NAVAL AIR FACILITY MISAWA, Japan – The “Fighting Tigers” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 participated in bilateral training with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force squadron, VP-2 “Odin” at Hachinohe Air Base, Aug. 2.
VP-8 flew a P-3C Orion aircraft to Hachinohe Air Base and met with VP-2 to conduct training with an expendable mobile anti-submarine warfare training target and data link-11 training. Ultimately weather prevented EMATT training, but the link-11 training was highly successful.
“The navigator/communicators aboard each aircraft worked to establish secure voice and data communications between the two aircraft,” said Lt.j.g. Michael Marschall, a native of Philadelphia and VP-8 combat aircrew 9 navigator/communicator. “Having both operating concurrently greatly improves communication between allies and helps to combat any language barrier.”
After completing their training, Japanese and U.S. sailors gathered at a social event hosted by the JMSDF in which Capt. Seto, VP-2 commanding officer, presented a framed photograph to Capt. Gregory Cozad, a native of Las Vegas and deputy commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force U.S. 7th Fleet, to commemorate the improvements between the JMSDF and U.S. Navy P-3 forces during his tenure.
Capt. Cozad thanked Capt. Seto for his gift and acknowledged the improved communication and teamwork between the two organizations, most notably in humanitarian assistance/disaster relief missions during Operation Tomodachi in 2011.
VP-8 and VP-2 have a strong history of working together. The squadrons trained together when VP-8 was deployed to Japan in 2004/2005 and most recently in a highly successful EMATT Exercise in June 2012.
The Jacksonville, Fla.-based “Fighting Tigers” are on a scheduled six-month deployment in support of U.S. 7th Fleet.
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