MCAS BEAUFORT -- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, also known as the Werewolves, set-off for the Western Pacific Jan. 10.
The aircraft will support 6 multinational exercises, which will not only increase the readiness of the Squadron but safequard international goodwill and ensure we can work with our allies effectively.
“These types of deployments offer a plethora of training and experience for all Marines throughout the squadron,” said Capt. Albert Garcia, the squadron’s assistant operations officer. “We get to work alongside many of our allies in a short time period, which allows everyone to become more familiar with how everyone conducts operations.”
“We have one mission, to support all friendly aerial elements and ground forces,” said Sergeant Maj. James Hagle, the squadron sergeant major. “The interaction is helpful to get different people, different cultures and aircraft, which do things in different ways to learn and work together toward a common goal or to beat a common enemy.”
The squadron’s maintainers enable the F/A-18 Hornets to provide close air support and provide intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance to friendly ground units.
“I am really interested to see how other services and countries perform,” said Lance Cpl. John Sloan, a VMFA-122 aviation ordnance technician. “I know that things are going to be different but I look forward to learning something new.”
The Marines will also get the opportunity to visit several different countries during the deployment. This is an opportunity for Marines to experience other cultures and see sights other Americans may never get to see.
“I am really excited to see new places and have new experiences to share when I come home,” Sloan said.