Week 16-20 Jul

We had a successful week of flying and maintenance.
Congratulations to Capt Garnier for passing his Night Systems Instructor qualification. Capt Isaac Lee traveled up from MAWTS-1 in Yuma, AZ on Monday and gave a test to Capt Garnier and then they flew Tues night (Low Light Level on the NVGs) where Capt Garnier showed his instructional prowess and was designated a NSI.
GySgt Green took several young Marines down to North Island and disassembled a CH-53E to prepare it for transportation on a C-5 to Iraq. Gunny and his team gave the North Island civilian team a taste of Screw Crew professionalism.
I had the privilege of awarding Sgt Stape a Navy/Marine Corps Achievement medal and pinned Cpl Gorski with her Aerial Observer wings of gold. Additionally, I was able to award Maj Pavelka with a delayed Navy Air Medal (with numeral 3) for combat actions which began in 2003. Congrats to all.
We accepted an aircraft from the reserve squadron from Edwards AFB (HMH-769) on Thursday. They provided a good bird to us and we expect it to be a great flyer. LtCol Ernie Henderson, Maj Teddy Martin, and Maj Don White (all former Screw Crew members) were part of the crew who brought the aircraft down and it was great to chat with them for some time in my office and recall old times.
s/f
CO

Family Readiness Officer

Crew and Family,
Capt Doug Strahan has been chosen to move up to the Wing headquarters. Until our new S-1 officer checks in I will be taking over family readiness issues. I can be reached at 858-577-6667 and as always, we encourage you to remain in contact with your Key Volunteer. I hope you are all enjoying your summer.
Sincerely,
Maj Eric Gillis
Executive Officer HMH=462

A few things on the Calendar for 19 July (in addition to taking Anona to see Pirates of the Caribbean on base) are:

Key Volunteer Resource Training, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., LINKS House, 858-577-1322
Summer Reading Program Stories “Dinosaurs” 11 a.m., Library, 858-577-6316
Black Thursday, Max Pull-Ups, 12 – 1 p.m., 858-577-4129
Stress Management I, 1 – 3 p.m., Counseling Center, 858-577-6585
Deep Water Aerobic Hard Corps Interval Training, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Officers’ Pool, 858-577-4654
Dance Night with DJ Music, 7 – 11 p.m., Enlisted Clubs

Site Protocol - From the CO

Welcome to ScrewChew On-Line!

The former CO, LtCol John "Jed" Faircloth, began a weekly "Jed's Corner" in which he talked to the members about current issues and future plans of the squadron. I thought it was a classic move, but changed the event name to "ScrewChew."
This site is an electronic extention and is intended to be used for the current and former members of HMH-462 and their families to connect to each other in order to share information and to remain as current as possible on activities of the Marines and Sailors of the Screw Crew. We will continue this site as long as it remains relevant and effective to positive communication.
This is a means of pushing our squadron communication into the 21st century.
Some rules that I request:
1) Current members - do not use this as a means of avoiding the appropriate chain-of-command. Do not use this site as a reporting tool or to air "dirty laundry."
2) Keep it clean and appropriate for all.
3) Former members - tell us what and how you are doing and share with other former members with whom you have contact.
4) Families - Please use this site as a means of remaining informed of your Marine's/Sailor's activities.
5) All - refrain from using this site to voice your personal political ideals and keep in mind the ultimate goal is to provide support through active (almost real-time) communication between the Screw Crew and friends/families.

When we deploy, I am not sure of our ability to continue responding...I am the CO and will try to get access to the site personally. If I fail, my wife Tracie will continue to use the site to respond if I am not able.
Be aware that when we deploy we will not be able to provide sensitive information.....and almost everything is sensitive. I will make sure you are aware of new postings to our web sites (http://www.3maw.usmc.mil/mag16/hmh462/default.asp) or (http://www.hmh462.com/page1); the second of which is a .com web site that we intend to be less formal than the former and may be difficult to update upon deployment.
We currently publish a quarterly newsletter (ScrewsLetter) that provides a lot of info to the members and their families. When we deploy, it will be published monthly. Both web sites will have the ScrewsLetter posted.

I hope you enjoy the site.

Semper Fidelis,
LtCol Kevin "Algae" Moss
Commanding Officer
Marine Heavy Helicopter 462
THE SCREW CREW

Cool

This is the HMH-462 "Screw Chew On-line" Blog.