KADENA AIR BASE OKINAWA, Japan -- The Strike Fighter Attack Squadron 94 Mighty Shrikes were presented the Marine Aircraft Group 12 Tactical Strafe Award by Maj. Gen. William D. Beydler, 1st Marine Air Wing commanding general, during a formation at Hanger 3 here Aug. 24.
Beydler presented the award to Navy Cmdr. Curtis Carroll, VFA- 94 commanding officer, and the squadron.
The award commemorated the squadron for performing operations above and beyond the standards of the Marine Corps.
“It was great,” said Beydler. “There is nothing like presenting an award to a squadron that deserves it.”
Three selected squadron personnel were also presented with challenge coins.
The Mighty Shrikes are currently participating in exercise Habu Fire II, a joint-training exercise where VFA-94, Marine All- Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 and 18th Fighter Wing work together performing and improving efficiency in air-to-air operations.
The squadron went above and beyond what everyone expected and they continue to prove themselves during day-to-day operations, said Beydler in his speech to the squadron.
After the award presentation Carroll spoke to the squadron.
“I am so proud of everyone in our squadron,” said Carroll. “These kinds of awards are testaments to everybody that the squadron can accomplish their mission on any given day.”
The Mighty Shrikes begin working early in the morning and continue until late in the evening.
“The combat performance event like the one we performed in shows everyone was pulling their weight,” said Carroll.
The notice to choose three awardees was given only a few days before the formation.
With the workload on the deployment being more than the squadrons’ usual amount, the three personnel chosen for the awards stepped up to the plate and took control where it was needed.
“The awardees were easily recognizable by recent events and performance within the squadron,” said Lt. j.g. David Doyle, VFA-94 maintenance material control officer.
“The purpose of the CG visiting our squadron was to recognize the exceptional work our sailors have been doing,” said Doyle.