Photo By Sgt. Elyssa Quesada | Marines with Marine-All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, pose for a group photo.... read more read more
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By Lance Cpl. Elyssa Quesada
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
More than 200 Marines and Sailors with Marine-All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 departed for a six month Western Pacific deployment Wednesday.
During their deployment Marines will work with both Thailand and Singapore military forces conducting an abundance of exercises, completing many workups and more.
"It's a great training opportunity for the squadron," said Maj. Sean Henrickson, the operations officer for VMFA 224. "It is also a great chance to see different parts of the world and experience different cultures."
Marine-All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, also known as the Bengals, will focus on conducting air-to-air and live fire exercises.
Not only will the Marines and sailors conduct multiple exercises, they will continue with the normal training schedule, while executing daily maintenance within the squadron.
"The expectations for the Marines are the same, to continue to perform as if we were back in the States," Henrickson said.
The unit will make stops from Arizona to South Korea, dropping live ordnance and flying numerous flight hours from now through July.
For some Marines this will be their first deployment, experiencing a new culture including food, people and sights and working with foreign military.
"I want to get out there and accomplish the mission of the squadron," said Cpl. Virgil Thompson, an aviation operations specialist.
For others, it's just another notch on the belt listing off deployments and sharing their experience with different cultures.
"It's a good way to see the world," said Capt. Scott Thompson, a pilot with VMFA 224. "During the Westpac, it's a great way to interact with other countries, something we don't get to do on other deployments."
| Date Taken: | 01.15.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.15.2009 11:15 |
| Story ID: | 28876 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 259 |
| Downloads: | 199 |
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