County clerks visit air station

Photo By Sgt. Jared Lingafelt | County Clerks from around the state visited New River Friday in a private tour giving the state employees and their families a unique look inside the Marine Corps’ premiere helicopter facility. More than 60 visitors received a tour of the MV-22B Osprey, experienced Marine Corps rifle range operations, procedures and weapons manipulation skills at the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer and toured the New River Aviation Memorial.  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, UNITED STATES

04.21.2016

Story by Cpl. Jared Lingafelt 

Marine Corps Installations East       

As the sounds of freedom passed overhead, a special group of guests stepped onto Marine Corps Air Station New River for a glimpse into what Marine Corps aviation is all about.
County Clerks from around the state visited New River Friday in a private tour giving the state employees and their families a unique look inside the Marine Corps’ premiere helicopter facility.
More than 60 visitors received a tour of the MV-22B Osprey, experienced Marine Corps rifle range operations, procedures and weapons manipulation skills at the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer and toured the New River Aviation Memorial.
"I was excited to come to this base and see the operations here," said Debra Ivey, a visitor from the Southwestern Council of Governments and mother of a Marine. "I feel so safe here and you can just see how strong the camaraderie is."
The visit also helped the clerks further understand the relation between the military and the state.
"In all aspects of our job I feel it’s very important to know what goes on around not just in our own community but the state community in whole," said Amanda Varner, clerk to the board for Randolph County commissioners. "I have family in the Army so for me it’s really interesting and exciting to learn more about the Marine side of the military."
New River’s hospitality gave the visitors a renewed sense of pride in their community, country and service members.
"Were extremely proud of the job our military continues to do every day for us and to keep us all safe," said Ivey. "I know I will go home with an even stronger sense of pride to my family and coworkers and let them know what fine people there are here and how hard they work."

• Date Taken: 04.21.2016
• Date Posted: 04.22.2016 08:44
• Story ID: 196201
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, US