Cherry Point Marines work through summer heat conditions

Photo By Staff Sgt. S.T. Stewart | Cpl. Noreen Tarner, an electrical collateral duty inspector, and Lance Cpl. Curtis Brown, an airframes mechanic, both with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, put the steal siding back on one of the squadron’s KC-130J Hercules July 20, on the flight line at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. The temperature was 92 F, with humidity making it feel 10 degrees warmer. Many of the Marines are required to work outside, because VMGR-252's air conditioned hangar only fits two KC-130s at one time.  

CHERRY POINT, NC, UNITED STATES

08.01.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. S.T. Stewart 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. – Red faced and soaked in sweat rolling down their faces, aviation Marines work in hot, humid, sometimes miserable conditions on the flight line at Cherry Point, daily.

Standing 15 feet closer to the sun on scaffolding, Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 performed maintenance on one of the squadron’s KC-130J transport aircraft, July 20. The temperature was 92 F, with humidity making it feel 10 degrees warmer.

“We have to work regardless of the temperature,” said Lance Cpl. Curtis Brown, an airframes mechanic with VMGR-252. “Aircraft have to fly and we have to make sure they fly.”

As hot as it is to work outside in the dead heat, it’s nothing compared to performing maintenance inside of the aircraft where it feels like a sauna, said Cpl. Noreen Tarner, an electrical collateral duty inspector with the squadron.

“When the aircraft is shut down there is no air conditioning,” she said. “The moment you walk inside you start sweating.”

Many of the Marines are required to work outside, because VMGR-252's air conditioned hangar only fits two KC-130s at one time.

Using anything they can as water sources to counter the heat, some Marines pack bottles and jugs, while others strap water-pouched camelbacks to their back.

Another opportune relief the Marines hope for is an occasional cooling wind to offset the heat from the asphalt.

If a Marine does start to feel overheated, they immediately go inside the hangar long enough to recover before going back out beneath the beating sun.

At the end of the day, Brown walked sluggishly back into the hangar and took a deep breath followed by a sigh of relief as he felt the first gust of air conditioning hit his face.

"Nothing feels better," said Brown. "I come in here and immediately feel cooled off."

The five day forecast calls for heat, humidity and more heat for these hard chargers.

• Date Taken: 08.01.2012
• Date Posted: 08.01.2012 17:15
• Story ID: 92518
• Location: CHERRY POINT, NC, US