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From the armed services.

Article Excerpt
- U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jesse Bochek, son of David Bochek of Palatine, is a hull technician responsible for making sure the Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) hovercraft are in good working order at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, Virginia Beach, Va.

Over the years, technology has progressed to make sure the Navy can put Marines on the beach quickly and safely.

Today, Marines are frequently getting to the beach by way of the hovercraft.

Maintaining an LCAC requires a dedicated staff, and the Sailors of Assault Craft Unit (ACU) FOUR make sure their vehicles get the Marines where they're going.

"Our command's mission is to provide transportation for Marines from ship to shore," said the 1997 graduate of Plainfield High School. "My job on board this command is to do necessary welding on the LCAC to keep them fully mission-ready."

ACU FOUR is part of an Expeditionary Strike Group whose mission is to project a Navy presence with a land-to-sea combat posture of readiness, combining the assets of surface and amphibious vessels as part of a relatively new concept of naval warfare.

"We are ready to deploy at any time," said Bochek. "During the War on Terror, we provided Marine support on ground and by air."

Bochek has the rare opportunity to work closely with a unique part of the Navy's arsenal, but there are challenges, even in an ideal working environment.

"The most enjoyable part of my job is the people and the hours," he said.

According to Bochek, working around hovercrafts is interesting because he's learned so much about them. ACU FOUR's mission is crucial to any Navy war-fighting strategy, as they are...

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