ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE BASE DARWIN, Australia -- Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 arrived here Aug. 17 to replace VMFA-212 and wrap up the final phase of Southern Frontier 2003, a three-month training evolution initiated in June by VMFA(AW)-242.
For the 220 Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., based Fighting Bengles, Southern Frontier will be one of the first major training evolutions for the squadron to operate at full strength after augmenting out a large portion of their squadron and equipment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
According to 1st Lt. Dennis Dalton, VMFA(AW)-224 weapons systems officer, the squadron will be supporting and flying multiple air-to-ground, forward air control airborne and close-air support missions while expending live ordnance out of their noncombat expenditure allowance.
In addition to operating under full manpower with 10 F/A-18D Hornets, the environment around the Delamere Range, where the squadron will drop ordnance, will be a beneficial change from the Western Pacific region the squadron's pilots encountered while stationed at MCAS Iwakuni under the Unit Deployment Program, according to VMFA(AW)-224's commanding officer, Lt. Col. Gary Graham.
"We have a lot of clear skies and nice weather out here," he said. "This territory is perfect for dropping bombs because of the open spaces and nobody around to disturb."
In addition to the Marines of VMFA(AW)-224, detachments of Marine Aircraft Group 12, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 and Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 have also forward deployed from MCAS Iwakuni to support the mission.
According to Dalton, training with these units and allied forces is a key factor in the success of the deployment and is key to operational readiness.
"Going somewhere else and seeing how other units and forces operate is always a great experience," he said. "It is interesting to see how everyone comes together to support the mission."
After the squadron finishes Southern Frontier, they will be temporarily training at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, before returning to Iwakuni to complete their UDP training.