MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Marines and aircraft of the Bravo Detachment of Marine Attack Squadron 231 arrived aboard the Station June 13 from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., as part of a six-month Unit Deployment Program.
The Ace of Spades, led by detachment commander Lt. Col. Thomas Bogard, are the first east coast Harrier squadron to be deployed here in more than 10 years, and come equipped with six AV-8B aircraft and approximately 120 Marines.
Although it has been sometime since the squadron last trained in Iwakuni, they are definitely no strangers to the Western Pacific Theater, having participated in exercises such as Tae Kwon Do, Beachcrest, Cope North and Team Spirit while last deployed here in 1992.
This time around the squadron will be supporting operations of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as well as training with other Iwakuni units in simulated and real-world operations in the Western Pacific region.
"While we are here, supporting the 31st MEU will be our primary mission. However, we are looking forward to training with the tenant units and other UDP squadrons here," said Master Sgt. Gary Fuessel, VMA-231 maintenance chief and acting squadron sergeant major.
According to Fuessel, the squadron is encouraging its pilots to take full advantage of the Iwakuni airspace to stay current with qualifications, and for the younger Marines to utilize some of the on and off base facilities to ensure a memorable deployment.
Lance Cpl. Howard Burl, a VMA-231 tool room representative, has already started planning his six-month tenure in Iwakuni.
"While I am here I am going to try to save some money, go sightseeing and basically take in everything I can Ace from to have a good time," he said.
Since Burl and many more of the squadron?s Marines are on their first deployment in Japan, many groups aboard the Station have been extra helpful in welcoming them, according to Fuessel.
"Everyone from the Station, Marine Aircraft Group 12 and even the Single Marine Program has been bending over backwards to help us out," he said. "It seems like every time I am here it just gets better and better."