Havelock supports additional Marines

A Marine Corps anti-terrorism regiment would be welcome at Cherry Point and the civilian communities around it, residents told a Naval facilities team at a meeting Tuesday night in Havelock.

At least 55 signed the roster at the Havelock Tourist and Events Center for a Naval Facilities Engineering Command meeting to look at pros and cons of Cherry Point being the new location for a consolidated Security Force Regiment.

The 1,100 Marines that make up the regiment are now in Chesapeake and Yorktown, Va., and Okinawa, with a training company in Norfolk. The Navy wants to combine the force into one location and construct a new $150 million complex for training in about six years.

“There was overwhelming support in Havelock,” said Michael Jones, Naval Facilities’ National Environmental Protection Act coordinator of the event. “I didn’t hear a single negative comment.”

Havelock Commissioner Danny Walsh came with stacks of documentation for reasons why Cherry Point and Havelock make sense. He included the recent Military Growth Task Force Growth Management Plan and information on a local push for a U.S. 70 flyover to the base’s Slocum gate.

“This is the one time we can honestly say this is the perfect place,” Walsh said. “They need a place to put these Marines, and Cherry Point is it.”

Tom Braaten, retired base commander and now director at Coastal Carolina Airport in New Bern, said Cherry Point was in good shape in terms of facilities to handle the regiment.

“Cherry Point not only has the space to grow but is also within 45 minutes of Camp Lejeune and the Marine Special Operations Command facility,” he said.

David Wilkerson, a New Bern resident and F/A-18 pilot now flying C-9s from Cherry Point, said moving the regiment to Cherry Point would be positive growth for Havelock and Craven County.

“I’m all for it,” he said.

Mike Barton, civilian head of Cherry Point’s Public Affairs Office, said Cherry Point was well equipped to support the training of the regiment.

“This would be another great opportunity to support Marines as they prepare for the combat environment,” he said.

Frank Sheffield, speaking for the Allies for Cherry Point Tomorrow lobby group, said putting the regiment at an air base like Cherry Point would allow for rapid deployment of the anti-terrorism Marines to any overseas destination.

Jones said the Naval Facilities narrowed 35 initial possible locations to six. The list was then narrowed to three, with Cherry Point and bases at York, Va., and Chesapeake, Va., also being considered.

He said the three were selected because they could accommodate the footprint of  the proposed 977,000 square-foot training complex.

He sent a report on the Havelock meeting to his boss at Naval Facilities Engineering Command.

Those attending Tuesday night’s meeting were cautiously optimistic about Cherry Point’s selection. A final decision is expected in March.

Jim Davis, Craven County Economic Development director, said getting the regiment to Cherry Point would be as competitive as any Base Realignment and Closure process.

“The area and the state are going to have to market themselves,” he said.