MCAS Cherry Point News

Maj. Michael Murphy, an AV-8B Harrier pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 231, takes hold of his two daughters, Elli and Annabel, after returning to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Feb. 2, 2012, following a more than 10-month deployment at sea attached to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. To celebrate, the Murphy family is going on a Disney Cruise at the end of the month. "Back to the boat," said Murphy, "will be much more comfortable this time around though." - Maj. Michael Murphy, an AV-8B Harrier pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 231, takes hold of his two daughters, Elli and Annabel, after returning to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Feb. 2, 2012, following a more than 10-month deployment at sea attached to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. To celebrate, the Murphy family is going on a Disney Cruise at the end of the month. "Back to the boat," said Murphy, "will be much more comfortable this time around though."

Capt. Douglas R. Kurz, supply and communications officer with Marine Attack Squadron 231, speaks with Sgt. Francis Rush and Sgt. David Meusy, crew chiefs with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266, before loading supplies onto four MV-22 Ospreys on the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point flight line Jan. 31 in support of Bold Alligator 2012. Kurz said the squadron’s contribution to Bold Alligator is helping with the supplies going onto and off the ships involved, and the squadron will also have some of its AV-8B Harriers in the exercise. - Capt. Douglas R. Kurz, supply and communications officer with Marine Attack Squadron 231, speaks with Sgt. Francis Rush and Sgt. David Meusy, crew chiefs with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266, before loading supplies onto four MV-22 Ospreys on the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point flight line Jan. 31 in support of Bold Alligator 2012. Kurz said the squadron’s contribution to Bold Alligator is helping with the supplies going onto and off the ships involved, and the squadron will also have some of its AV-8B Harriers in the exercise.

Sgt. Maj. Henry Prutch, left, and his son, Lance Cpl. Scott Prutch, were recently reunited in Afghanistan. The sergeant major is nearing the end of a yearlong deployment to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, as the senior enlisted advisor for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and his son is beginning a deployment as a landing support specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 4. Sgt. Maj. Henry Prutch is deployed out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., and Lance Cpl. Scott Prutch is deployed from Okinawa, Japan. - Sgt. Maj. Henry Prutch, left, and his son, Lance Cpl. Scott Prutch, were recently reunited in Afghanistan. The sergeant major is nearing the end of a yearlong deployment to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, as the senior enlisted advisor for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and his son is beginning a deployment as a landing support specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 4. Sgt. Maj. Henry Prutch is deployed out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., and Lance Cpl. Scott Prutch is deployed from Okinawa, Japan.

Service members, with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), bow their heads in prayer during a dedication of the Flightline Memorial Chapel at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Jan. 31. The ceremony was in remembrance of the U.S. Marine lives lost while supporting Marine Corps aviation in Afghanistan. - Service members, with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), bow their heads in prayer during a dedication of the Flightline Memorial Chapel at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Jan. 31. The ceremony was in remembrance of the U.S. Marine lives lost while supporting Marine Corps aviation in Afghanistan.

Mollie Todd laughs along with her friends during a comedy show at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Theater Friday. “Mollie Gross made me realize I’m not alone in this ,” said Todd. “She makes you feel like you’re in good company as a military wife. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who goes through thoughts of craziness while the husbands are gone.” - Mollie Todd laughs along with her friends during a comedy show at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Theater Friday. “Mollie Gross made me realize I’m not alone in this ,” said Todd. “She makes you feel like you’re in good company as a military wife. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who goes through thoughts of craziness while the husbands are gone.”

Students from Pamlico County High School watch a demonstration of the abilities of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Aircraft Rescue Firefighting during their tour of MCAS Cherry Point Jan. 24. The 53 students stopped at three locations on MCAS Cherry Point and were given tours of the facilities along with detailed explanations of each unit’s mission. "It's good for the students to come here and see what we do, and we get to give a class on fire safety while they're here," said Cpl. Gary Meadows, a crew chief with ARFF. "Having an audience gives us a chance to do some of the things we don't normally do, like wet runs and taking the trucks out. It lets us brag about how cool our job is." - Students from Pamlico County High School watch a demonstration of the abilities of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Aircraft Rescue Firefighting during their tour of MCAS Cherry Point Jan. 24. The 53 students stopped at three locations on MCAS Cherry Point and were given tours of the facilities along with detailed explanations of each unit’s mission. "It's good for the students to come here and see what we do, and we get to give a class on fire safety while they're here," said Cpl. Gary Meadows, a crew chief with ARFF. "Having an audience gives us a chance to do some of the things we don't normally do, like wet runs and taking the trucks out. It lets us brag about how cool our job is."

Retired Maj. Gen. Thomas A. Braaten, former commander of Marine Corps Air Bases East and commanding general of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, speaks to a crowd of 500 Cherry Point and surrounding community residents during an annual aviation history gala at the Havelock Tourist and Event Center in Havelock, N.C., Jan. 27. - Retired Maj. Gen. Thomas A. Braaten, former commander of Marine Corps Air Bases East and commanding general of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, speaks to a crowd of 500 Cherry Point and surrounding community residents during an annual aviation history gala at the Havelock Tourist and Event Center in Havelock, N.C., Jan. 27.

Aviation Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 231, “Ace of Spades,” wearing flightsuits and Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, “Seahawks,” wearing Marine Corps Utilities flip the KC-130J tires in the last stretch of the “Feats of Strength” competition on the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point flight line Jan. 23. The “Ace of Spades” started with a strong lead but barley won with a neck-and-neck photo finish one tire lead. ::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Aviation Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 231, “Ace of Spades,” wearing flightsuits and Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, “Seahawks,” wearing Marine Corps Utilities flip the KC-130J tires in the last stretch of the “Feats of Strength” competition on the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point flight line Jan. 23. The “Ace of Spades” started with a strong lead but barley won with a neck-and-neck photo finish one tire lead. ::r::::n::::r::::n::

The Marine Corps has Uniform Victim Advocates in place across the Corps’ to directly deal with sexual assault, and the billet was recently made mandatory in non-deployable units. “My sole purpose is to support the victims and get them the assistance they need or want and not to judge them,” said Staff Sgt. Racheal Benezette, UVA for Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. “I am there by their side until they no longer need me, and then I ensure that they are still receiving follow on support from counseling or whatever it may be.” - The Marine Corps has Uniform Victim Advocates in place across the Corps’ to directly deal with sexual assault, and the billet was recently made mandatory in non-deployable units. “My sole purpose is to support the victims and get them the assistance they need or want and not to judge them,” said Staff Sgt. Racheal Benezette, UVA for Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. “I am there by their side until they no longer need me, and then I ensure that they are still receiving follow on support from counseling or whatever it may be.”

Cpl. Francisco Rodriguez Hernandez Jr. and his wife Jessica were presented the Service Family of the Quarter award at the Carolina Grill in Havelock, N.C. Jan. 24. The couple received the award for their volunteer work and dedication to the community. Rodriguez is the noncommissioned officer in charge of barracks managers for Marine Aircraft Group 14 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. - Cpl. Francisco Rodriguez Hernandez Jr. and his wife Jessica were presented the Service Family of the Quarter award at the Carolina Grill in Havelock, N.C. Jan. 24. The couple received the award for their volunteer work and dedication to the community. Rodriguez is the noncommissioned officer in charge of barracks managers for Marine Aircraft Group 14 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.