INSIDE Sgt. Maj.'s Column A-2 Speeding A-3 Word on the Street A-4 .11111000P A-76 A-5 ECAP A-8 Pay Raise A-9 Medal of Honor B-1 MCCS B-2 Football B-3 Word to Pass B-4 Rec Fire B-5 Free Ads B-6 4 Volume 29, Number 34 www.mcbh.usmc.mil August 31, 2000 MP Marine earns Dragon slaying top law enforcement honor in Hawaii Pfc. lain A. Schnaible Hawaii with congratulations marksman observer, and par- Combat Correspondent from his fellow MPs, yet he ticipates in numerous extra- had no idea why. curricular activities including It should be a comfort to It was the recommendation the Special Olympics and know that servicemembers, of Capt. Davis R. Christy, 29, many community outreach family members and employ- of Ransomville, N.Y., training and policing programs. ees aboard MCB Hawaii, are officer with MP Co., that Spafford distinguished him- protected by a military police- placed Spafford in contention self particularly well during man recognized by the Hawaii for the award. operation Golden Spear, a State Law Enforcement "He's a stellar sergeant," deployment to Kenya, said Officers Association as the said Christy. "He is one of the Christy. The way he organized Military Law Enforcement best sergeants in the depart- a convoy and coordinated with Officer of the Year. ment and one of the best the Kenyan police really facil- For the past 47 years, the sergeants I have had an oppor- itated the security and safe HSLEOA has recognized the tunity to work with." passage of more than 400 dig- best officer from around the Spafford contributes a lot to nitaries and Marine support 41 Roman Yurek Hawaiian Islands, presenting the department, said Christy. staff through Africa. awards to the best officer from He is a member of the special "He (Spafford) is a very Back blast area all clear! A Dragon team engages a target with the last Dragon round to be fired by Weapons Co., 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment on Oahu. For more on the Honolulu Police reaction team, qualified as a unselfish military professional Weapons Co., 1/3, see page A-6. Department, Maui Police who, throughout his tenure at Department, Kauai Police MCB Hawaii has constantly Department, customs service sought out ways to contribute and military police from all to and improve the Military services. Police Department," said At this year's award ban- Christy. Marines temporarily quet, the Military Law Spaffords name will be Enforcement Officer of the added to the "perpetual tro- Year, Sgt. Gunnar A. Spafford, phy," which displays the a 26-year-old native of names of past winners of the suspend flights for Chester, Vt., and an MP with award and is presented to the lain A &lama* military police company, winner's unit. The "perpetual Headquarters Battalion, MCB Sgt. Gunnar A. Spafford, a trophy" is kept for one year 26 year old Chester, Vt. Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, was not then presented to the follow- native and a military police- three types of aircraft present to receive his award. man with Military Police Co., ing year's winner. Furthermore, Spafford was Headquarters Bn., MCB Personnel aboard MCB Headquarters. US Marine Corps Eight of the Cobras are currently deployed. house hunting in California Hawaii, and Capt. Davis R. Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, can rest Press Release Officials also suspended flight operations Christy, 20, of Ransomville, and did not know he had won a little easier with the knowl: for the MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft after one of the N.Y., the training officer of the award. He did not even MP Co., proudly hold the edge that Marines like Sgt. WASHINGTON - Flight operations for Corps' 11 Ospreys made a precautionary land- know he was entered in the "Perpetual Trophy" present- Spafford are safeguarding our three models of Marine Corps aircraft were ing Thursday at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The MV- competition. He returned to ed to MP Co. lives, property and well-being. temporarily suspended by the Naval Aviation 22's backup systems worked flawlessly and the Systems Command this weekend after officials pilot landed safely, but a subsequent mainte- discovered unrelated problems with each type nance inspection revealed that a coupling on of aircraft. the aircraft's interconnect drive shaft failed. A-76 team ensures efficient The suspension orders were issued late The coupling was repaired, and the aircraft Friday for the CH-53E Super Stallion transport later returned to Marine Corps Air Station, helicopter, AN-1W Cobra attack helicopter and New River, N.C., where it is based. effective study for MCBH the MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft. A portion Engineers will examine