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Summer Training is a Huge SuccessBy LtCol R.J. Braatz

Hello Mag 49 Det C families. Your Marines have had a busy summer; The tempo continued through the fall with the start of the government’s fiscal year. Some highlights from the summer were: a superb month long deployment to Camp Pendleton, CA and a high tempo training deployment to Hurlburt, FL. During the training deployment to Hurlburt, MAG-49 Det C supported and integrated with Special Operations Forces, conducting Close Air Support, Night Helicopter inserts and operations with AC-130 gunships. Many Marines got to ride in the AC-130s and fire the 105mm Howitzer at targets from the gunship to the ground. The fall started with this unit standing a Commanding Generals Inspection. This is a very detailed inspection in which higher headquarters ensures all facets of the squadron are operating in accordance with USMC orders and directives. We had not stood one in five years and it took many weeks to prepare. In short, the Marines did an outstanding job. Your Marines continue to impress me with their professionalism and motivation. In the upcoming months we have some big events to include: the Marine Corps Ball, new hangar move and the MAG-49 Det C Christmas Party. I hope to see and meet all of you at the ball and/or the Christmas Party. Included in this newsletter is information regarding both events and they will prove to be very fun. In the near future I plan to have a town hall meeting which will give you, the families of MAG 49 Det C, the opportunity to meet me and my wife Juli, SgtMaj Esparza and his wife, Holly, and to ask me and SgtMaj Esparza questions on any appropriate Subject. This event will be passed via the Family Readiness call tree and will be conducted in our new hangar after the Holidays. Thank you for your continued support and have a fun and safe Holiday Season!

MAG-49 Det CNewsletter

Nov 2009Nov 2009 Vol 2Vol 2

Hurlburt Airfield, Ft Walton Beach, FLMarines from MAG-49 Det C traveled to Hurlburt Field, FL in order to conduct Close Air Support and Assault Support to the Marines and Airmen of the Special Ops Command.

SgtMaj’s Words of WisdomBy SgtMaj J. Esparza

Marines, Family and Friends, Summer has ended. The children are back at school, football season is back, and (finally?!?) the temperature has cooled off. Since returning from Mojave Viper, our Marines deployed to Hurlburt AFB in Ft Walton, Florida. Once again, the Marines did an outstanding job supporting day and night operations, and managed to have a little bit of fun too. Your Marine has ensured that we are not only ready to fight—but operating efficiently—as evidenced in our successful Commanding General’s Inspection. Next up is our Marine Corps Birthday Ball on 14 November at Antoine’s Restaurant, and then a Holiday Season that will include a lot of effort as we support the annual Toys for Tots Program. The Commanding Officer and I look forward to seeing all of you at the Ball.

Summer Highlights 2009

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MAG-49 Det C NEWSLETTER

Hurlbert Field offered great training as well as great liberty. The Marines were able to enjoy sunny Ft Walton Beach, during their time off.

Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal chatting itup with the NOMADS.

SSgt Hansberry, LCpl Borst, Cpl Deluane andSgt Simmons – Dominate the NOMAD Golf Classic in September

Cheers!

Safety and StandardizationBy Maj J.D. Osborne

Greetings from the DSS,

The Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods are among the busiest times of the year to be on the road. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 91 percent of long-distance holiday travel (defined as travel to and from a destination 50 miles or more away) is by car. During the six-day Thanksgiving travel period, long-distance trips increase by half. Throughout this holiday season, motor vehicle safety is impacted by last minute shoppers, social visits and unpredictable weather conditions. Therefore, please put some forethought into your plans prior to departure.

Before You Hit The Road:1. Ensure the car is well-equipped for travel. Check the tire tread, battery, antifreeze, windows and brakes. Also check the spare and the operation of the jack and lug wrench.2. Bring your cell phone.3. Avoid driving during late night hours. There is an increased incidence of drunk driving late at night.4. Keep a safety kit in the vehicle. The kit should include a flashlight and extra batteries, jumper cables, first aid kit, water, non-perishable food items and flares or other warning devices. Also, include an ice scraper, small shovel and a bag of sand or kitty litter in case you get stuck in the snow.

Enjoy the holidays. We all deserve some time off…

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PROMOTIONS FOR OCT & NOV 09• Maj “Stiff” Cox• CWO2 Watson• SSgt Blatt• Sgt Bounds• Sgt Slater• Sgt Smith• Sgt Steele• Sgt Wilson• Cpl Cashmore• Cpl Garcia• Cpl JimenezChicas• Cpl Johnson• LCpl McCarthy• LCpl Varnando

DECORATIONS• SSgt Hansberry…NMCAM• Sgt Carter…NMCAM• Sgt Dowell…NMCAM

PME GradsGySgt Plunk, SNCOA Advanced CourseSgt Dubose, SNCOA Sergeants’ Course

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Face in the Crowd

Sgt Angillo Mentor

What is it that you do here? “I am the Aviation Supply Chief”

What is the best part about your job? “The working environment”

Where are you from? “Long Island, New York”

Where did you go to school? “Hempstead High School”

What interested you in joining the Marine Corps?

