MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Naval Electronic Attack Squadron 141 arrived here from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island June 30, as part of the Unit Deployment Program.
The Shadowhawks brought approximately 180 personnel and five E/A-6B Prowlers, whose job is to provide electronic interference to enemy radar and communication equipment.
“The mission of the Prowler is to provide (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) support of strike operations through the denial, degradation or destruction of the enemy’s use of the electromagnetic spectrum,” said Lt. j.g. Paul A. Latina, VAQ-141 electronic countermeasures officer and native of Fernandina, Fla.
During their three-month deployment here, the squadron will continue to fly the same practice missions as at home, but will also have the chance to hone their skills in areas such as low-level and air-to-air training.
“We’re looking forward to getting out into a different operating airspace … and getting some good training in the low-level areas Japan has to offer,” Latina said.
“We don’t get a lot of air-to-air training,” he added. “It will be good to work with another branch, such as the Marines, and another platform, such as the (F/A-18) Hornet, to practice the overall SEAD mission from both a Prowler standpoint and a strike standpoint.”
Moving the squadron from their home in Oak Harbor, Wash., to Iwakuni was no easy task, requiring nearly three months of preparation and stops in Hawaii and Guam along the way.
“The troops worked an unimaginable amount of hours making sure extremely old airplanes got here,” said Latina. “(They) did nothing short of a spectacular job.”
Lt. Karl A. Fossum, VAQ-141 logistics officer and Crookston, Minn., native, was responsible for coordinating “the movement of people, parts and planes.” Although it took several airlifts and an extra day in Hawaii repairing a Prowler, Fossum feels the sailors performed superbly in pulling off the move.
“It went well,” Fossum said. “There were a couple small lessons learned, but we got here with all our gear. It all went according to plan.”
For the crews performing maintenance on jets, the job done here is the same as at home. For many, however, a taste of life in Japan is a welcome change.
“It’s nice because on most deployments you’re on a ship, so this is just like being in port – only overseas,” said Seaman Jason P. Karischko, VAQ-141 structural mechanic and native of Seattle. “I’m looking forward to seeing everything from the rural countryside to just experiencing Eastern culture.”