the other 10 MV- of the Corps' AV-8B Harrier jet fleet remains 22s to ensure the failure was isolated. The 1st Lt. Angela Judge rather the selected best offer. The duration of grounded, following a July 11 order suspend- Osprey, which can fly like a plane and take off media Relations Officer the study and the timeline is scheduled for 24 ing flights due to concerns about engine bear- and land like a helicopter, completed opera- months. ing problems. tional evaluation in July and is awaiting the go- The progress of the Congressional A-76 The study will begin its Performance Work Most significant is the grounding of 165 of ahead to proceed with full-rate production. The Study was the topic of discussion at an all- Statement development shortly. This is part of the Corps' heavy-lift CH-53E helicopters, Osprey is planned to replace the Corps' aging hands brief aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Step 2, one of the most critical steps in the eight of which are currently deployed. The fleet of CH-46 and CH53D model helicopters. Kaneohe Bay, Aug. 16 when more than 200 timeline. Those departments that perform the decision to suspend operations is based on the Meanwhile, the Marine Corps continues civilian base employees gathered to hear briefs announced functions to be studied will make preliminary findings of the crash of a Navy efforts to inspect and test all of its F402-RR- from the Commercial Activities A-76 Team, as decisions and provide input to the teams that MH-53E mine-sweeping helicopter off the 408A/B engines for the AV-8B Harrier jet well as ask questions. write the PWS. coast of Corpus Christi, Texas, Aug. 10. before returning the aircraft to flying status. Many questions from the base's workforce The PWS is a comprehensive document that Officials suspended AH-1W Cobra flight Since July 11, about 30 of the Corps' 106 revolved around the A-76 timeline that was out- describes the work that needs to be performed operations after it was discovered this week Harriers powered by that engine have returned lined during the brief. to accomplish the mission, and not necessarily that some older rotor blades may be suscepti- to flying status. About 10 other engines have The timeline, which is comprised of 15 the methods or ways that work is performed. ble to cracking. Each of the Corps' 198 heli- been inspected and await installation. The steps, begins with the Commercial Activities "Performance Work Statements will require copters will undergo a one-time inspection to remaining engines are due to undergo vibra- Action Plan and concludes with the identify and replace, if necessary, the suspect tion-scan testing and, if necessary, be repaired Announcement of the Tentative Decision, or See A-76, A-5 blades before being returned to flight status. before returning to service. U.S. and R.O.K Marines begin 26th Ulchi Focus Lens Lance Cpl. single, unified, Marine command. R.O.K. Marine Corps staff. tance of maintaining situation Jacques-Rene Hebert UFL 00 is one in a series of exer- "We must think and act as a awareness and focusing on the MarForPac Public Affairs cises involving forces from the fully integrated team," said Lt. command's role as the component U.S. and the Republic of Korea. Gen. Libutti. "This is the first time headquarters. SOUTH KOREA - The 26th This year's exercise involves we have integrated the MarForK "We are not here to fight a tacti- annual Ulchi Focus Lens exercise approximately 13,000 American and MarForPac staff here in Palan. cal fight. Rather, we must think (UFL 00), a training command service members, 3,800 of which We expect challenges as we work and act as a component com- post exercise combining Korean come from various commands in through the exercise, but this inte- mand," explained the commander. and U.S. forces, commenced with the U.S., Japan, and Guam. gration affords us a great opportu- "We need to keep our head in the a ceremony here Aug. 28 at the Approximately 56,000 R.O.K. nity to move ahead in our planning game and learn to fight as a com- headquarters for the Republic of troops are participating. and execution." ponent," he added. Korea Marine Corps. The mission of the exercise is to He also emphasized the impor- During the ceremony, the colors analyze and enhance organization, - and command - of the Combined procedures, and performance for Marine Forces Command (CMFC) contingency operations between passed from Lt. Gen. Kim Myung- U.S. and R.O.K. Marine forces. Coming in September Hwan, Commandant of the UFL 00 is just one in a number Republic of Korea Marine Corps of regularly scheduled exercises (ROKMC), to Lt. Gen. Frank held annually in the Pacific theater. Libutti, Commander, Marine In his opening comments and Forces Pacific.