“I needed a sense of direction and a new purpose”

The #1 luxury item you cannot live without when deployed.

“Car”What do you like best about HMLA 773 Det A?

“The people”What is your favorite movie?

“Paid in Full”What is your favorite sports team?

“New England Patriots”What advice do you have for young marines in the squadron?

“Don’t sell yourself short and always think outside the box”

Upcoming Holidays

Veteran’s Day 1630, 10 NOV 090730, 13 NOV 09

Thanksgiving 1630, 25 NOV 090730, 30 NOV 09

Christmas 1630, 23 DEC 090730, 28 DEC 09

Upcoming EventsMarine Corps Birthday Ball 1800, 14 NOV 09@ Antoine’s Restaurant

FAMILY DAY 1200, 06 DEC 09

Family Readiness OfficerBy Maj J.D. Osborne

Good Day to all. I am the new Family Readiness Officer for MAG-49 Det C. For those of you who just joined the unit, Welcome Aboard. To be blunt, New Orleans is like no other place in the Marine Corps. It isn’t your normal duty station. Now, I didn’t say it was worse, just different. Fortunately, the Family Readiness Team in NOLA has numerous assets to help everyone adjust to life in the Big Easy. Please refer to the previous page for helpful websites and phone numbers. As for the future of the Family Readiness Program, my position as the FRO is only temporary, as HQMC has mandated all FRO positions will be held by civilians. LTCol Braatz has reviewed some resume’s and is in the process of hiring a full-time civilian to head up the Family Readiness program. In the meantime, If you are interested in a particular topic and would like to see it featured in our Newsletter, please call or email the Family Readiness Officer at jeffrey.d.osborne@usmc.mil. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the Marine Corps Ball.

Volunteers NeededNov 8 New Orleans Saints GameNov 30 New Orleans Saints GameDec 19 New Orleans Saints Game

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MAG-49 Det C NEWSLETTER

HELPFUL NUMBERSFamily Services 504-678-2647Education Office 504-678-3799Exchange NAS 504-678-3580Military Police 504-678-3462Naval Hospital 504-678-3660Navy/USMC Relief 504-678-3210Pass and ID Office 504-678-3462Tri Care Appts 504-678-4555

Face in the Crowd

Sgt Angillo Mentor

What is it that you do here? “I am the Aviation Supply Chief”

What is the best part about your job? “The working environment”

Where are you from? “Long Island, New York”

Where did you go to school? “Hempstead High School”

What interested you in joining the Marine Corps?

“I needed a sense of direction and a new purpose”

The #1 luxury item you cannot live without when deployed.

“Car”What do you like best about HMLA 773 Det A?

“The people”What is your favorite movie?

“Paid in Full”What is your favorite sports team?

“New England Patriots”What advice do you have for young marines in the squadron?

“Don’t sell yourself short and always think outside the box”

Family Readiness OfficerBy Maj J.D. Osborne

Good Day to all. I am the new Family Readiness Officer for MAG-49 Det C. For those of you who just joined the unit, Welcome Aboard. To be blunt, New Orleans is like no other place in the Marine Corps. It isn’t your normal duty station. Now, I didn’t say it was worse, just different. Fortunately, the Family Readiness Team in NOLA has numerous assets to help everyone adjust to life in the Big Easy. Please refer to the previous page for helpful websites and phone numbers. As for the future of the Family Readiness Program, my position as the FRO is only temporary, as HQMC has mandated all FRO positions will be held by civilians. LTCol Braatz has reviewed some resume’s and is in the process of hiring a full-time civilian to head up the Family Readiness program. In the meantime, If you are interested in a particular topic and would like to see it featured in our Newsletter, please call or email the Family Readiness Officer at jeffrey.d.osborne@usmc.mil. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the Marine Corps Ball.

HELPFUL WEBSITES

Check out the Navy New Orleans website at www.cnic.navy.mil/. You can find general information about the services provided by the base as well as news, important phone numbers, and links.

NAS JRB Belle Chasse’s website as well as the units can be accessed through the same site. Following the tabs on the right, LINKS…Tenant Commands…MAG 49 Det C. will enable you view the units website, which is under construction. The Belle Chasse site features specific information for the New Orleans community, including news, links, family support and MWR.

The DOD sponsored lifelines website at www.lifelines200.org provides a wide range of information about the military and military lifestyle for active duty personnel and dependents. Lifelines discusses financial, legal, and medical matters as well as education opportunities for military members and dependents. It also offers helpful advice on military life, pay, and housing . There are even special sections for military newcomer, retirees, and those in transitions from the military to the civilian sector.

The TriCare website at www.tricareonline.com cover medical benefits an general health information. Best of all, it allows you to make routine primary care appointments online. You can access DEERS through the TriCare page when you want to update your records with the defense enrollment eligibility reporting system.

