ABOARD USS WASP – Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774, a Reserve unit from Norfolk, Va., made daily trips from the Joint Visitor Bureau at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., to participating ships in Exercise Bold Alligator 2012. Aboard HMM-774’s CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters, distinguished visitors and civilian members of the press were being transported to view operations taking place during the exercise.
From Jan. 30 to Feb. 9, HMM-774 flew more than 75 hours and transported more than 300 passengers ranging from congressmen to the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps’ aide-de-camp. The assistant commandant himself was flown aboard to view operations and Congressional Delegation.
Most of the distinguished visitors who came aboard were policy makers and it was important for them to view and assess the exercise, said Lt. Col. Mark Sexton, the commanding officer of HMM-774. After observing the exercise they should be informed as to the capabilities and limitations of the current force, he said.
Multiple members of the media and several members of coalition forces were also brought aboard various ships taking part in the exercise.
“Many media representatives were invited in order to keep the American public aware of what their Navy/Marine Corps team is capable of,” said Sexton.
HMM-774 was the first and last unit that the visitors experienced while engaged in the exercise. It was an opportunity for the unit to showcase the Operational Reserves and the integration of the total force within the U.S. Marine Corps, said Sexton.
“The key to success in this distinguished visitor movement was the flexibility provided by HMM-774 , their aircraft and their crews,” said Lt. Cmdr. Asa E. Taylor, the Marine Corps Forces Command aviation liaison. “Without the squadron, we would not have been able to move the numbers of people we moved in the period of time allotted for this exercise.”
Exercise BA-12 is the largest naval amphibious exercise in the past 10 years and represents the Navy and Marine Corps’ revitalization of the full range of amphibious operations. The exercise focused on today’s fight with today’s forces, while showcasing the advantages of seabasing. This exercise took place Jan. 30 to Feb. 12 afloat and ashore in and around Virginia and North Carolina.
“In addition to showcasing the capabilities of amphibious warships and the ability of the Marine Corps to make amphibious attacks, the exercise also highlights the importance of the Marine Corps Reserves and the increasingly crucial role they will play in maintaining national security,” said Sexton.