MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 arrived here to begin a six month deployment as part of the Unit Deployment Program Sept. 1.
The Unit Deployment Program is designed to deploy units to various areas of the Western Pacific region for six months at a time to reduce the number of unaccompanied tours and train in various forwarddeployed environments, standing ready to carry out the mission of the Corps.
VMFA-115, also known as the Silver Eagles, replaced VMFA-314, who returned to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. after completing its own UDP deployment.
VMFA-115 is based out of MCAS Beaufort, S.C. The squadron’s commanding officer is Lt. Col. Matthew H. Phares.
The squadron arrived with the intent of conducting training exercises in the Pacific Theater to bolster its mission of combat readiness and efficiency.
The opportunity to deploy to this region affords the squadron a chance to expand upon the diversity of training it conducts by working with different units in the region.
“We’re afforded more opportunities to deploy in the region, whether it is Okinawa, Guam or Thailand,” said Master Sgt. William E. Hetrick Jr., VMFA-115 aircraft maintenance chief. “We not only get to work hand-in-hand with our allies in Japan, but also our allies in Southeast Asia.”
Training and practicing more with ordnance and strike capabilities is an added benefit of coming to the region.
“From an ordnance point-of-view, this is a little bit of a better place to train because there’s more opportunity to drop (ordnance),” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joy Craig, VMFA-115 ordnance officer. “Out in Beaufort, we’re really restricted on ranges."
We have the opportunity to practice more in (the Pacific).” The squadron spent a year training in preparation for this deployment.
“We went and preformed at Twentynine Palms in the Mojave Viper exercise and prepared for any type of contingencies,” said Craig.
The squadron will use the F-18/A aircraft to train. This particular designation of aircraft varies from the standard F-18 in that it has increased air-to-ground and air-to-air capabilities, allowing pilots greater range and abilities.
“It goes into touchy territory but our pilots can see more when it comes to seeking out, engaging, and neutralizing the enemy,” said Craig. “Those two little pluses mean a lot as far as their capabilities.”
The Silver Eagles will be testing those capabilities alongside several other squadrons stationed in the region.
“We’ll be performing (large force exercises) with (Strike Fighter Squadron 94) as well as with some Air Force B-52s and B-2s, which operate out of Guam,” said Cosgrove.
The Silver Eagles are slated to begin their first training exercises in October in Guam.