More than 200 sailors from Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 86, also known as the Sidewinders, will be departing from the Air Station later this month in support of Operation Enduring Freedom after completing an extensive pre-deployment package featuring numerous workups.
"The Sidewinders will be carrying ordnance, supporting ground units and providing surveillance in support of OEF," said Lt. Colin Quirnino, the avionics arms divisions officer for VFA-86.
In preparation for this deployment, the squadron has conducted tailored ships training availability exercises, or TSTAs, and composite unit training exercises while at sea aboard the USS Nimitz for a month. This brought the squadron up to speed with how things are done aboard a ship.
The Sidewinders will be aboard the USS Nimitz with VFA-41, VFA-14, VFA-97, all based out of Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., the Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 135, based out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, in Oak Harbor, Wash., and Carrier Airborne Command and Control Squadron 117, or VAW-117, stationed at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif. They will form Carrier Air Wing 11.
"Working with other Navy squadrons is very natural to us because we have worked with them before [in our other workups]," said Lt. William Rietveld, the VFA-86 unit information officer. "It's very exciting to be able to work with them again during this deployment."
"The squadron's last deployment was from July 2007 to December 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom aboard the USS Enterprise," Quirnino said. For many sailors, this will be their first deployment, but for others this will be another chance to assist in the U.S. mission.
"This is a good opportunity for the sailors to learn and perfect their career paths," said Master Chief Petty Officer Travis Brummer, the VFA-86 command master chief. "There is no more training and no more workups.
"This is their chance to perform their job in a combat situation. I am proud to lead a large group of sailors and am confident they will perform phenomenally," Brummer concluded.