Vol. 68, No. 2 www.cherrypoint.usmc.mil January 14, 2010 Certifi ed service members offer tax assistance LANCE CPL. SANTIAGO G. COLON JR. offi cer in charge, said it is essential for service MCAS CHERRY POINT members and dependents who need to have their The 2009 tax season is here, and Cherry Point taxes done to show up to the tax center with all volunteers have been training to assist military appropriate paperwork. families. “We fi le taxes based exclusively on informa- Service members from the air station’s tax cen- tion the service member provides,” said John. ter recently went through a weeklong familiariza- “It is important for them to bring all supporting tion course to learn the ins and outs of the Inter- documents, such as W-2 IRS forms, receipts and nal Revenue Service’s tax-fi ling process. The tax IRS 1099 forms.” center will provide free tax fi ling to active and John added that active duty service members reserve service members, retirees and military can open up and print their W-2 forms from the dependents. myPay web site https://mypay.dfas.mil. This year the Tax Center will have a new lo- According to the Tax Center Web site at http:// cation in building 229 next to the Cherry Tree www.cherrypoint.usmc.mil/taxcenter, other docu- House on 4th Ave., and is scheduled to open Jan. ments necessary for properly fi ling taxes include 20. Hours of operation will be Monday through social security cards, identifi cation cards for fi lers LANCE CPL. SANTIAGO G. COLON JR. Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays, the and dependents, and supporting documents for Tax Center volunteers conduct electronic scenarios during a pre- tax center’s extended hours will be from 4:30 to 7 credits and deductions. Additionally, if the fi ler opening training session at the Telecommunications Information p.m., by appointment only. Systems Directorate building, Jan. 11. 2nd Lt. Stephenson John, the Tax Center’s See TAX page A3 Station housing opens doors to future residents LANCE CPL. AMY A. TRAIL MCAS CHERRY POINT In late December, Cherry Point’s Atlantic Marine Corps Communities opened the doors of base hous- ing to geographical bachelors, reservists, Depart- ment of Defense employees and retirees. “We have homes available that do not have an active duty waiting list,” said Dixie Lanier, world- wide AMCC strategic marketing manager at Ma- rine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. “Thirty days after a notice of vacancy, if we don’t have an active duty family waiting, we can open the home up to other individuals.” Neighborhood selection is based on rank and only available in neighborhoods where there are no military families waiting to move into a home. Residents under the home availability program will receive the same benefi ts as military families, in- cluding paid utilities, around the clock maintenance service, renter’s insurance and zero pet deposits. The monthly rental rate for bachelors is based on STAFF SGT. ROMAN YUREK their rank and the number of bachelors occupying Sgt. Nathan Wood (left) and Lance Cpl. Don Suger, conduct maintenance checks on the AN/TPS-59 (v) 3 a home. Ballistic Missile Defense Radar during maintenance. Both radar repairmen are from Tactical Air Operations The monthly rental rate for reservists, DOD em- Center, Marine Air Control Squadron 2 Detachment, Marine Air Control Group 28, Marine Aircraft Group 40, ployees and retirees is based upon the market rental Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan. rate for the home type. “If one bachelor moves into a home, he will for- MEB-Afghanistan equips feit his basic allowance for housing,” said Lanier. “If two or more bachelors move into a home, they will both receive BAH and pay rent to AMCC based aerial surveillance system on the market rental rate for the home type.” STAFF SGT. ROMAN YUREK the team had to overcome was Lanier added, active duty military and reserv- MAG-40 fi nding a way to get the Ma- ists do not have to have a background check, credit CAMP LEATHERNECK, rines accustomed to the air- check or deposit like DOD employees and retirees Afghanistan – More than space with which they would do. But all active duty members moving into an a month ago, Marines from be working, even though the AMCC home must sign a lease. Marine Aircraft Group 40, TAOC site was not yet ready AMCC offers two leases for different categories. Marine Expeditionary Bri- for them to move in to. For active duty and reservists the initial lease is six gade-Afghanistan, took con- Most of the Marines and months. trol of the airspace over the equipment arrived here in late However, the initial lease for DOD employees MEB’s area of operations September, but the site they and retirees is a one-year lease. After the initial