Photo By Gunnery Sgt. J. R. Heins | Sgt. Mario Sosa's son, Nathan, wears a helmet mounted with night vision goggles during...... read more read more
Subscribe
CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marine Air Support Squadron 1 hosted their first family familiarization day for the squadron’s families at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, March 18, 2014.
More than 70 Marines and family members participated in the activities. Family members toured the air station, heard a presentation about the squadron’s mission from Lt. Col. AnDroy Senegar, MASS-1 commanding officer, and got an up-close look at some of the squadron’s equipment.
This was the first time that the squadron conducted a family day focusing on the squadron’s mission and the Marines’ assigned duties, said 2nd Lt. Michael A. Zbonack, the officer-in-charge of the event.
“The event is great for the MASS-1 families,” said Zbonack. “It gives them a picture of what our Marines do on a day-to-day basis.”
The event gave the squadron a chance to shed light on the squadron’s overall mission to help families better relate to their Marines. Setting normal duties aside, the squadron’s Marines introduced their families to the daily operations inside MASS-1, said Zbonack.
“This day is just a great opportunity for the Marines to step back, take their minds off of work and spend some quality time with their families,” said Zbonack.
As a support squadron, MASS-1 provides critical air support planning and coordination for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. To get a snapshot of the squadron’s capabilities, MASS-1 families handled Marine Corps weapons, practiced with night vision goggles and toured a direct air support center.
The DASC is a key component to the mission of MASS-1. The squadron regularly conducts DASC drills to refine their abilities and enhance cohesion. Displaying a DASC and explaining individual Marine’s functions during a DASC drill gave the families a better understanding of one of the squadron’s central roles, according to Zbonack.
Family day gives the families the opportunity to see exactly how the squadron supports 2nd MAW and also lets them take a few steps in the boots of a Marine, according to Cpl. David Adling, an aviation communications technician.
“The event gave my family a little taste of not only what I do for my job, but the life of a Marine too,” said Adling. “It was the first time my wife actually saw a DASC in person.”
The event also provided opportunities for families to meet and interact with other families. Getting families within the squadron together helped them become closer as a whole, said Adrianna Adling, Marine wife of Cpl. Adling.
“Right from the start I was meeting new people,” said Adrianna. “I even talked and took a picture with the commanding officer’s wife.”
| Date Taken: | 03.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.26.2014 16:00 |
| Story ID: | 122659 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 57 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, MASS-1 families get hands on, learn squadron's mission, by GySgt J. R. Heins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT