Humvees, helicopters, planes and … boats? How the Navy Boat Docks helps MCAS Cherry Point

Photo By Sgt. Andrew King | U.S. Navy Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Cameron McConnell, assigned to the Navy Boat Docks, steers a 75-foot mechanized landing craft during a training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, May 14, 2019. The mission of the Navy Boat Docks is to provide support to the air station and its bombing targets. The Navy Boat Docks maintains a group of six vessels, performing all of the upkeep and maintenance in-house in support of that mission. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew King)  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, UNITED STATES

05.14.2019

Story by Cpl. Andrew King 

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.– What is a Marine Corps installation without any Sailors around? After all, the Marine Corps does fall under the Department of the Navy and you can’t have one without the other.
They may not be Marines but Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, still relies on the Sailors at the Navy Boat Docks to help accomplish its mission.
Now hold up, we know what you’re thinking, how could a group of 13 Sailors possibly help the air station? Well, let’s tell you how.
For starters the Navy Boat Docks are responsible for moving personnel and equipment to Bombing Targets 9 and 11, and not to brag but according to the pilots who train there, they are some of the best bombing ranges on the East Coast. To help support that mission the Navy Boat Docks maintains a group of six vessels, performing all of the upkeep and maintenance in-house.
Another critical mission the Navy Boat Docks supports is the Environmental Affairs Department by testing the water around the underwater pipelines to make sure no spills happen and the water is pollution free.
When the need arises the Navy Boat Docks also conducts water rescues, recovering not only the boat, but also anyone who might have went overboard. While rare, the Sailors still need to be prepared to act at a moment’s notice. U.S. Navy Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Cornelius Metz, a boatswain’s mate assigned to the Navy Boat Docks, has been personally involved in one such rescue.
We had received a call about a boater having engine problems on the Neuse River, Metz described. He elaborated further on how he ran communications while one of the other Sailors and one of their boat engineers went to the boat and towed it back to safety so it could be repaired.
Not only does the Navy Boat Docks help MCAS Cherry Point, they also help Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps by provided demonstrations to students who come on to the air station.
“It’s one thing to hear about it, but you should experience it,” said Metz. “If you’ve never been on one of our boats you should try.”
All-in-all the Navy Boats docks is a tight-knit group of Sailors who work hard, day in and day out to help MCAS Cherry Point accomplish its mission.
“My favorite part about working here is the people I work with,” said U.S. Navy Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Cameron McConnell. “Sometimes it’s a lot of hard work but we all come together and push through together. We have a really good chain of command that does everything they can to make sure we all stay positive.”

• Date Taken: 05.14.2019
• Date Posted: 06.25.2019 15:50
• Story ID: 325329
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US