MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Marines of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 will return home Sunday to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., after completing a six-month Unit Deployment Program here.
As the 240 Marines and five EA-6B Prowlers filter out of the Station, the Navy's Electronic Attack Squadron 133 from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., move in to continue electronic warfare support in the Western Pacific Theater.
Although the Moondogs did not have to support any real-world contingencies during their time aboard the Station, they did receive valuable training for their crew both locally and while forward-deployed.
During Exercise Cope Tiger in Thailand, VMAQ-3 got to run their radar jamming equipment at high strengths and while recently deployed to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, they practiced High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile shoots. The squadron's pilots rarely receive these two opportunities.
"The Western Pacific region offered us a great opportunity to train in a different environment with combined forces," said Lt. Col. Stephen Nitzschke, VMAQ-3 commanding officer. "While we were in Okinawa the squadron successfully fired two live HARM missiles, a first for a Marine unit here in WESTPAC since 1992. This training greatly improved our overall readiness."
When the Marines of 'Q-3were not busy supporting the 724.5 flight hours they logged during 303 sorties, some were taking full advantage of the liberty opportunities a Unit Deployment Program can offer.
"I enjoyed Japan very much while I was here because it had a lot more to offer than I expected," said Cpl. Jamel Smith, VMAQ-3 Aviation Operations specialist, who experienced Japan for the first time during this deployment. "At first it was a big culture shock since I didn't know any Japanese, but once I caught on I found the culture and the people to be very interesting."
Nitzschke also stated that the Station and Marine Aircraft Group 12 have made this a great deployment for the Moondogs, but the squadron can't wait to get home, visit friends and family and resume training.
"When we get back we will continue training by participating in the Weapons and Tactics Instructor?s School and exercises like Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base," he said. "That is of course only after we catch up with friends and family."