MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Strike Fighter Squadron 94 has been working closely with Marine Aircraft Group 12 and Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 for approximately the past six months but departed from here Jan. 6.
VFA-94, also known as the Mighty Shrikes, a small carnivorous bird of prey, is based in Naval Air Station Lemoore in Lemoore, Calif.
This is VFA-94 final deployment as part of the Unit Deployment Program, but Marines and sailors are hoping they will be bringing it back.
UDP allows VFA-94 to travel around the world and train with a broad variety of units in many different climates.
“Marines and sailors have a very close relationship, no other branches have the type of bond which we have,” said Sgt. Maj. Gerard J. Calvin, MAG-12 sergeant major. “When Marines fight there will always be sailors there and when it comes down to it there is only one fight.”
Anyone can turn a wrench, but by working together MAG-12, VMFA(AW)-242 and VFA- 94 have learned different ways of completing the mission better, safer and faster.
During the fight, it doesn’t matter what branch a service member joined; we all fight for America, and when we have Marines and sailors training together, it will only improve our abilities, said Calvin.
The training MAG-12, VMFA(AW)-242 and VFA-94 have accomplished over the past six months has allowed both branches to get a glimpse into each other’s habits and ways of life.
“During the months VFA- 94 was here, we could see the differences in how they operate compared to MAG- 12,” said Calvin. “I noticed some differences in their leadership styles, but both squadrons worked very well together, and I wish they could return in the future.”
Sailors with VFA-94 have been aboard the station for approximately six months and have been able to support the Marines here during dayto- day training and also during deployments such as Wolmi-do Fury in Guam.
“It was great we were able to work so closely with the Marines during the exercise Wolmi-do Fury,” said Chief Petty Officer Michael T. Dixon, a Fleet Readiness Center senior enlisted advisor. “It gave us all a chance to show our capabilities and create a bit of a competition between the Marines and sailors.”
The friendly competition which sparked between the Marines and sailors forced everyone to push themselves in order to try to outdo the other branch.
“While we were here, our friendly competition didn’t only push us as a branch, but it also allowed sailors to go out of their way to earn individual awards such as the Fleet Marine Force pins which we were happy to award to three sailors,” said Dixon.
The FMF pin is issued to sailors who are trained and qualified to support the United States Marine Corps.
VFA-94 is scheduled to continue training indirectly with Marines, however they are not slated to be returning to Iwakuni on any training deployments in the future.