Military OneSource is provided by the DOD at no cost to all active duty service members and members of the National Guard Reserve and their families. www.militaryonesource.com or 1-800-342-9647.

The Marine Corps site at www.usmc.mil features a running list of the “Top Fifteen MCNews Stories.” Units, HQ MC, recruiting, career, news, and family are covered. The site also covers the Marine Corps World Wide Locator and links to several private military locator services as well.

Family Readiness AdvisorBy Andrea Powers

MAG 49 Det C Families,

Hi, I am Andrea Powers your new Family Readiness Advisor and I wanted to introduce myself. I don’t know about you but I wasn’t ready for summer to end, so hard to believe it is already fall and time to start thinking about the school year and all those upcoming holidays. The Family Readiness Program is in place to help keep you informed with updates that come directly from the command regarding hurricane preparedness, evacuation, and other family events. Please check your email for upcoming information on the Marine Corps Ball and other squadron events. Also look for the MWR newsletter with upcoming base events. I would like to take a quick moment to thank all of our Family Readiness Assistants and Morale Volunteers for all of their hard work throughout the summer and look forward to working with everyone this fall and Holiday season. We couldn’t get the job done without you. We are always looking for new volunteers to help with our Family Readiness Program. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact your Family Readiness Assistant. Please feel free to contact me with any of your questions or concerns. Hope to see all of you at the Birthday Ball in November. Sincerely,Andrea

234th USMC Birthday BallSaturday, 14 November 2009

1800-2300Antoine’s Restaurant713 Rue Saint Louiswww.antoines.com

HOTELThe Inn on Bourbon

www.innonbourbon.com(504) 524-7611

Starting @ $129 per nightParking (for hotel guests): $14

MENUBoiled Shrimp Aux Remoulde

Crabmeat RavigoteOyster Rockefeller

Chicken RochambeauFilet de Truite Amandine

Cold, Sliced ChateaubriandToasted French Bread

TABLE SETRocks Glass

HMLA-773 BeadsNOMAD Bottle Opener / Coin

GUEST OF HONOR1st Lieutenant Bill Ryan USMCR

Viet Nam, Silver Star & 3-time Purple Heart Recipient

PHOTOGRAPHERStacey Mahan

(Multiple packages available)

MUSICNOLA Media

CHILD CAREBrighter Horizons Child Care Center

110 Barriere Rd (4 miles north of NAS JRB)(1600, Sat—1000, Sun)

LIBERTY/DRILL INFOAM formation on Saturday; PM formation on Sunday

TICKET INFOPvt-Sgt: $30 SSgt-GySgt: $40

MSgt/SgtMaj-CWO/Capt: $45 Maj-LtCol: $50***Cash, Money Order, Cashier Checks only***

Tickets on sale 1 Oct-2 Nov (see SSgt Ortega, “S4” 678-3617)

The Marines of MAG-49 Det C will be collecting Toys from the following locations:

15 Nov 2009 1800-2100 Sears of Oakwood Mall27 Nov 2009 0800-1400 Walgreens@ Lapalco and Barateria06 Dec 2009 TBD Awesome Ladies Mentoring10 Dec 2009 1830-2100 A Storage Inn18 Dec 2009 0900-1700 A Storage Inn22 Dec 2009 TBD Lincoln Elementary

Company Phone AddressAcademy Sports (504) 263-6000 50 Westside Shopping Center, Gretna, LA 70053Harry's ACE Hardware (504) 896-1520 4817 General Meyer Ave, New Orleans, LA 70131Harry's ACE Hardware (504) 896-1520 4817 General Meyer Ave, New Orleans, LA 70131Hooters (504) 393-7177  Kmart (504) 392-6970 2701 Belle Chasse Hwy, Gretna, LA 70056Kmart (504) 392-6970 2701 Belle Chasse Hwy, Gretna, LA 70056Toys"R"Us (504) 347-8432 4800 Lapalco Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072Walgreens (504) 340-2211 1891 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072Walgreens (504) 340-6337 4600 Westbank Expwy, Marrero, LA 70072Walgreens (504) 341-0005 2570 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072Walgreens (504) 348-1026 818 Westbank Expwy, Westwego, LA 70094Walgreens (504) 361-0281 4550 General Meyer Ave, New Orleans, LA 70131Walgreens (504) 362-7780 1544 Manhattan Blvd, Harvey, LA 70058Walgreens (504) 366-1535 678 Terry Pkwy, Terrytown, LA 70056Walgreens (504) 367-9461 1556 Lapalco Blvd, Harvey, LA 70058Walgreens (504) 376-2349 89 Westbank Expwy, Gretna, LA 70053Walgreens (504) 393-4941 457 Lapalco Blvd, Gretna, LA 70056Walgreens (504) 433-3297 4110 General DeGaulle, New Orleans, LA 70131Walgreens (504) 433-9956Walgreens (504) 828-5071