Hawks depart Fightertown

Photo By Sgt. Ashley Phillips | A Marine spends time with his family aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, March 13. Marines and Sailors of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 deployed to the Pacific as part of a Unit Deployment Program. While deployed, the Hawks will train with partner nations and increase multilateral interoperability with our allies.  

BEAUFORT, SC, UNITED STATES

03.16.2018

Story by Cpl. Benjamin McDonald 

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

Marines of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 departed from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort for a deployment March 9-13.
The F/A-18D Hornet squadron departed as part of the Unit Deployment Program to train with partner nations in the pacific.
“We are accompanying the Hawks to Japan as part of their Unit Deployment Program,” said Sgt. Jason Denney, a Ground Support Equipment Marine with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31. “For some
of us, this isn’t our first deployment to this region so we know what has to get done. We can operate smoothly and efficiently to accomplish our mission while over there.”
Over the past months the squadron has been working longer hours to prepare not only the aircraft, but their minds for the fast-paced tempo of a deployment.
“Being deployed means perfectly executing our duties but in a foreign land,” said Denney. “We won’t have the rest of Marine Aircraft Group 31 to help us if we need it. Instead, we will be working with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 to accomplish our mission. Usually while deployed,
our shifts change and operational tempo changes to better suit the mission we have to accomplish.”
The squadron was given the chance to spend time with their families the day of the squadron’s departure. The United ServicesOrganization provided food for the Marines, Sailors and their families.
"The Marines and Sailors aren’t the only ones that sacrifice during deployments,” said Ted Crandall, the Family Readiness Officer for MAG 31. “The families of the deployed sacrifice so much to make sure everything is okay at home. The least we can do is set up a time and place for them to say goodbye to their loved ones before they leave. Marines and Sailors that can make sure their families are happy when they leave will be less stressed while deployed. That’s what we do; take care of Marines, Sailors, and their families.”

• Date Taken: 03.16.2018
• Date Posted: 03.16.2018 08:54
• Story ID: 269645
• Location: BEAUFORT, SC, US