Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point was announced earlier this week as one of six recipients of the 2024 Commander In Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence.
The highly competitive award recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who operate and maintain US military installations.
Installations compete on how well they achieve the Department of Defense’s (DoD) objectives in several areas of installation management, including mission support, energy conservation, quality of life for military men and women and DoD civilians and their families, and unit morale, environmental stewardship, real property management, safety, health and security, communications, and public relations.
(MCAS) Cherry Point is home to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and Fleet Readiness Center East. Over 53,000 people comprise the Cherry Point population, including active duty and retired Marines, families, and the civilian workforce.
MCAS Cherry Point received the award based on its achievements, including its management of the $1.1 billion F-35 transition program, with the key milestone of welcoming the first operational squadron during the spring of 2023 and the successful occupancy of the $53 million flight simulator facility.
It also implemented a Utility Energy Service Contract that enhanced energy resilience, hardened control system cybersecurity, improved energy system reliability, and reduced the air station’s energy consumption.
In the award category of Quality of Life, MCAS Cherry Point helped families of Marines and Sailors become more familiar with the customs and everyday lifestyle of the military through classes that cover a wide variety of topics through the installation’s L.I.N.K.S. program (an acronym that stands for Lifestyle, Insights, Networking, Knowledge, and Skills).
Cherry Point offered over eighty quality-of-life-enhancing programs and provided service members and their families with many outstanding events, including Rocktoberfest, Trunk or Treat, Spring Fling, and Back to School.
Other achievements include the Federal Energy Management Program Spotlight Award, Navy Surgeon General’s Health Promotion and Wellness Award, National Alliance for Youth Sports Better Sports for Kids Quality Program Provider Award, and the Boys and Girls Club of America selecting Cherry Tree House as the recipient of the Rachael Ray Foundation grant for $5,000 to support the Healthy Habits program.
Other recipients include US Army Garrison Fort Cavazos, Texas, Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Florida and Alabama, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, Defense Supply Center Columbus, Ohio.
Each winning installation will receive a commemorative trophy, flag, and a congratulatory letter from the President.
The last time Cherry Point won the award was in 2003.