After a long two-month transit across the Pacific Ocean, the Wizards of VAQ-133 along with the rest of Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) have finally begun what they have been training for since January: Combat operations in support of Operation New Dawn (OND) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The road to this point has not been without difficulty, and there have been numerous lessons learned along the way for everyone involved, but it has certainly been worth the  effort for the Wizards, who have looked forward to getting back into the fight since their departure from Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, in 2010.

Although still early in the combat phase of the deployment, things are looking very good for the Wizards. The maintenance department has been instrumental in keeping the jets in top working order and allowing the squadron to enjoy their continued success in theater operations. Likewise, the aircrew are studying and flying hard to put the jets to good use.

“The missions may be long, but I don’t mind,” said Lt. Brandon Simpson, a VAQ-133 Electronic Countermeasures Officer. “We’re helping to keep people safe on the ground. Our systems are working extremely well so I’m just happy to be here.”

Just prior to beginning their involvement in OND, the Stennis Strike Group pulled into port for a short period of R&R in Manama, Bahrain. The time off gave sailors and aircrew a chance to decompress and blow off steam before starting the high tempo of combat operations.

When asked about how port calls factor into sailors’ readiness, Logistics Specialist First Class (AW/SW) Julliver Kintz remarked, “There is definitely a strong positive attitude here, which directly affects how well people perform on a daily basis. Port calls certainly help to keep that morale high.”

When port calls are simply not an option due to operational necessity, another way to give sailors a short reprieve is to hold morale-boosting events such as concerts or a ‘Steel-Beach Picnic’. The Stennis enjoyed both of these in late October.  Following a day of flight operations, the ship hosted country music act Lone Star in the hangar bay for all interested sailors. The festivities continued the next day, where a Steel-Beach Picnic offered members the opportunity to relax and participate in numerous activities on the flight deck, as well as partake in traditional cook-out foods and other refreshments while enjoying the thankfully pleasant weather.

The day also allowed the Wizards to culminate their ‘Deck Wash’ fundraiser, in which sailors and aircrew donated money to MWR towards seeing a squadron-mate scrub the flight deck. The top ten recipients, supervised by several Chief Petty Officers, scrubbed a portion of the flight deck, a job that saw many additional volunteers who simply wanted to be a part of the fun.

With so much to do and so many things to look forward to, there is no shortage of opportunities for VAQ-133 to excel. From maintenance to morale to combat sortie completion rate the Wizards are maintaining the high standards they set as an expeditionary unit. With a well established trend of excellence, the expectation is nothing short of unparalleled success as they settle in to the combat operation mindset for the ensuing months.