadowing and job rotations are just two ways participants in NAVAIR’s leadership development programs can fill skill gaps.

Below, read the story of two employees who are taking advantage of these opportunities and, in the process, improving their careers and work at NAVAIR.

Gaining Hands-On Experience with a Job Shadow

Fleet Readiness Center East is boosting readiness for the H-53 heavy-lift helicopter by breathing new life into the depot’s H-53 rotor head program. A partnership agreement with Sikorsky is generating positive results.   

In early 2019, fleet demand for H-53 main rotor heads exceeded the number the contractor could produce; additional assets were urgently needed. While FRCE hadn’t conducted extensive production of H-53 rotor heads in several years, the depot had the facilities, skilled artisans and historical knowledge needed to successfully produce the component.  

To succeed in making a change, you really need other people, said “America’s leading expert on dealing with change” at an event here for National Mentoring Month Jan. 28.

Dr. Michelle Rozen, who has been featured on NBC, ABC, CNN, FOX News and many other media outlets, is the author of three books and writes for the Huffington Post on issues related to motivation, personal and professional growth and managing change. She tailored her remarks to the importance of mentoring.

When supply system shortfalls led to a work stoppage on two H-53 heavy-lift helicopters at Fleet Readiness Center East, the depot’s manufacturing and engineering teams stepped up to close the gap. 

Fleet Readiness Center East employees rolled up their sleeves to support National Blood Donor Month January 24, when the depot hosted a blood drive on behalf of the Armed Services Blood Program. FRCE employees responded enthusiastically, with more than 50 people giving blood.

ASBP arrived at the depot with two modified recreational vehicles containing all the equipment and people required to hold a full-scale blood drive. FRCE employees registered in advance to fill the available appointment slots, and walk-in donations were accepted as well.

Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) set yet another milestone Jan. 23 with the delivery of its first E-2D Hawkeye to complete periodic maintenance interval two (PMI-2).

FRCSW returned the aircraft to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 120 (VAW-120), headquartered at Naval Station Norfolk. The Hawkeye was inducted in August 2018.