from their United Kingdom were scheduled to use was lease, it reverts to a month-to-month basis. counterparts. not ready, according to Mas- “People interested in leasing a home need to Marines with the Tactical ter Sgt. Michael Reidy, the come into the military housing offi ce,” said Lanier. Air Operations Center, Ma- detachment chief. The area “From there they can go tour the homes we have rine Air Control Squadron 2 was an expansion of Camp available and fi ll out the necessary paperwork.” Detachment, Marine Air Con- Leatherneck that was not yet Those interested can go to the military housing STAFF SGT. ROMAN YUREK trol Group 28, had numerous completed. offi ce aboard the air station or call 910-376-9794 The AN/TPS-59 (v) 3 Ballistic Missile Defense challenges to overcome in As the Marines waited to for more information. Radar is one of the radars used by the tactical order to set-up the center and set up the center, move in to “This is a great opportunity,” said Lanier. “It air operations center with Marine Expeditionary transition controllers. gives individuals a chance to save money and be Brigade-Afghanistan. One of the fi rst challenges See SYSTEM page A3 close to all the amenities on the air station.” High fl ying Toys for Tots program brings 61,000 toys to local children PFC. CORY D.D. POLOM Tots campaign with better results than MCAS CHERRY POINT the region’s previous year. The Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for “Last year the drive collected 25,000 Tots program is well known for help- toys in addition to 25,000 books and ing less fortunate children throughout bikes,” said Barnett. the United States by giving them new, The region Barnett and his Marines unwrapped gifts during the Christmas helped consisted of seven counties: Cra- holiday season. ven, Carteret, Duplin, Jones, Lenior, Toys for Tots began in 1947, when Onslow and Pamlico. Major Bill Hendricks, a member of the This year the region collected more United States Committee for Refugees, than 33,000 toys in addition to the other and a group of Marine Reservists in Los collected items that were distributed. Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 More than 61,000 toys, books and bikes toys to needy children in the area. were given to those ranging from infants To this day, Marines continue to col- to children 15-years old and younger. lect and distribute toys and other items “Even though Toys for Tots is a Ma- to kids around the nation. rine Corps Reserve program, active First Sergeant Bobby L. Barnett, site duty Marines from across the U.S. lend fi rst sergeant for the Inspector-Instruc- a helping hand in order to make the holi- tor staff at Marine Corps Base Camp days a special time for the kids of our CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Lejeune’s Stone Bay, has ran the local nation,” said Barnett. An EA-6B Prowler from Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 and a Toys for Tots drive for the past two years Barnett said Craven County used six KC-130J Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 perform and has helped many families. different distribution sites and delivered a midair refueling over Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Barnett’s team of Marines and local businesses wrapped up its 2009 Toys for See TOYS page A3 A2 January 14, 2010 The Windsock VMAQ-3 enlisted Marines accepted for MECEP CPL. JOSH MURRAY II MEF (FWD) AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Throughout the Marine Corps, tens of thousands of enlisted Marines carry the title of noncommissioned offi cer. The title holds great signifi cance with regard to leadership development and military occupational specialty profi ciency. For many NCOs, the title marks a big step in an enlisted career, in which emphasis is placed on leadership abilities and professional development of junior Marines. From NCO to staff NCO, the title comes with unique and for- midable challenges, but some Marines strive for more. Staff Sgt. Amanda Jones, intelligence chief, Sgt. Jo- seph Morrison, personal computer intermediate repair technician, and Sgt. Brandon Fritts, an ejection safety equipment mechanic, all with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3, have successfully completed the re- quirements and have been accepted to the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program. When they return from their current deployment aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, they embark this new journey. “I knew if I re-enlisted, I would start thinking about making it a career, and becoming an offi cer was the best decision I could have made,” said Morrison. “I started thinking about where I see myself in the future and what I want out of the Marine Corps.