MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 332 departed Operation Southern Frontier Feb. 16 after a four-week deployment in Australia.
Marines hailing from Beaufort, S.C., stationed in Iwakuni as a part of the Unit Deployment Program were a part of the bilateral training exercise with the Royal Australian Air Force.
While in Townsville, Australia, VMFA(AW)-332 Marines were provided the opportunity to experience quality training that otherwise would have been difficult to acquire while in Iwakuni.
"Australia provided us the opportunity to execute live ordnance deliveries, high level training, under the weather close air support and send a couple Marines to weapons and tactics school," said Lt. Col. David Wilkinson, VMFA(AW)-332 commanding officer.
Throughout their stay in Australia, Marines utilized all the facilities that were available to their advantage to fulfill the mission.
"We can't drop off live ordnance here (in Iwakuni), the only range that we have available to us is in Korea," said Wilkinson. "In Korea we only have access to the range for 30 minutes. In Australia we had a range literally 28 miles away from the base. Not only that but we basically owned the range over there. We were able to use it whenever we wanted and at any time."
"The Royal Australian Air Force Base individuals bent over backwards to make sure we had everything we needed for our mission success," said Master Sgt. Alex Waca, VMFA (AW)-332 maintenance chief.
Leaving the confines of Japan's 30-degree weather didn't only benefit the Marines departing.
"Leaving the cold weather was very good for our planes," explained Wilkinson. "The planes and weapons perform a lot better when they are not in a cold climate. Australia was a good climate change for everyone to get away for a month."
Despite a successful deployment, getting off to a rolling start was not that easy for everyone.
"Normally we don't perform full deployments," said Waca. "But this was a full deployment in which we started from ground zero. The first day was a little rough as everyone got their bearings, but after that we had no problems adjusting ourselves."
"The staff noncommissioned made things happen by setting up the bunkers that we worked in," added Waca.
The effort put into Operation Southern Frontier 2004 paid off for the Marines that participated.
"Australia was worth the trip from Iwakuni," said Sgt. Chris Gielerowski, VMFA(AW)-332 career planner. "I would go back to Australia in a heart beat. The outback was a great experience and the people out there are very helpful. Australia is something that I recommend everyone to experience."