Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Location: Havelock, North Carolina
Installation Type: Marine Corps Air Station
Status: Active
Overview
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point is located adjacent to Havelock, North Carolina, in Craven County, on the Neuse River estuary and Core Sound of the North Carolina coastal plain. MCAS Cherry Point is home to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW) – the Marine Corps’ Atlantic aviation force – and is the largest Marine Corps Air Station in the world by acreage. The installation includes the Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), the Marine Corps’ largest aviation depot-level maintenance facility on the East Coast. Cherry Point was established in 1941 and has been central to Marine Corps aviation history, operating the AV-8B Harrier, F/A-18, and now transitioning to the F-35B.
Mission & Units
- Primary Mission: Serve as home station for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing headquarters; provide aviation readiness, training, and sustainment for Atlantic Marine aviation forces; operate Fleet Readiness Center East for aviation depot maintenance.
- Major Units: 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW) headquarters; Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14); Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231, AV-8B Harrier); Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 (VMFA(AW)-224, F/A-18D); Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 (VMGR-252, KC-130J); Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE)
- Tenant Units: Marine Wing Support Group 27; Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2; Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company elements
Location & Access
- Nearest Major City: Havelock, NC (population approximately 21,000) immediately adjacent; New Bern, NC – approximately 15 miles west; Morehead City/Beaufort, NC – approximately 20 miles east; Raleigh, NC – approximately 100 miles northwest
- Nearest Commercial Airport: Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN) in New Bern – approximately 15 miles west; Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) – approximately 100 miles northwest
- Gate Access: Main gate on US-70; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center
Population
- Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 8,000
- Family Members: Approximately 10,000
- Civilian Employees: Approximately 5,000 (large FRCE workforce)
- Total Installation Population: Approximately 23,000
Key Facilities
- Medical: Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune (NMCCL) is the primary hospital (approximately 35 miles northeast at Camp Lejeune); branch medical clinic at Cherry Point provides primary care; Naval Hospital Cherry Point (closed 2015) – specialty care requires travel to Camp Lejeune or civilian providers; Vidant Craven Hospital in New Bern also provides civilian care
- Commissary: Yes – commissary on base
- Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) and facilities
- Fitness & Recreation: Fitness centers; pools; golf course (Black Bear Golf Club); bowling; auto skills; North Carolina Crystal Coast beaches (Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle: 20-30 miles); fishing, kayaking, and boating in the sounds and rivers
- Schools: Craven County Schools serve most military families; no DoDEA schools; Havelock city schools are considered adequate; some families seek alternatives in New Bern or other Craven County areas; school quality is a common family discussion point
- Childcare: Child Development Center on base; waitlists common; register early
- Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care
- Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office; appointment-based
Housing
- On-Post Housing: Marine Corps Housing on base; family housing neighborhoods; condition generally good; Midway Park and other housing areas available
- Average Wait Time: 30-60 days typical; Havelock area off-post housing is affordable
- Off-Post Housing: Havelock, New Bern, Newport, and Morehead City areas popular; average rent approximately $1,000-$1,500/month for 3-bedroom home; Eastern North Carolina is very affordable; no state income tax on military pay in North Carolina
- BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil)
PCS & Newcomer Info
- Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit; 2nd MAW and squadron sponsorship programs; Cherry Point community is self-contained and close-knit
- In-Processing: MCAS Cherry Point in-processing; typically 2-3 days; 2nd MAW unit check-in for aviation personnel
- EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Family Services Center; enrollment required; specialist access limited in Craven County; Camp Lejeune (35 miles) and Raleigh (100 miles) provide better specialist access; Vidant Medical Center in Greenville (45 miles) is the regional academic medical center
Local Area & Quality of Life
- Climate: Humid subtropical; hot humid summers (average high 90F/32C in July); mild winters (average low 33F/1C in January); occasional winter ice storms; hurricane risk from Atlantic storms; spring and fall are excellent; Crystal Coast geography makes this area particularly hurricane-exposed
- Cost of Living: Very low; Craven County and the Eastern North Carolina coast are among the most affordable areas in the Southeast; excellent outdoor recreation value; no state income tax on military pay in North Carolina
- Nearby Attractions: Crystal Coast beaches (Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle, Cape Lookout National Seashore: 20-30 miles – some of the most pristine beaches in North Carolina); Outer Banks (90 miles north); New Bern historic downtown (first state capital of North Carolina, Pepsi was created here, 15 miles); Tryon Palace and Gardens in New Bern; Neuse River and tidal sound fishing and kayaking; Camp Lejeune and Jacksonville (35 miles) for additional military community resources; Raleigh cultural amenities and Research Triangle (100 miles)
- Spouse Employment: Limited in Havelock metro; healthcare (Vidant Craven Hospital, Camp Lejeune medical), FRCE civilian workforce, education (Craven County Schools, Craven Community College), retail; Raleigh Research Triangle (100 miles) provides broader employment; remote work common; Family Services Center assists
Contact & Resources
- Official Website: https://www.cherrypoint.marines.mil
- Main Installation Phone: (252) 466-2811
- MWR Website: https://cherrypoint.usmc-mccs.org (verify current URL)
- ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Marine Corps Family Services Center, MCAS Cherry Point; (252) 466-4204; relocation, financial readiness, employment, family support
Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.cherrypoint.marines.mil; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/marine-corps-air-station-cherry-point; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MarineCorpsAirStationCherry_Point; Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law