After seven months away, the Wizards of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 finally returned to Whidbey Island after completing their first carrier-based deployment in over 19 years.
The squadron deployed in late July aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), a part of Carrier Strike Group 3 (CSG-3), and was attached to Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9). The Strike Group was tasked with supporting Operation New Dawn as well as Operation Enduring Freedom.
During the course of the deployment, the Wizards exceeded even their own expectations, flying 181 combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan, logging a total of 971 combat flight hours and boasting an impressive 99 percent combat sortie completion rate.
This continued superior performance led to multiple awards for VAQ-133. The outstanding efforts of their maintenance team earned the squadron the CVW-9 Golden Wrench award. The Wizards were also presented both the 2011 CVWP 1st and 2nd half semi-annual Safety “S” Awards and the Blue “M,” signifying an outstanding level of medical readiness.
“It is a testament to the leadership and hard work of the officers, chief petty officers and sailors, many of whom had never been to sea, that we not only accomplished our mission but excelled at it,” said Cmdr. Christopher DeMay, commanding officer of VAQ-133. DeMay relieved Cmdr. Chris Bergen as commanding officer in November, about halfway through the cruise.
As with any deployment, periods of rest and relaxation were imperative to maintaining a sharp combat edge. The Wizards, along with the rest of the crew of the Stennis, enjoyed six port calls during their time at sea. Stops were made in Kuala Lumpur, Bahrain, Dubai (twice), Singapore and finally Pearl Harbor on the transit home. Each port offered varying opportunities for the sailors to interact with a new culture.
The Stennis also participated in many of the traditions that accompany deployments at-sea. VAQ-133 sailors were able to take part in a swim call, where those interested could leap from one of the hangar bay elevators into the ocean and swim for a short period of time. They were treated to a steel beach picnic and a beer day, and shortly after leaving the Arabian Gulf, they sailed across the equator and completed a crossing-of-the-line ceremony.
Finally, after pulling into Pearl Harbor, the Stennis opened its hatches to family members and hosted a Tiger Cruise, allowing sailors to bring guests on board and get a taste of boat life as they sailed from Hawaii to San Diego, Calif.
“I never thought I would get to experience virtually all of these traditions in one cruise,” said Lt. Travis “Donkey” Daugherty, a first-cruise ECMO. “This has really been an eye-opening deployment for me.”
