Red Devils bring heat to Iwakuni

VMFA -232, also known as the Red Devils, is part of the unit deployment program, which allows units to deploy to various locations throughout the Western Pacific and participate in exercises with international allied forces.

“(The deployment program) puts the aircrew in an unfamiliar environment and gets us ready for any scenario that may come up,” said Capt. Jeffrey P. Andrews, VMFA -232 adjutant.

VMFA -232 is scheduled to continue their training here for the next six months.

“When you come to a place like this with different controllers it makes everyone up their game and provide a force forward for the Marine Corps. So at any time we need to be called upon, we will at least have an understanding of the environment and be able to affect the combat scenario much better than we would without this training,” said Andrews.

While deployed, some pilots will go through certain qualifications to become division and section leaders while in flight.

Some of the main training to accomplish will be qualification where one pilot can lead anotherraircraft and one pilot can lead four aircraft, said Andrews.

While pilots are completing their qualifications, support Marines are slated to complete major courses to help their unit and their careers.

“We’re not just completing maintenance tasks with the Marines,” said Sgt. Maj. Shawn D. Ellis, VMFA -232 sergeant major. “We have many Marines going to career course, sergeant’s course, corporal’s course and other training programs.”

Consistent training is important for all Marines, it allows them to better their careers and support their units.

“These Marines are going to continue their training, not only annual training and professional military education style training, but also any qualifications they can get here in Iwakuni,” said Ellis.

With so many acting roles for training underway, it can overshadow the main goal of getting aircraft in the air and pilots ready for any scenario no matter what the location.