With the return of aircrew of Electronic Attack Squadron 130 Zappers in April, those affected by deployment now and in the past agree on the importance of those homecomings.
VAQ-130 returned after a nine-month deployment, which involved training in Europe, the Middle East and combat operations in Afghanistan.
Navy League President Butch Bailey, who completed 13 9-month deployments in his career, said the deployments, frankly, “suck.”
“But it depends on the type of deployment,” Bailey said. “There’s some good parts and some bad parts.”
When he wasn’t near combat, Bailey’s wife, state Sen. Barbara Bailey, was able to join him and they were able to see parts of the world together.
On the other hand, when he was on the carrier “you’re sort of held hostage,” Bailey said, which can make it hard to pass the time.
The homecoming can be an exiting and somewhat stressful time, Bailey said.
“Unless you’ve done it, it’s really hard to understand the feelings that you’re going through,” Bailey said. “The anticipation, you don’t sleep well the night before, you can’t wait to get back and your mind is racing a mile a minute.”
Bailey said reconnecting with children and wives can be a challenge after long deployments.
“You think about how you haven’t been able to play with them, or take out my wife,” Bailey said. “How am I going to catch up?”
However, Bailey said technological advances like email, Skype and cellular phones make deployments much easier to manage.
Still, being home after such a long deployment means a lot to the squadron, according to Lt. Scott Brazelton, pilot and spokesman for VAQ-130.
“It’s gonna mean everything,” Brazelton said shortly before the aircrew arrived last month. “This is one of the longer deployments VAQ has done. It’s a long time for sailors to be away from their families.”
The pilots of VAQ-130 and their electronic warfare officers flew the squadron’s five EA-18G Growlers back to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station from the Harry S. Truman. VAQ-130 is the second carrier-based squadron to deploy using the Growler, the fourth aircraft in the squadron’s history.
Squadron support and maintenance personnel were airlifted in the following day.
Brazelton said the squadron is guaranteed a couple weeks of post-deployment leave, but that it’s possible they could be deployed again shortly if Navy leadership requires it.
“The real heroes of this deployment are the families of VAQ-130 and our sailors,” Cmdr. Jeff Chism, VAQ-130’s commanding officer, said in a news release. “They have endured over 400 days of separation since we began preparations for deployment back in September of 2012. I am humbled by their service to our nation and proud to serve alongside them.”
The squadron originally deployed in July 2013, starting in Virginia, followed by continued training in the Azores in Portugal. They also trained off the coast of Spain, France, Italy and Greece, and were allowed a port call in Marseille, France.
The Zappers went on to support forces on the ground in Afghanistan for approximately seven months, during which time they flew 226 combat missions and completed 1,596 combat hours over Afghanistan.
Chism said these lengthy missions, at times spanning eight hours in duration, were made possible by the hard work of the squadron.
In addition to supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, the Zappers conducted joint flight operations with the French aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, in January of 2014.
Although VAQ-130 spent most of their time working aboard the Harry S. Truman, they did make three Middle Eastern port calls in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Manama, Bahrain. A final port call was allowed in Palma, Spain.
“This is my fourth combat deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom since it began back in 2001,” said Cmdr. Eric Illston, VAQ-130’s executive officer. “I am proud to serve our troops on the ground. I know many of them will come home safe because of the support given by the Zappers and we wish them a quick return to their families at home.”
