MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Hawks of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 deployed to Iwakuni, July 9, as part of a six-month Unit Deployment Program.
The Hawks are replacing the Thunderbolts of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, who will return to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.
The deployment marks the first time the Hawks have deployed since Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"We have had an extremely high turnover since OIF," said Capt. P.L. Fitzergerald, VMFA(AW)-533 administration officer. "This whole past year has been dedicated to training our new joins and getting them up to speed on how we operate. Our senior leadership has been very hands-on with the training of our younger Marines preparing them for our UDP."
The Hawks will be stopping all across the Pacific Region during the deployment.
"They're going to see the world," said Lt. Col. Mark G. Mykleby, VMFA(AW)-533 commanding officer. "I hope they have a good time and learn something. We're ready to fight and ready to go have a good time."
Cpl. Michael Simpson, VMFA(AW)-533 airframer, recently finished a Kuwait deployment and is looking forward to the opportunity to experience Japan.
"I'd like to meet people here and see what they're like," Simpson said. "You really don't interact with a lot of people in the Middle East. I'm looking forward to interacting with the Japanese and soaking up some culture."
In addition to cultural experiences, the squadron is gearing up for some unit training during their deployment.
"I'm looking forward to having my squadron all in one spot and training as a unit," Mykleby said. "We're ready to go. I want the Marines to know they are a force in readiness. They're on the tip of the spear here and they know it."
During the Thunderbolt's deployment here, they will participate in training exercises with Pacific Rim countries to include Australia, Thailand and the Republic of the Philippines.